Marine protected areas in the context of climate change: key challenges for coastal social-ecological systems

Abstract

Climate and ecological emergencies play out acutely in coastal systems with devastating impacts on biodiversity, and the livelihoods of communities and their cultural values. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are one of the key management and regulatory tools against biodiversity loss, playing a role in strengthening bio-cultural diversity and sustainability of coastal social-ecological systems. What is unclear though is the effectiveness of static protections under climate change as species move. Next to ecological uncertainty, regulatory uncertainty may play a role in weakening marine conservation. We asked whether MPAs are ecologically effective now and can sustain or improve to be so in the future while facing key climate and regulatory uncertainties. MPAs can support the protection of cultural values and have an impact on activities of sea-users and the sustainability of social-ecological systems. As such, questions surrounding their legitimacy under a changing climate and increased uncertainty are pertinent. We argue that MPA governance must be cognisant of the interdependency between natural and human systems and their joint reaction to climate change impacts based on an integrated, co-developed, and interdisciplinary approach. Focusing on the UK as a case study, we highlight some of the challenges to achieve effective, adaptive and legitimate governance of MPAs. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Nurturing resilient marine ecosystems’.

Adaptation pathways for effective responses to climate change risks

“…What they often do not consider are the relative costs and trade-offs resulting from implementing values or costs and values for local communities (Dietz et al, 2005;Kenter & O'Connor, 2022) or the non-monetary values of coastal social-ecological systems (Cooley et al, 2022). Consequently, decision making raises questions of legitimacy given the plurality of perspectives for collective problem solving (Steele, 2001) which are important to successful adaptation (Schmidt et al, 2022).…”

“…Most managed adaptation approaches focus on reducing vulnerability of ecosystems, through the relative risk reduction of protected areas (Lubchenco & Grorud‐Colvert, 2015). Additionally, a lack of connection between land use change, climate impacts on rivers, and the coastal ecosystems hinders a joint up risk assessment for these important ecosystems (Schmidt et al, 2022). Habitat diversification in protected areas is considered beneficial, but the knowledge of losses of protected species and habitat and the resulting integrity of the network is limited (Grorud‐Colvert et al, 2022).…”

Kondisi Terumbu Karang Dan Komunitas Ikan Pada Area Pencadangan Kawasan Konservasi Daerah (Kkd) Watupute, Kabupaten Kolaka Utara

“…Kawasan ini dibentuk dan ditetapkan berdasarkan kriteria ekologi, sosial budaya, dan ekonomi. Keberadaan kawasan konservasi yang dikelola secara efektif terbukti dapat memberikan manfaat bagi keberlanjutan sumber daya baik di dalam maupun di luar kawasan konservasi termasuk manfaat sosial, ekonomi dan budaya bagi masyarakat sekitar kawasan konservasi (Jones et al, 2013;López-Angarita et al, 2014;Schmidt, et al, 2022).…”