Development and management of a network of marine protected areas in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region

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Abstract

Selected and managed effectively, regional networks of marine protected areas (MPAs) have the potential to be important strategies for conserving representative samples of global biodiversity and migratory species, and for the development of trans-national experience in resource management and conservation. This paper reviews current and proposed regional networks of MPAs, and describes the process of establishing an MPA network in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Region as a case study. Critical to the success of this network will be the implementation of a common, regionally agreed management framework, and the development of the necessary technical capacity and expertise in the planning and management of MPAs (currently lacking in several countries represented in the Network). This case study addresses the regional management framework, the mechanisms proposed to coordinate management of the participating MPAs, the mechanisms for strengthening regional capacity, and the potential constraints to achieving the objectives and goals of the network.

Introduction

The systematic selection, establishment and management of systems or networks of protected areas have been recognized as a significant contribution towards global conservation of biological diversity. The 3rd World Parks Congress (WPC) in Bali (1982) recommended the establishment of systems of terrestrial and marine protected areas (MPAs) that were representative of a nation's range of biogeographic variation [1]. Article 8a (in situ Conservation) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) requires contracting parties to establish a system of protected areas or areas where special measures need to be taken to conserve biological diversity [2]. The 4th WPC adopted the Caracas Action Plan, which had as one of its actions the development and implementation of national systems of protected areas [3]. National systems of MPAs have been proposed for, or established, in Canada [4]; Egypt [5]; Saudi Arabia [6], [7]. Recognizing the value of national systems of MPAs, several countries have in recent years begun the process of developing systems of marine regionalisation as the first step towards strategically identifying locations for potential MPAs [8], [9], [10].

Networks of protected areas are established to conserve representative examples of biodiversity, or to protect a set of unique and high profile features [1], [3], [11], [12]. The potential benefits arising from strategically located networks of protected areas include: the conservation of representative and outstanding examples of biodiversity; the conservation of sites required by migratory species (e.g. sea turtles, sea birds); the availability of a focus for education, research and monitoring; the development and fostering of international collaborations; the sharing of management expertise; and the sharing of equipment, infrastructure and human resources for research and monitoring, which is particularly cost efficient.

At a larger scale, regional networks have the potential to contribute to the conservation of representative examples of regional biological diversity. Regions contain distinctive components of global biodiversity that can only be conserved by regional cooperation, because they occur across several countries that share a common sea area. In this context, the benefits of conservation in one country are likely to be felt in neighbouring countries (e.g. through the conservation of transboundary fish stocks), and conversely, the impacts of lack of management are likely to be felt in neighbouring countries (e.g. through a decline in regional fish stocks). Processes determining large-scale patterns in coral reef biodiversity (e.g. habitat area) require habitat protection at a regional scale and “international management of reef resources” [13]. A regional-scale approach to the selection and management of MPAs has several important pre-requisites: region-wide information on the distribution of biological diversity [13]; political agreement for the concept; collaboration amongst neighbouring countries in the identification of the regionally representative network of locations; and a mechanism for coordinating management of MPAs in the network.

