• News
  • admin
  • 20 Jan 2014

From October 21–27, 2013, the 3rd International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC3) was held in Marseille, France. For the third time in twelve years, Marine Protected Area (MPA) managers, scientists, policymakers, and representatives of local communities—totaling 1,500 participants from 87 nations—gathered to discuss issues, challenges, and opportunities related to MPA establishment and management in various contexts. The Congress achieved several key outcomes, including:

  • Creating and harnessing momentum for MPAs;
  • Putting people at the heart of MPAs and reconciling conservation with development objectives;
  • Demonstrating the critical role of regional, multi-stakeholder initiatives in scaling up conservation efforts; and
  • Discussing sustainable and innovative financing options with donor institutions, triggering funding commitments for MPAs.

A Declaration for Ocean Conservation

IMPAC3 was immediately followed by a Ministerial Conference on Ocean Conservation in Ajaccio, Corsica, attended by 19 Ministers and numerous representatives from governments, international institutions, and NGOs, including WWF. Key outcomes are summarized in the Ajaccio Declaration, which:

  • Emphasizes the importance of marine conservation for people and sustainable development;
  • Reaffirms commitments to achieve the CBD Aichi Targets by 2020, including establishing MPA networks in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction;
  • Calls for the development of sustainable financing solutions, welcoming the announcement of the Mediterranean Trust Fund;
  • Highlights the critical role of regional initiatives in delivering conservation at scale; and
  • Calls for better protection of the high seas, including the need for an implementing agreement under UNCLOS.

Regional Priority Places

There was significant interest and support for developing and implementing regional and sub-regional initiatives both at the Congress and the Ministerial Conference. WWF used this opportunity to highlight its work in the Coral Triangle alongside other regional priority places.

These areas are vital for the livelihoods of millions of people and face increasing threats. Strengthened collaboration among all stakeholders is essential to ensure biodiversity protection while achieving development objectives.

The experiences of the Coral Triangle and the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) were shared in three workshops focused on:

  • MPA benefits for fisheries,
  • MPA sustainable financing, and
  • Regional approaches to MPAs.

On behalf of CTI-CFF partners, WWF presented the new Coral Triangle Marine Protected Area System framework and action plan developed by CTI-CFF. This sparked discussions about regional frameworks and highlighted issues that could affect MPA managers and governments at the national level, particularly in small countries with limited capacity to engage in regional initiatives.

“IMPAC3 offered WWF and colleagues from Fiji the chance to share understanding and learning, and to develop closer relationships, which should enhance WWF’s work nationally and globally while building the capacity of Fiji practitioners in the critically important strategic planning sector,” said Jackie Thomas, Coral Triangle Global Initiative Deputy Leader.

By Valerie Burgener, WWF International MPA Action Agenda Manager, and Jackie Thomas, WWF Coral Triangle Deputy Leader