Affiliation:
1. Centre Eau Terre Environnement Institut national de la recherche scientifique Quebec City Quebec Canada
2. Department of Biology Dalhousie University Halifax Nova Scotia Canada
3. Pacific Biological Station Fisheries and Oceans Canada Nanaimo British Columbia Canada
4. United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre Cambridge UK
Abstract
AbstractMarine protected areas (MPAs) are a crucial component of international biodiversity conservation commitments, yet are increasingly affected by climate change. No synthesis or analysis exists of the specific on‐the‐ground management actions that have been taken by MPA managers in response to climate change. Here, we extract, evaluate, classify, and analyze adaptation responses from 646 existing, English‐language MPA management plans preselected for their consideration of climate change. Our synthesis documents 213 unique management actions, of which only a fraction (4.7%) were on‐the‐ground adaptative measures directed at enhancing biodiversity conservation; in contrast, almost half (45.5%) were monitoring measures. Our analysis highlights the apparent paucity of documented management actions addressing the challenging task of limiting climate change impacts on biodiversity within MPAs—a “biodiversity adaptation gap”. By compiling a community resource of adaptation approaches that can be further expanded and disseminated, we hope to contribute to the effort to adapt MPA networks to climate change.
Funder
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Jarislowsky Foundation
Subject
Nature and Landscape Conservation,Ecology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Reference33 articles.
1. Synergistic Effects of Climate Change and Marine Pollution: An Overlooked Interaction in Coastal and Estuarine Areas
2. CBD. (2011).Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011‐2020 Including Aichi Biodiversity Targets.https://www.cbd.int/sp/
3. CBD. (2022).Decision adopted by the conference of the parties to the convention on biological diversity 15/4.Kunming‐montreal global biodiversity framework.https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop‐15/cop‐15‐dec‐04‐en.pdf
4. Opportunities for climate‐risk reduction through effective fisheries management