Social Synergies, Tradeoffs, and Equity in Marine Conservation Impacts

Abstract

Biodiversity conservation interventions often aim to benefit both nature and people; however, the social impacts of these interventions remain poorly understood. We reviewed recent literature on the social impacts of four marine conservation interventions to understand the synergies, tradeoffs, and equity (STE) of these impacts, focusing on the direction, magnitude, and distribution of impacts across domains of human wellbeing and across spatial, temporal, and social scales. STE literature has increased dramatically since 2000, particularly for marine protected areas (MPAs), but remains limited. Few studies use rigorous counterfactual study designs, and significant research gaps remain regarding specific wellbeing domains (culture, education), social groups (gender, age, ethnic groups), and impacts over time. Practitioners and researchers should recognize the role of shifting property rights, power asymmetries, individual capabilities, and resource dependency in shaping STE in conservation outcomes, and utilize multi-consequential frameworks to support the wellbeing of vulnerable and marginalized groups.

Does the oil palm certification create trade-offs between environment and development in Indonesia?

“…Our work addresses previous calls to strengthen conservation evaluation by considering the heterogeneity of impacts, in order to develop hypotheses about the mechanisms through which certification leads to change on the ground (94), and to assess trade-offs and synergies between the outcomes of sustainability initiatives (36). Understanding mechanisms and tradeoffs or complementarities in a particular context is a prerequisite for improving the design of the intervention and its impacts on the ground.…”

“…Of all previous studies, only Santika et al (35) and Morgans et al(31) use villages as the unit of analysis; and these studies focus predominantly on the potential socio-economic impacts of certification. However, trade-offs may exist between conservation initiative goals (36). For instance, there is concern that certification may lead to exclusion of smallholder producers from global value chains due to high costs that smallholders face in meeting environmental standards of certification systems (37).…”

“…For instance, there is concern that certification may lead to exclusion of smallholder producers from global value chains due to high costs that smallholders face in meeting environmental standards of certification systems (37). Understanding such trade-offs and potential synergies between and among social and environmental conditions is critical to improve the design and implementation of sustainability certification systems (36). Yet, little is known about the trade-offs and complementarities between the environmental and socio-economic goals of RSPO at the village level or the potential channels through which the certification scheme effects change on the ground.…”

Using a participatory impact assessment framework to evaluate a community‐led mangrove and fisheries conservation approach in West Kalimantan, Indonesia

“…Human well-being comprises multiple domains (e.g. economic, cultural, health) and it is possible for individuals to experience positive and negative outcomes across these domains differently, given various conservation interventions (Daw et al, 2016;Gill et al, 2019;Woodhouse et al, 2015). This study presents a PIA framework that evaluates the outcomes of community-led interventions to manage a mud crab fishery, conserve mangrove forests and improve human well-being (as defined by Woodhouse et al, 2015).…”

Global correlates of terrestrial and marine coverage by protected areas on islands

“…Indeed, PAs have been shown to support species abundances 6 , 7 , human well-being 8 – 10 , adaptation to climate change 11 , and efforts to alleviate poverty 12 , 13 . However, in many settings, access restriction imposed by PAs may negatively impact the livelihoods and food security of local users 14 , 15 , may fail to adequately decrease human pressure within PA boundaries 16 – 18 , or may displace, and in some cases increase, human pressure into other areas beyond PA boundaries inducing a so-called “leakage” of environmental degradation 19 , 20 . The balance and distribution of fortune and misfortune (e.g., benefits vs. costs) among PA users may explain why the establishment of PAs is still lagging and poorly accepted in some places compared to others 21 .…”