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The Nature Conservancy and Partners Release New Report on Marine Protected Areas

Report Provides International Best Practices in Planning Marine Protected Areas

ARLINGTON, VA — April 11, 2007 — Today The Nature Conservancy, in collaboration with the World Conservation Union, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and World Wildlife Fund – Australia released a new report, Establishing Networks of Marine Protected Areas – Making It Happen, that provides decision makers with a framework for building successful marine protected area (MPA) networks.

“Oceans are vitally important to people around the world. Marine protected areas play a critical role in contributing to the health of our oceans and protecting the resources on which we all depend,” said Lynne Hale, director of the Conservancy’s Global Marine Initiative. “This report can help guide resource managers in building the capacity and understanding for establishing successful MPA networks.”

In support of the World Parks Congress goal of establishing a global system of MPA networks by 2012, Establishing Networks of Marine Protected Areas – Making It Happen offers decision makers and protected area managers resources and international best practices. The publication will be followed by a full technical report on MPA networks later this year that will include more best practice advice, illustrative case studies and information on funding options, as well as a self-assessment checklist for measuring progress toward creating effective MPA networks.

MPA networks are organized collections of individual sites that are linked together and represent the diversity of marine life in a region. These networks, when designed with the input and support of local stakeholders, can help manage the use of natural resources and support sustainable marine livelihoods; reduce the degradation of coastal and marine habitats; slow the loss of endangered marine species; and restore depleted fisheries.

While no single strategy works everywhere, MPAs can be one of a suite of effective management tools, taking into consideration the unique biological, socioeconomic and political circumstances at specific sites. The Conservancy works with partners around the world to create MPA networks that protect and restore the most resilient examples of healthy ocean and coastal habitats in ways that benefit marine life, local communities and economies. With over fifty years experience of strengthening and creating parks and protected areas, The Nature Conservancy is working with partners to preserve some of the world’s most precious terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.