The status of MPAs in 18 regional sea areas around the world has been reviewed [14], with the aim of facilitating the establishment of a global, representative system of MPAs. All regions had a number of MPAs existing within them, however, the representation of regional biodiversity within these networks of MPAs was extremely variable and recommendations were made to upgrade the representativeness of existing networks by inclusion of additional MPAs. The structure of existing regional networks of MPAs varies from collections of MPAs in several countries sharing a common sea area, to fully operational regional networks of MPAs that are based on a legal protocol, are regionally coordinated and networked by a range of management support activities. For example, as part of the Mediterranean Action Plan the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean was adopted by the Contracting Parties in June 1995. The Protocol calls for the establishment of a list of Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI), with the objectives of biodiversity conservation and protection of specific Mediterranean ecosystems. The activities of MPAs in the Mediterranean network are coordinated through a Regional Activity Centre in Tunisia that assists member countries in selecting, creating and managing MPAs. To protect the internationally significant tidal wetlands and dependent species of the Wadden Sea a Joint Declaration on the Protection of the Wadden Sea was signed by the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark in 1982, and the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat was established in 1987. About two-thirds of the Wadden Sea area is legally protected in the Trilateral Conservation Area, which includes an almost continuous series of protected areas, national parks and wildlife reserves. Cooperative management of the Trilateral Conservation Area occurs via the Wadden Sea Plan (1997), which includes common management principles, common management objectives for human activities, common ecological targets for the management of six major habitat types, and programs of shared research, monitoring and assessment [15]. The Contracting Parties to the Wider Caribbean Seas programme adopted a Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) protocol that establishes a regional network of MPAs to conserve and restore regional ecosystems. Networking activities include the Wider Caribbean MPA Managers network and a supporting database, a regional guide to funding protected areas in the wider Caribbean, and common guidelines and criteria for protected areas [16], [17]. The Protocol Concerning Protected Areas and Wild Fauna and Flora in the Eastern African Region requires contracting parties establish a regional network of MPAs. The need for an effective networking system for the exchange of ideas and experiences amongst MPA managers in the region was recently highlighted [18].

The Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA) and the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME), with support from the European Union, are presently in the process of developing “Protocols Concerning the Conservation of Biological Diversity and the Establishment of Protected Areas” for the two regions, based on a common strategy. Activities under the two protocols are co-ordinated by the Secretariat of the Kuwait Convention for the ROPME Sea Area and by the Secretariat of the Jeddah Convention for the PERSGA Region [12].

This description of the regional network of MPAs for the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden is presented as a case study in: (1) the selection of sites participating in a regional network of MPAs; (2) the development of a regional management framework for a regional network; (3) the potential benefits for national, regional and global sustainable resource usage and conservation; (4) the potential constraints to effective implementation of a regional network of MPAs. Although the term ‘system of protected areas’ has been widely used in similar contexts, the term ‘regional network of MPAs’ has been adopted here, to highlight the importance of a system of MPAs that has an agreed, common management framework and in which activities are coordinated.

Section snippets

The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region

The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden are globally renowned for their unique and beautiful marine and coastal environments, the diversity of species inhabiting them, the high degree of endemism, and the value of these resources for human development and as part of the region's cultural heritage. The coastal and marine ecosystems have been used by the inhabitants of the region in a sustainable manner for thousands of years [19]. In more recent years the use of these environments and resources has

The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Regional Network of MPAs

MPAs were established in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to manage human uses, to support sustainable resource usage and economic development, and to conserve representative and significant biodiversity [35], [40]. Although 75 MPAs have been established or recommended for the region [20], few are managed appropriately [20], [35]. In addition, there were gaps within these MPAs in representation of regionally significant and representative habitats [14], [20], [21].

During the formulation of the

Management framework

MPAs have the potential to provide a range of conservation, economic and social benefits provided they are managed appropriately [41], [42]. The approach taken in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Regional Network has been to develop a regional framework for management. This regional framework includes the following components: (1) regional objectives, goals, and strategies for the Network that will be used as a basis for developing site-specific objectives, goals, and strategies in each MPA in the

Conclusion

A number of factors may constrain the implementation of the regional network of MPAs. Establishment and management of each of the MPAs will require continued high-level political commitment. The regional organization (PERSGA) has been fully operational only since 1995 and it has limited technical and management capacity. This is expected to develop following the implementation of a number of regional projects funded by donor agencies. There may be insufficient financial support to establish and

Acknowledgements

This paper is an outcome of work carried out under the Marine Protected Areas Component of the Strategic Action Programme for the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, a GEF-funded project implemented by the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the World Bank. Thanks to the staff at PERSGA in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) for their support at all stages of this project. Thanks to Rod Fleming and Andrew Kepert for assistance with the map. Dr. Alain Jeudy de Grissac

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    Current address: Senckenberg Research Institute, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt a.M., Germany.

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