Identifying Indicators to Evaluate Community-Managed Freshwater Protected Areas in the Lower Mekong Basin: A Review of Marine and Freshwater Examples

Abstract

Protected areas are frequently established as a management tool to conserve terrestrial and aquatic habitats and species. Monitoring and evaluation are a necessary part of adaptive management to determine whether such protected areas are effectively meeting their objectives. While numerous initiatives have developed methods to evaluate terrestrial and marine protected areas (MPAs), similar efforts and resources are lacking for freshwater protected areas (FPAs), which have become widespread as a community-based fisheries management approach in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB). This review summarizes published literature on the evaluation of marine and freshwater protected areas to provide guidance on the evaluation of community-managed FPAs in the LMB. Specifically, the review examines several indicators related to common objectives of aquatic protected areas and provides considerations for measuring these indicators in the context of community-managed freshwater protected areas in the LMB. Key conclusions include that first, FPAs should be established with clearly defined objectives, and these objectives should inform the selection of indicators for evaluation. Second, indicators identified for MPAs are highly relevant to FPAs, although methods may require adaptation to a freshwater environment. Finally, socioeconomic and governance indicators are overlooked in both MPA and FPA evaluations compared to biophysical indicators, and interdisciplinary assessment teams could ensure these indicators receive adequate consideration.

Deep Pools: Ecological Sanctuaries for Steindachneridion melanodermatum, a Large Endemic and Endangered Pimelodid of the Iguaçu River

“…Protected areas are one of the main tools used for the biological conservation of aquatic habitats and species worldwide [48][49][50][51], positively affecting fish productivity in freshwater environments [48]. The higher abundance of S. melanodermatum in the protected area was different from the unprotected area downstream of the Salto Caxias Dam to the upper limit of the Iguaçu National Park.…”

Sustainable Ecosystem Services of a Time-Honored Artificial River Ecosystem—Enlightenments from the Carp Brook, in Northern Fujian Province, China

“…In a word, the government, tourism company, and villagers have clear responsibilities and complementary functions in the management of the Carp Brook ecosystem. Similarly, many countries in Southeast Asia have adopted community-based management or co-managed Freshwater Protected Areas for fish conservation in river and lake environments [40]. For instance, the Restricted Area for Fishing at Tha Song Korn Temple in Khon Kaen Province has been developed through the collaboration of the temple, community, and villagers, which has aimed to strengthen river ecosystem management and improve fish farming along the river [41].…”

“…Some reserves created by separate communities in Thailand's Salween Basin have markedly increased fish richness, density, and biomass relative to adjacent areas [42]. Freshwater Protected Areas in the Lower Mekong Basin have been established to meet a variety of objectives based on community needs and the goals of organizations and government agencies, including improving food security, alleviating poverty, and conserving biodiversity [40]. All these practices have strengthened the river ecosystem management, and promoted the sustainable development of freshwater basins.…”

The Paradox of Privatization in Inland Fisheries Management: Lessons from a Traditional System

“…These include ineffective management, stakeholder conflicts, marginalization of the community in accessing natural resources, and a decrease in fish resources. To address these concerns holistically, a sustainability evaluation was guided by several key criteria, including fish stock abundance and diversity, equitable benefit distribution, economic driving, and the enhancement of livelihood and living standards for fishing communities and villages [25][26][27][28].…”

“…key criteria, including fish stock abundance and diversity, equitable benefit distribution, economic driving, and the enhancement of livelihood and living standards for fishing communities and villages [25][26][27][28].…”