Transboundary MPAs: a challenge for the twenty‐first century

Abstract

Purpose

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), set specific targets for halting biodiversity loss, including the need to establish 10 per cent of coastal/marine areas conserved through, among other things, well‐connected systems of protected areas by 2020. The reality is that whereas nearly 15 per cent of land is protected, just over 1 per cent of marine space is similarly protected. The challenge is to reach “a global representative system” of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), recognizing that countries need to establish cooperative mechanisms at ecoregion level. The purpose of this paper is to address the options and trends for countries to develop transboundary cooperation through MPAs.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors address several case studies, focusing on political, governance and financing frameworks.

Findings

The main findings revealed that countries use MoU, MoA or Joint Declaration supported on international conventions as the WHC, Ramsar Convention and CMS. Governance models seem to include political/management/technical levels, with political decisions translated into action plans carried out by joint committees, supported by national institutions and scientific/technical boards. Also the involvement of civil society in management is a growing driving force. Financing transboundary MPAs is going through an evolutionary process, from an exclusive binomial national budgets/UNEP‐GEF to a wider financial net through ecotourism income and private donors.

Originality/value

The different solutions found point out myriad possibilities where transboundary cooperation is envisaged. States can benefit from the experiences already acquired to jointly achieve the target of protecting 10 per cent of the marine environment by 2020.

Citation

Ângelo Guerreiro da Silva, J., Curto Fernandes e Castro Ribeiro, R., de Carvalho Cameira Mocinho Viras, A. and Bentes Silva Grilo, C. (2012), "Transboundary MPAs: a challenge for the twenty‐first century", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 23 No. 4, pp. 328-346. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777831211232191