Managing Marine Protected Areas

For Marine Biodiversity & Local Livelihoods

 

We are a social enterprise managing for governments a federation of Marine Protected Areas, regenerating 1,000,000 ha of high-biodiversity coral reefs, protecting 40 endangered species and improving the livelihoods of >20,000 coastal community members.

We believe a new model for marine conservation must emerge — one that challenges the status quo. We believe in business as a force for good — social enterprise built on sound entrepreneurial and sustainability principles to manage  Marine Protected Areas, conserve marine biodiversity and better the lives of local communities.

Our conservation model is founded on indispensable pillars; adequate up-front and early stage working capital for the establishment of sustainable Marine Protected Areas; innovative co-management agreements between with government, well embedded local community partners and ourselves; progressive independence from donors by creating tangible revenue streams that are reinvested directly back into each Marine Protected Area; performance-oriented management focus on sustainable financing, conservation strategy execution and revenue development.

We work in four fundamental fields of operation; community development through employment, micro-enterprise development and empowerment; Wildlife monitoring and conservation through robust science; revenue stream development through sustainable eco-tourism, blue-carbon and responsible aquaculture; and compliance through patrolling, community engagement and awareness campaigns.


BELIZE  ·  DOMINICAN REPUBLIC  ·  INDONESIA  ·  PHILIPPINES  ·  ZANZIBAR

Background

OUR RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS

• “On the ground” activities implemented in five Marine Protected Areas with >50 rangers, community officers and managers: wildlife conservation, compliance, revenue generation and community development

• Blended finance facility set-up for the initial capital needs of the MPAs 

• Five additional MPA projects are under preparation with the same rigorous standards

• Innovative Public-Private Partnership concept developed with Governments for a balanced governance of the delegated management agreements.

Background

OUR POSITIVE IMPACTS

Our work is geared towards long term impacts – and we monitor them  

• Recovery of 1,000,000 ha of coral reef ecosystems and 300,000 ha of mangroves

• Protection of 40 endangered species (including sharks, turtles & corals)

• Livelihood enhancement for 21,000 artisanal fishers & 120 sustainable enterprises created

• 200 new job creations for our MPA rangers and management staff

Our conservation and social impact are oversight by people that understand nature and communities.

Background

MEDIA COVERAGE

Blue finance’s model for MPAs has been described in conservation and blended finance guides

Background

RATIONALE

RATIONALE & CHALLENGE:

MPAs are considered to be among the most effective tools for reducing local threats to marine biodiversity. Yet MPAs face a broad range of challenges with >60% reporting inadequate budgets for basic management. As a result, many MPAs fail to meet their social and ecological objectives, existing only on paper (‘paper parks’).

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PAPER PARKS

Recent studies have reported that 65% of existing MPAs have inadequate budgets for basic management …

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COLLABORATIVE MANAGEMENT OF MPAs: a long track record

In response to the widespread funding gap for protected areas, some governments have established collaborative…

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