Authors:
Lucia Bongiorni, National Research Council – CNR
Matthieu Bekaert, National Research Council – CNR
Dunja Jusufovski, University of Tartu – UTARTU
Francisco R. Barboza, University of Tartu – UTARTU
Martina Bocci, National Research Council – CNR
Eléonore Cambra, National Research Council – CNR-ISMAR
Elena Gissi, National Research Council – CNR-ISMAR
Natascha Jaspert, sustainable Projects – s.Pro
Marine ecosystems are teeming with life and play a vital role in supporting human well-being worldwide. To ensure we reduce our impacts and continue benefiting from these ecosystems, it is essential to identify and protect key areas that support healthy biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Currently, conservation efforts often prioritize the identification of species present, or the taxonomic composition and diversity of an ecosystem. Yet, incorporating and comprehending functional aspects (referring to the set of ecological and biogeochemical processes that defines the cycle of matter and flow of energy in marine ecosystems, i.e. primary production or species life traits) into conservation planning, remains a challenge.
Why functional aspects matter
When managing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), it is crucial to consider not just the species present but the roles they play in maintaining the healthy functioning of ecosystems. Including species functions and ecosystem processes in decision-making is critical for effective management and ecologically coherent networks.
In Work Package 3 of MSP4BIO an expert group reviewed existing scientific literature and proposed methods to include ecological functions in the design and management of conservation measures. Building on this, a portfolio of improved ecological and climate-related (from D3.3, guidance on climate inclusion in MSP) criteria was developed to promote the consideration of these factors and, therefore, move towards a more holistic ecosystem perspective in marine conservation. Key proposed criteria include:
Figure 1. Macro-criteria of the Ecological Toolkit to be applied in systemic biodiversity protection and restoration, Deliverable D.3.4, under the WP3 of MSP4BIO project (GA n° 101060707).
The Ecological-Socio-Economic Framework
The improved portfolio of ecological criteria is provided for integration into the Ecological Toolkit (ESE1) and finally converges into one of the key outputs of MSP4BIO, the Ecological-Socio-Economic (ESE) Framework. This framework combines ecological, social, and economic factors to guide decision-making in the design and management of MPAs and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP). By including a broad range of considerations, it ensures that conservation efforts are not only scientifically sound but also socially just and economically feasible. Within this framework, the ecological toolkit offers practical tools for defining management needs, establishing criteria and strategies, integrating relevant data, and applying decision support tools (DSTs) to prioritize and designate areas from an ecological standpoint.
The Way Forward
Ecological functions have not yet been fully incorporated into management or policy, often due to data constraints. The creation of an improved set of ecological criteria for conservation planning addresses this issue by offering a structured approach for closing these knowledge gaps. As part of the ESE1 and ultimately the ESE framework, MPA and MSP planners have the means to actively promote biodiversity protection and effective conservation/restoration of marine ecosystems.
Check out the details here. Let’s advance conservation efforts together for a sustainable future!
