Commission for Environmental Cooperation

Enhancing Co-benefits of Marine Protected Areas

Status: Active
Operational Plan: 2021
Project Duration: 36 months months
Start date: December 1, 2021

The marine environment is inherently connected and transboundary in nature, causing threats to biodiversity to have impacts at local, regional, and global scales. Climate change has increased the need for collaboration across seascapes, as climate change impacts can affect the distribution and movement of species and cause habitat shifts. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are key to conserving and restoring coastal and marine ecosystems, delivering many natural and socio-economic co-benefits. Strengthening collaboration and capacity across MPAs in North America has been an ongoing priority for the CEC. Previous work has included the development of tools to identify vulnerabilities in coastal and marine ecosystems and develop targeted adaptation strategies. Building on this past work, the current project aims to support the development of an ecologically and socially inclusive network of MPAs for the benefit of coastal and marine ecosystems, coastal communities, and a more resilient North America. Recognizing the leadership role of Indigenous and local communities in the management and conservation of coastal and marine areas, the project aims to increase Indigenous and local community engagement in North American MPA networks. The project will provide opportunities for knowledge sharing and capacity building to enhance the role of coastal and marine protected areas as nature-based solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation, while ensuring socio-economic co-benefits to fisheries, tourism, and other sectors.

To find out more about this project, here is the complete project description.