Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2021
Mapping and Evaluating Marine Protected Areas and Ecosystem Services: A Transdisciplinary Delphi Forecasting Process Framework
Belgrano, Andrea; Novaglio, Camilla; Svedang, Henrik; Villasante, Sebastian; Melian, Carlos J.; Blenckner, Thorsten; Bergstrom, Ulf; Bryhn, Andreas; Bergstrom, Lena; Bartolino, Valerio; Skold, Mattias; Tomczak, Maciej; Wikstrom, Sofia A.; Hansen, Andreas Skriver; Linke, Sebastian; Emmerson, Richard; Morf, Andrea; Tonnesson, KajsaAbstract
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are an important tool for management and conservation and play an increasingly recognised role in societal and human well-being. However, the assessment of MPAs often lacks a simultaneous consideration of ecological and socio-economic outcomes, and this can lead to misconceptions on the effectiveness of MPAs. In this perspective, we present a transdisciplinary approach based on the Delphi method for mapping and evaluating Marine Protected Areas for their ability to protect biodiversity while providing Ecosystem Services (ES) and related human well-being benefits - i.e., the ecosystem outputs from which people benefit. We highlight the need to include the human dimensions of marine protection in such assessments, given that the effectiveness of MPAs over time is conditional on the social, cultural and institutional contexts in which MPAs evolve. Our approach supports Ecosystem-Based Management and highlights the importance of MPAs in achieving restoration, conservation, and sustainable development objectives in relation to EU Directives such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD), and the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).Keywords
biodiversity; fisheries; blue economy; ecosystem-based management; human well-being; socio-ecological systems; surveysPublished in
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2021, volume: 9, article number: 652492
Publisher: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
Authors' information
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Resources
University of Gothenburg
Novaglio, Camilla
University of Tasmania
Svedang, Henrik
University of Gothenburg
Villasante, Sebastian
University of Santiago De Compostela
Melian, Carlos J.
Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG)
Blenckner, Thorsten
Stockholm University
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Resources
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Resources
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Resources
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Resources
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Resources
Tomczak, Maciej
Stockholm University
Wikstrom, Sofia A.
Stockholm University
Hansen, Andreas Skriver
University of Gothenburg
Linke, Sebastian
University of Gothenburg
Emmerson, Richard
University of Gothenburg
Morf, Andrea
University of Gothenburg
Tonnesson, Kajsa
University of Gothenburg
Associated SLU-program
Coastal and sea areas
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG14 Life below water
UKÄ Subject classification
Ecology
Publication Identifiers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.652492
URI (permanent link to this page)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/112138