20
4. The complex relationship between MSP and MCPAs
As an area-based management tool, a marine, and coastal protected area is a „clearly defined
geographical space, recognized, dedicated, and managed, through legal or other effective means,
to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services, and cultural
values‟ (IUCN 2019) Likewise, in the Algerian law (Act 11-02), an MPA is a geographically
delimited portion of land, sea, river and/or lagoon that is defined, regulated, and managed for the
protection, and maintenance of the natural, and cultural heritage, as one of the following
categories:
- National park
- Natural park
- Integral natural reserve
- Natural reserve
- Management reserve for habitats, and species
- Natural site
- Biological corridor
Marine and coastal protected areas are managed to achieve specific (long-term biodiversity)
conservation, and sustainable use objectives, and afford higher protection than the surrounding
areas ranging from small, local, and community-based networks to national networks to regional
multistate initiatives.
If managed in isolation, coastal, and marine protected areas are vulnerable to the impacts of
resource development, and exploitation occurring outside these areas, particularly overfishing,
alteration, and destruction of habitats, climate change, and marine pollution. Thus, protecting
coastal and marine areas, including species, habitats, landscapes, and seascapes should be
integrated into spatial development strategies (Winther et al., 2020). Furthermore, stressing the
need for MSP in MCPAs, Ehler and Douvre (2009) state that the future of marine biodiversity,
associated ecosystem service benefits, and of MCPAs, is heavily dependent on the management
of human activities in their surrounding environment. Indeed, even an effectively managed
network of MCPAs will have limited effect on marine resources without help from MSP.
The wide variety of MSP approaches suggests that there is no single way to do MSP effectively,
and that biodiversity conservation is not necessarily a major goal of MSP, nor is it always a
consequence of its implementation. Nonetheless, there are elements of successful MSP that
contribute to positive conservation and development outcomes (UNEP/CBD 2012). Such
positive biodiversity outcomes occur through MSP when interconnected ecosystems are treated
systematically, and all impacting uses/pressures are addressed, as warranted by the problems that
management must consider (Agardy et al. 2011).
Basically, the combination of MSP and MCPAs is a win-win situation. For example, MSP could
enhance the performance of a marine protected area network through zoning synergistic marineuse areas close to MPAs or buffer zones around vulnerable ones. It could provide a broader
perspective on the way in which MPAs are nested within a marine spatial plan, and increase
ecological representativeness through protection of important areas, including those not selected
as sites for MPAs, where conservation measures could be proposed, and implemented. Also,
4. The complex relationship between MSP and MCPAs
As an area-based management tool, a marine, and coastal protected area is a „clearly defined
geographical space, recognized, dedicated, and managed, through legal or other effective means,
to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services, and cultural
values‟ (IUCN 2019) Likewise, in the Algerian law (Act 11-02), an MPA is a geographically
delimited portion of land, sea, river and/or lagoon that is defined, regulated, and managed for the
protection, and maintenance of the natural, and cultural heritage, as one of the following
categories:
- National park
- Natural park
- Integral natural reserve
- Natural reserve
- Management reserve for habitats, and species
- Natural site
- Biological corridor
Marine and coastal protected areas are managed to achieve specific (long-term biodiversity)
conservation, and sustainable use objectives, and afford higher protection than the surrounding
areas ranging from small, local, and community-based networks to national networks to regional
multistate initiatives.
If managed in isolation, coastal, and marine protected areas are vulnerable to the impacts of
resource development, and exploitation occurring outside these areas, particularly overfishing,
alteration, and destruction of habitats, climate change, and marine pollution. Thus, protecting
coastal and marine areas, including species, habitats, landscapes, and seascapes should be
integrated into spatial development strategies (Winther et al., 2020). Furthermore, stressing the
need for MSP in MCPAs, Ehler and Douvre (2009) state that the future of marine biodiversity,
associated ecosystem service benefits, and of MCPAs, is heavily dependent on the management
of human activities in their surrounding environment. Indeed, even an effectively managed
network of MCPAs will have limited effect on marine resources without help from MSP.
The wide variety of MSP approaches suggests that there is no single way to do MSP effectively,
and that biodiversity conservation is not necessarily a major goal of MSP, nor is it always a
consequence of its implementation. Nonetheless, there are elements of successful MSP that
contribute to positive conservation and development outcomes (UNEP/CBD 2012). Such
positive biodiversity outcomes occur through MSP when interconnected ecosystems are treated
systematically, and all impacting uses/pressures are addressed, as warranted by the problems that
management must consider (Agardy et al. 2011).
Basically, the combination of MSP and MCPAs is a win-win situation. For example, MSP could
enhance the performance of a marine protected area network through zoning synergistic marineuse areas close to MPAs or buffer zones around vulnerable ones. It could provide a broader
perspective on the way in which MPAs are nested within a marine spatial plan, and increase
ecological representativeness through protection of important areas, including those not selected
as sites for MPAs, where conservation measures could be proposed, and implemented. Also,