NOAA-NOS International Programs Office Measuring MPA Effectiveness Challenges & Approaches CHARLES EHLER WCPA-Marine & NOAA-NOS International Programs Office

Global Recommendation 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) “…establish MPAs consistent with international law and based on scientific information, including representative networks, by 2012”

Challenge for the MPA Community Managing MPAs Effectively over time Incorporating evaluation into diverse MPAs Balancing needs at the site, national, regional and global levels The challenge of establishing a representative system of marine protected areas

Diversity of MPAs Protecting marine species and habitats Conserving marine biodiversity Restoring fisheries stocks Managing tourism activities Minimizing conflicts among diverse resource users

Measuring MPA Effectiveness Outputs Inputs Outcomes

What can we do? Develop the mechanisms to evaluate MPA performance in achieving goals and objectives Use the evaluation results to ensure adaptive management

Adaptive management for MPAs Define specific and measurable objectives Develop well-defined management plans Identify indicators specific to MPAs and the marine environment Monitor impact of management actions Feed results back into the planning process to revise objectives and for adaptive management

An MPA Evaluation System must: Promote and enable an adaptive approach to management where managers learn from their own and other’s successes and failures Keep track of the consequent changes in management objectives and practices so that people can understand how and why management is being undertaken in this way