Experiences With Governance in Three Marine Conservation Zoning Initiatives: Parameters for Assessment and Pathways Forward

In this perspective paper, we examine the challenges of governance in three marine conservation settings where rights, access to resources and zoning intersect with changing social and ecological conditions: (1) Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area in South Africa; (2) Marine Protected Area of the Nort...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ella-Kari Muhl, Ana Carolina Esteves Dias, Derek Armitage
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Marine Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2020.00629/full
_version_ 1828836904642019328
author Ella-Kari Muhl
Ana Carolina Esteves Dias
Derek Armitage
author_facet Ella-Kari Muhl
Ana Carolina Esteves Dias
Derek Armitage
author_sort Ella-Kari Muhl
collection DOAJ
description In this perspective paper, we examine the challenges of governance in three marine conservation settings where rights, access to resources and zoning intersect with changing social and ecological conditions: (1) Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area in South Africa; (2) Marine Protected Area of the Northern Coast of São Paulo (APAMLN) in Brazil; and (3) Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve in Canada. Many MPAs and related zoning initiatives are located adjacent to coastal communities that rely on marine and coastal resources for their livelihoods. Thus, processes of zoning must often address local use of natural resources which can be perceived by decision-makers and regulators as problematic. Our analysis highlights how conservation zoning intersects with the perception of diverse stakeholders regarding a range of governance dimensions, including: (1) levels of participation and compliance; (2) the clarity of zoning and conservation objectives; (3) livelihood impacts and benefits; (4) evidence of ecological and conservation benefits; and (5) the influence on sense of place. Pathways forward to address the challenges of governance associated with zoning include the importance of co-producing knowledge for more robust zoning outcomes, and situating zoning processes in a co-management context in which power and authority are more evenly distributed.
first_indexed 2024-12-12T18:30:29Z
format Article
id doaj.art-8798f2447d5a40b69314a764109106b4
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2296-7745
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-12T18:30:29Z
publishDate 2020-07-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Marine Science
spelling doaj.art-8798f2447d5a40b69314a764109106b42022-12-22T00:15:56ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452020-07-01710.3389/fmars.2020.00629546570Experiences With Governance in Three Marine Conservation Zoning Initiatives: Parameters for Assessment and Pathways ForwardElla-Kari MuhlAna Carolina Esteves DiasDerek ArmitageIn this perspective paper, we examine the challenges of governance in three marine conservation settings where rights, access to resources and zoning intersect with changing social and ecological conditions: (1) Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area in South Africa; (2) Marine Protected Area of the Northern Coast of São Paulo (APAMLN) in Brazil; and (3) Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve in Canada. Many MPAs and related zoning initiatives are located adjacent to coastal communities that rely on marine and coastal resources for their livelihoods. Thus, processes of zoning must often address local use of natural resources which can be perceived by decision-makers and regulators as problematic. Our analysis highlights how conservation zoning intersects with the perception of diverse stakeholders regarding a range of governance dimensions, including: (1) levels of participation and compliance; (2) the clarity of zoning and conservation objectives; (3) livelihood impacts and benefits; (4) evidence of ecological and conservation benefits; and (5) the influence on sense of place. Pathways forward to address the challenges of governance associated with zoning include the importance of co-producing knowledge for more robust zoning outcomes, and situating zoning processes in a co-management context in which power and authority are more evenly distributed.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2020.00629/fullmarine protected areaszoninggovernanceperceptionsrights
spellingShingle Ella-Kari Muhl
Ana Carolina Esteves Dias
Derek Armitage
Experiences With Governance in Three Marine Conservation Zoning Initiatives: Parameters for Assessment and Pathways Forward
Frontiers in Marine Science
marine protected areas
zoning
governance
perceptions
rights
title Experiences With Governance in Three Marine Conservation Zoning Initiatives: Parameters for Assessment and Pathways Forward
title_full Experiences With Governance in Three Marine Conservation Zoning Initiatives: Parameters for Assessment and Pathways Forward
title_fullStr Experiences With Governance in Three Marine Conservation Zoning Initiatives: Parameters for Assessment and Pathways Forward
title_full_unstemmed Experiences With Governance in Three Marine Conservation Zoning Initiatives: Parameters for Assessment and Pathways Forward
title_short Experiences With Governance in Three Marine Conservation Zoning Initiatives: Parameters for Assessment and Pathways Forward
title_sort experiences with governance in three marine conservation zoning initiatives parameters for assessment and pathways forward
topic marine protected areas
zoning
governance
perceptions
rights
url https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2020.00629/full
work_keys_str_mv AT ellakarimuhl experienceswithgovernanceinthreemarineconservationzoninginitiativesparametersforassessmentandpathwaysforward
AT anacarolinaestevesdias experienceswithgovernanceinthreemarineconservationzoninginitiativesparametersforassessmentandpathwaysforward
AT derekarmitage experienceswithgovernanceinthreemarineconservationzoninginitiativesparametersforassessmentandpathwaysforward