Author: Ivana Stojanovic – s.Pro
Last week, the beautiful coastal city of Bodø, Norway, hosted the MPA in MSP Conference — a major international event dedicated to strengthening the link between Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP).
Organised by our sister project MPA Europe, the conference brought together a global network of researchers, policymakers, and practitioners working at the frontlines of marine protection. The aim: to share the latest insights, tools, and strategies for more effective, biodiversity-smart ocean governance.
MSP4BIO’s Contribution: Bridging Biodiversity and Spatial Planning
The MSP4BIO project was proud to contribute to the conference with a series of impactful presentations and discussions.
🔹 Martina Bocci introduced the project’s flagship outcome—the ESE Framework, a structured tool designed to support the integration of biodiversity protection into MSP in a systematic, evidence-based way.
🔹 Ivana Stojanović showcased our work on a practical guide to MPA/MSP integration, aimed at enhancing coherence between conservation objectives and spatial planning at sea.
🔹 Elena Gissi presented a poster exploring key management questions that help mainstream biodiversity conservation within MSP processes.
🔹 Camila Pegorelli Gomes and Débora Gutierrez shared strategic approaches for aligning blue economy sectors within MPAs to support more robust, ecosystem-based management.
Collaboration Across Sister Projects
The event also offered an opportunity for collaboration and reflection across three Horizon Europe sister projects— MSP4BIO, MPA Europe, and MarinePlan. Together, we celebrated the results of three years of shared effort and alignment toward a common goal: a more resilient and ecologically sound marine environment.
Furthermore, Débora Gutierrez presented the stakeholder engagement process developed under BLUE CONNECT, a fellow project of the MPA Community Network, highlighting inclusive and participatory approaches to marine planning.
A United Call to Action
The conference concluded with a powerful message: it’s time to move from planning to action.
Participants emphasized the urgency of accelerating the implementation of MPAs and ensuring they are effectively integrated into marine spatial plans. Well-managed, climate-resilient MPAs are not only vital for halting biodiversity loss—they also safeguard the ecosystem services that coastal communities and the global economy rely on.
Looking ahead to the 2030 global biodiversity targets, the conference set the stage for continued collaboration. A follow-up event is already being planned for later this decade to evaluate progress, share lessons learned, and define the path forward toward stronger, more impactful marine protection.
