Seminar Series 2003

Science and planning for marine conservation and management

Mary Gleason, The Nature Conservancy

Key elements of successful marine conservation and management include a sound basis in science, planning, a policy and legal framework, and increased human capacity for management. Planning provides the framework and process by which scientists, local communities, non-governmental organizations, and government agencies can work together to improve management of the coastal zone and protection of marine biodiversity. Scientists and conservation planners have important roles in guiding the planning process, identifying conservation targets and goals, developing and designing strategies such as networks of marine protected areas, and providing critical scientific inputs in the form of baseline assessments, applied research, and monitoring studies to evaluate the success of implementation efforts. I’ll discuss the scientific, planning and capacity building approach used in a USAID funded project to promote improved coastal resource management in the Philippines. I’ll also discuss The Nature Conservancy’s approach for marine ecoregional planning using GIS-based reserve design software and the design of networks of resilient marine protected areas.