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Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) special feature: editorial
Environmental Management
|March 23, 2011
Summary
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have rapidly increased, necessitating effective management for success. This research evaluates MPA management systems and objective achievement, offering global insights for planners and managers.
Area of Science:
- Marine Conservation
- Environmental Management
- Conservation Science
Background:
- The number of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) has surged globally since 1970.
- Academic literature on MPAs increasingly employs ecological, economic, and governance perspectives.
- Effective management is crucial for achieving desired outcomes in MPAs.
Discussion:
- This Special Feature examines MPA management appropriateness and objective achievement.
- It addresses stakeholder buy-in, integration of stakeholder views, site selection, and monitoring/evaluation mechanisms.
- Insights are drawn from 14 articles with diverse disciplinary and global perspectives.
Key Insights:
- MPA site selection processes are critical.
- Achieving stakeholder buy-in and reflecting their views in management systems are vital.
- Robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks are essential for MPA effectiveness.
Outlook:
- Understanding challenges in MPA planning and management is key.
- This collection aims to enhance knowledge on MPA effectiveness globally.
- Future research should focus on refining management strategies and governance models for MPAs.
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