Transcript wwf talk - Helene Marsh

The CAR approach in the
marine environment: an
overview
Helene Marsh
School of Tropical Environment
Studies and Geography
James Cook University
What is CAR?
• Comprehensive
– incorporating the full range of ecosystems recognised at
an appropriate scale within and across each bioregion
• Adequate
– the level of reservation required to ensure the ecological
viability and integrity of species, populations and
communities
• Representative
– the marine areas that are selected for inclusion in an
MPA should reasonably reflect the biotic diversity of the
marine ecosystems from which they derive
Representative Areas
Protecting representative examples of
broadscale habitats and the ecological
processes upon which species depend
International Expert Opinion
US National Research Council Committee on the
evaluation design and monitoring of marine
reserves 2000 recommends
For MPAs to protect biodiversity
• set aside representative areas of each different habitat in
each bioregion
• establish systems of marine reserves which are large and
interconnected enough to be self sustaining
• include each habitat type in multiple reserves to provide
buffers against changing environmental and societal forces
• Thus international expert opinion endorses the CAR
approach
Australia’s commitment to the
CAR approach for MPAs
National Representative System of Marine
Protected Areas - NRSMPA
– established especially for the conservation of
biodiversity
– can be classified into one of more of the 6 IUCN
protected area categories with significant proportion in
Highly Protected Areas- IUCN categories 1 and 11
– must have secure status which can only be revoked by
parliamentary process
– must contribute to the representativeness,
comprehensiveness or adequacy of the national system
International context for
NRSMPAs
• International responsibilities and obligations as
signatory to Convention of Biological Diversity
• Major component of Jakarta Mandate under that
Convention
• Also means of meeting obligations under:
– Bonn Convention
– JAMBA and CAMBA
– IUCN protected areas program for global
representative system of MPAs
National context for NRSMPAs
• Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment 1992
• National Strategy for ESD 1992
• National Strategy for Conservation of Australia’s Biological
Diversity 1996
• Oceans Policy 1998
– broad principles and management approaches to achieve
ESD of Australia’s Oceans
– move to ecosystem based planning and management
delivered through ecosystem based planning via
Regional Marine Plans based on large marine
ecosystems
• ANZECC 1999 Strategic Plan of Action for NRSMPAs
Primary goal of NRSMPAs
• To establish and manage a comprehensive,
adequate and representative system of MPAs
to contribute to the long-term ecological viability
of of marine and estuarine systems, to maintain
ecological processes and systems and to protect
Australia’s biodiversity at all levels
Other goals of NRSMPA
• promote development of MPAs within framework of
ecosystem management
• provide management framework within broad spectrum of
human activities
• provide scientific reference sites
• provide for special needs of rare, depleted or threatened
species and communities
• provide for the conservation of special groups of organisms
including migratory species
• protect areas of high conservation value
• provide for the recreational, aesthetic and cultural needs of
indigenous and non-indigenous Australians
GBRWHA is:
• Large marine
ecosystem
• > 2000 km
long
• up to 250 km
wide
It includes:
• over 3000
reefs
• over 900
islands
• GBRMP
world’s
biggest MPA
How does GBRMP conform to
secondary goals of NRSMPA?
• promote development of MPAs within framework of
ecosystem management 
• provide management framework within broad spectrum of
human activities
• provide scientific reference sites 
• provide for special needs of rare, depleted or threatened
species and communities 
• provide for the conservation of special groups of organisms
including migratory species 
• protect areas of high conservation value 
• provide for the recreational, aesthetic and cultural needs of
indigenous and non-indigenous Australians
Based on:
advice of
reef and
non-reef
experts and
all available
data sets
including
data on
geodiversity
and
biodiversity
Why doesn’t GBRMP comply
with NRSMPA’s primary goal?
• ~ 4.5% of GBR that is highly protected (i.e. ‘no
take’) is not spread across all bioregions; some
bioregions (espec. non-reef bioregions) clearly
currently have little or no protection
% Protected
Bioregion type
Reef
Non Reef
Unclassified
Totals
No protection
<1 – 5 %
5 – 15%
15 – 25%
>25%
2
8
4
14
7
10
2
19
9
7
1
17
3
5
0
8
9
4
1
14
• Does not conform to CAR principles which have been
adopted as national policy
• Does not protect full range of biodiversity of GBRWHA
GBRWHA is much more than just
coral reefs ….
GBRWHA also includes:
•
mangroves
•
sandy & coral cays
•
continental islands
•
seagrass beds (shallow & deepwater)
•
algal & sponge ‘gardens’
•
sandy and muddy bottom communities
•
deep ocean troughs.
Why does the application of the CAR system
have the potential to succeed in protecting the
biodiversity of the GBRWHA?
•in contrast to a terrestrial environment all parts of the area are
potentially available as highly protected areas - no private
ownership
•area is is huge - lots of choice
•implemented within an ecosystem scale MPA framework with
varying controls throughout the GBRMPA
•biophysical principles have priority in process to select
candidate areas - other values taken in to account
International Expert Opinion
US National Research Council Committee on the
evaluation design and monitoring of marine
reserves 2000 recommends
For MPAs to protect biodiversity
• set aside representative areas of each different habitat in
each bioregion
• establish systems of marine reserves which are large
enough and interconnected to be self sustaining
• include each habitat type in multiple reserves to provide
buffers against changing environmental and societal
forces
Most international experts on MPA design regard the GBRMPA
RAP process as THE MODEL TO WHICH THE REST OF THE
WORLD SHOULD ASPIRE