Marine Protected Area Marine Protected Area Management Effectiveness InitiativeManagement Effectiveness Initiative

(MPA-MEI)(MPA-MEI)

Pilot MPAs SummaryPilot MPAs Summary

WCPA-Marine / WWFWCPA-Marine / WWFMPA Management Effectiveness MPA Management Effectiveness

InitiativeInitiativeGoalGoal

• Improve the management of MPAs by providing Improve the management of MPAs by providing managers, planners and other decision-makers with managers, planners and other decision-makers with methods for assessing the effectiveness of MPA sitesmethods for assessing the effectiveness of MPA sites

ObjectivesObjectives• Develop MPA-specific indicators and a guidebook for

MPA managers

• Field-test and refine indicators and guidebook based on pilot projects

• Increase awareness and use of monitoring and evaluation in MPAs

Developing the IndicatorsDeveloping the Indicators(April-October 2001)(April-October 2001)

Venezuela Workshop – 35 MPA ExpertsVenezuela Workshop – 35 MPA Experts

Indicator OutlineIndicator Outline(November 2001 – June 2002)(November 2001 – June 2002)

• Name of indicatorName of indicator

• Goals/objectives related to indicatorGoals/objectives related to indicator

• How difficult is it to measure?How difficult is it to measure?

• What is…? What is…? (definition)

• Why measure it? Why measure it? (purpose/rationale)

• What is required to measure it? What is required to measure it? (resources)

• How are data collected? How are data collected? (method)

• How are results interpreted/shared? How are results interpreted/shared? (analysis & communications)

• OutputsOutputs

• Strengths and limitationsStrengths and limitations

• Example Example (from a pilot site)

• References/useful informationReferences/useful information

(February-May 2002 )(February-May 2002 )

Some Characteristics of the MPAsSome Characteristics of the MPAs

Natural settingNatural setting (#sites) (#sites)

• TemperateTemperate 44

• Sub-tropicalSub-tropical 33

• TropicalTropical 1111

SizeSize (average #) (average #)

• Small Small (<100 km(<100 km22): ): 66

• Medium Medium (100-1000 km(100-1000 km22):): 4 4

• Large Large (>1000 Km(>1000 Km22):): 8 8

Management ApproachManagement Approach

• Conventional:Conventional: 1010

• Co-management:Co-management: 66

• Community-based:Community-based: 22

22Working Draft Working Draft

GuidebookGuidebook(July-September (July-September

2002)2002)

Pilot Sites Training WorkshopPilot Sites Training Workshop(September 2002)(September 2002)

Revising the Guidebook Revising the Guidebook (October 2002 – June 2003 )(October 2002 – June 2003 )

Comments on the Draft Guidebooks:Comments on the Draft Guidebooks:

• 18 Pilot project teams 18 Pilot project teams

• Over 60 external reviewers Over 60 external reviewers

6-month timeframe to test the draft guidebook6-month timeframe to test the draft guidebook

• Results from 11 sites were analyzed for Results from 11 sites were analyzed for guidebook revision (by April 2003)guidebook revision (by April 2003)

• 2 additional sites completed field testing 2 additional sites completed field testing

Results from Field-testing reportsResults from Field-testing reports

Indicators SelectedIndicators Selected (average #) (average #)

• Biophysical:Biophysical: 33 [11][11]

• Governance:Governance:44 [17][17]

• Socioeconomic:Socioeconomic: 55 [16][16][# offered in the draft guidebook][# offered in the draft guidebook]

All sites were able to match their goals All sites were able to match their goals and objectives against the appropriate and objectives against the appropriate indicators using the guidebook. indicators using the guidebook.

Results from Field-testing reportsResults from Field-testing reports

• Most of the MPAs selected the “appropriate” Most of the MPAs selected the “appropriate” indicators for measuring ME in their sitesindicators for measuring ME in their sites

• Some additional socioeconomic and Some additional socioeconomic and governance indicator were proposed by governance indicator were proposed by individual MPAsindividual MPAs

• Most sites had team members with different Most sites had team members with different skills and trainingskills and training

• Biophysical and socioeconomic indicators Biophysical and socioeconomic indicators were reported as being the most expensive were reported as being the most expensive and time consuming to measureand time consuming to measure

Results from Field-testing reportsResults from Field-testing reports

• MPAs used the methods suggested in the MPAs used the methods suggested in the guidebook for measuring their indicatorsguidebook for measuring their indicators

• Few alternative methods and techniques Few alternative methods and techniques were proposed by pilot sites with were proposed by pilot sites with established monitoring programs and/or established monitoring programs and/or qualified working teamsqualified working teams

• Adaptation to some guidebook methods was Adaptation to some guidebook methods was achieved by pilot sites to confront specific achieved by pilot sites to confront specific problems, such as: problems, such as: •accessibility accessibility •participation of local communitiesparticipation of local communities•seasonal activities and natural processes seasonal activities and natural processes

Results from Field-testing reports ChallengesResults from Field-testing reports Challenges

• Lack Socioeconomic and governance Lack Socioeconomic and governance professional and technical capacityprofessional and technical capacity

• Lack of time, resources, and evaluation Lack of time, resources, and evaluation experienceexperience

• Difficulty in accessing some areas of large Difficulty in accessing some areas of large MPAs MPAs

• Difficulty in obtaining local population’s Difficulty in obtaining local population’s participationparticipation

• Lack of clear definition and understanding of Lack of clear definition and understanding of the MPA goals and objectives the MPA goals and objectives

Future ImplementationFuture Implementation

• Guidebook found to be usefulGuidebook found to be useful

• All indicators found to be useful for All indicators found to be useful for adaptive management purposes, specially adaptive management purposes, specially governance indicators (indicated by pilot governance indicators (indicated by pilot MPAs)MPAs)

• Need for increased understanding and Need for increased understanding and focus on socioeconomic and governance focus on socioeconomic and governance aspects of MPAsaspects of MPAs

• Need for guidance on MPA design and Need for guidance on MPA design and management planningmanagement planning

• Need for MPA prioritize adaptive Need for MPA prioritize adaptive management within overall management management within overall management processprocess

RecommendationsRecommendations

• Adapt for different target audiences (developed Adapt for different target audiences (developed vs. developing countries)vs. developing countries)

• Develop a shorter and more pictorial version Develop a shorter and more pictorial version (targeted to broader audience)(targeted to broader audience)

• Reduce the number of indicators with high Reduce the number of indicators with high difficulty ratings (difficulty ratings (3)3)

• Improve the chart of analysis/process and matrixes Improve the chart of analysis/process and matrixes with indicatorswith indicators

• Make it easier to read sequentially (so readers do Make it easier to read sequentially (so readers do not have to jump around in text)not have to jump around in text)

• Use technical wording of objectives (results rather Use technical wording of objectives (results rather than actions)than actions)

• Emphasize the use of existing data (not a new Emphasize the use of existing data (not a new process in each indicator)process in each indicator)

• Standardize terminologyStandardize terminology

Suggestion to the Draft GuidebookSuggestion to the Draft Guidebook

• Need more timeNeed more time 99

• Simplify the guidebookSimplify the guidebook 66

• Simplify languageSimplify language 66

• Simplify methodsSimplify methods 55

• Clarify processClarify process 33

• More information/indicatorsMore information/indicators 22

• Simplify diagramsSimplify diagrams 22

# Pilot MPAs# Pilot MPAs

In Proof

4-Step Process4-Step Process

Goals, Objectives & IndicatorsGoals, Objectives & Indicators

http://effectiveMPA.noaa.gov

Further InformationFurther Information

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