BLUF: A recent study finds that Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) incorporate scientific strategies in their management plans, even if they seemingly do not directly address climate change.
OSINT: The gap between academic findings and real-world applications, particularly in conservation and resource management, can be a source of frustration for experts in the field. This was the motivation behind Darcy Bradley and Cori Lopazanski’s investigative study into how science informs the management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Their expansive study revealed that numerous MPAs, even without explicit reference to climate change, have incorporated strategies for climate resilience.
The research was a deep dive into management plans across multiple countries. It revealed that just half of the plans directly outlined strategies to combat climate change impacts; surprisingly, about 22% didn’t mention climate change at all. Nonetheless, a more comprehensive review highlighted that these plans upheld key principles for building resilience, with 94% outlining long-term objectives and 93% incorporating adaptive management.
The study debunked misconceptions that MPAs are static conservation tools and credited their inherent adaptability. However, it also emphasised that MPAs by themselves could not be the solution to oceanic conservation, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive plan that includes mitigating fishing impacts and protecting biodiversity.
In the changing world, proactive management that looks into the future is crucial. MPAs’ effectiveness in a world experiencing marine heatwaves and severe climate changes is questionable. However, Bradley and Lopazanski found these challenges being considered in MPA planning and concluded their study, hopeful that their findings would offer insights and tools for better MPA management.
RIGHT: This study underlines the importance of adaptability and flexibility in managing Earth’s resources. The fact that MPAs are using management strategies that can cope with, and counter, climate change, even if they do not overtly state “climate change” in their documentation, underlines conservative pragmatism at its best. However, it’s essential that the government does not disproportionately continue funding these initiatives, as the private sector can have a significant role in conservation.
LEFT: The findings from this study underscore how essential it is for science to inform policy. MPAs, even those not overtly mentioning climate change, are essential tools for safeguarding marine biodiversity and resources. However, it is alarming that only roughly half of the plans explicitly included strategies to tackle climate change impacts, which emphasizes the urgent need for more comprehensive, forward-looking policy informed by the best available science.
AI: These findings underscore the importance of multifaceted and adaptable approaches to resource management, with the utilization of scientific strategies being paramount. Notable is the use of indirect climate resilience strategies by MPAs, emphasizing the underlying issue comprehended from a broader perspective. This opens avenues for using artificial intelligence for predictive modelling and strategy formulation to anticipate and adapt to changing climatic scenarios in marine conservation.