Governance

Marine and coastal protected areas (MCPAs) are a core mechanism in national efforts to conserve coastal ecosystems and biodiversity. These areas are valued not only for the aesthetic and cultural aspects but also as providers of important ecosystem services including watershed protection, erosion control and protection of key stocks of natural resources such as fisheries and forests.Despite two thirds of the earth surface is covered by oceans, marine protected areas only makes up a fraction of terrestrial protected areas. Coastal areas remain poorly represented in the national protected area networks of the countries participating in MFF, and many vitally important or threatened coastal ecosystems do not have protected status. Greater representation is required to address these gaps in coverage, and to ensure that critical ecosystems are conserved.

As part of the MFF preparatory activities a gap analysis to review existing protected area coverage, identify regionally or nationally under-represented ecosystems, and recommend areas in need of additional protection was conducted. The MFF countries are at different stages in developing their protected area systems, and needs vary accordingly. Even where good intended protected areas have been established in coastal areas, some remain “paper parks”, as there is weak capacity and inadequate funding to manage them effectively. There is also a strong need to support measures to improve management effectiveness, including designing protected areas for resilience linked to climate change, improved integration with tourism, support to participatory management approaches, improving buffer zone management, and identifying sustainable financing mechanisms. MFF has approved its first large project under this PoW,” Evaluating and improving the management effectiveness of Thailand's Marine and Coastal Protected Areas.”

This programme of work intends to carry out actions to generate the following outputs:

1. Gap analysis to review existing protected area coverage, identify regionally or nationally under-represented ecosystems, and recommend areas in need of additional protection.
   
   
2. Assessment of management effectiveness of existing protected areas leading to the development of strategies for management improvements.
   
   
3. Support to the development of new, or strengthening of existing, protected areas in critical or under-represented coastal ecosystems
   
   
4. Supporting a regional forum and learning network to share knowledge and approaches on protected area management.
   
   
5. Development of codes of conduct for the tourism industry for the use of protected areas.

The actions carried out under this programme of work will contribute towards the following MFF results: More sustainable, equitable and effective protection, and where necessary rehabilitation, of coastal ecosystems Increased and more effective investment of funds in coastal ecosystem management Enhanced action in coastal conservation through partnership with the private sector Improved participation in, support for, and benefit from, ecosystem conservation among coastal dwellers, especially women