April 6, 2023
sprep-pa
The tiny tropical archipelago of Palau feels enormous responsibility for the health of the ocean. It now compels all who visit it to share this as well.
The role of Indigenous peoples and local communities in effective and equitable conservation
Debate about what proportion of the Earth to protect often overshadows the question of how nature should be conserved and by whom. We present a systematic review and narrative synthesis of 169 publications investigating how different forms of governance influence conservation outcomes, paying particular attention to the role played by Indigenous peoples and local communities. We find a stark contrast between the outcomes produced by externally controlled conservation, and those produced by locally controlled efforts.
Evaluating the social and ecological effectiveness of partially protected marine areas
Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a primary tool for the stewardship, conservation, and restoration of marine ecosystems, yet 69% of global MPAs are only partially protected (i.e., are open to some form of fishing). Although fully protected areas have well-documented outcomes, including increased fish diversity and biomass, the effectiveness of partially protected areas is contested.