The CAR approach in the marine environment: an overview

1. The CAR approach in the marine environment: an overview Helene Marsh School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography James Cook University

2. What is CAR? • Comprehensive • incorporating the full range of ecosystems recognised at an appropriate scale within and across each bioregion • Adequate • the level of reservation required to ensure the ecological viability and integrity of species, populations and communities • Representative • the marine areas that are selected for inclusion in an MPA should reasonably reflect the biotic diversity of the marine ecosystems from which they derive

3. Representative Areas Protecting representative examples of broadscale habitats and the ecological processes upon which species depend

4. International Expert Opinion US National Research Council Committee on the evaluation design and monitoring of marine reserves 2000 recommends ForMPAs to protect biodiversity • set aside representative areas of each different habitat in each bioregion • establish systems of marine reserves which are large and interconnected enough to be self sustaining • include each habitat type in multiple reserves to provide buffers against changing environmental and societal forces • Thus international expert opinion endorses the CAR approach

5. Australia’s commitment to the CAR approach for MPAs National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas - NRSMPA • established especially for the conservation of biodiversity • can be classified into one of more of the 6 IUCN protected area categories with significant proportion in Highly Protected Areas- IUCN categories 1 and 11 • must have secure status which can only be revoked by parliamentary process • must contribute to the representativeness, comprehensiveness or adequacy of the national system

6. International context for NRSMPAs • International responsibilities and obligations as signatory to Convention of Biological Diversity • Major component of Jakarta Mandate under that Convention • Also means of meeting obligations under: • Bonn Convention • JAMBA and CAMBA • IUCN protected areas program for global representative system of MPAs

7. National context for NRSMPAs • Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment 1992 • National Strategy for ESD 1992 • National Strategy for Conservation of Australia’s Biological Diversity 1996 • Oceans Policy 1998 • broad principles and management approaches to achieve ESD of Australia’s Oceans • move to ecosystem based planning and management delivered through ecosystem based planning via Regional Marine Plans based on large marine ecosystems • ANZECC 1999 Strategic Plan of Action for NRSMPAs

8. Primary goal of NRSMPAs • To establish and manage a comprehensive, adequate and representative system of MPAs to contribute to the long-term ecological viability of of marine and estuarine systems, to maintain ecological processes and systems and to protect Australia’s biodiversity at all levels

9. Other goals of NRSMPA • promote development of MPAs within framework of ecosystem management • provide management framework within broad spectrum of human activities • provide scientific reference sites • provide for special needs of rare, depleted or threatened species and communities • provide for the conservation of special groups of organisms including migratory species • protect areas of high conservation value • provide for the recreational, aesthetic and cultural needs of indigenous and non-indigenous Australians

10. GBRWHA is: • Large marine ecosystem • > 2000 km long • up to 250 km wide It includes: • over 3000 reefs • over 900 islands • GBRMP world’s biggest MPA

11. How does GBRMP conform to secondary goals of NRSMPA? • promote development of MPAs within framework of ecosystem management  • provide management framework within broad spectrum of human activities • provide scientific reference sites  • provide for special needs of rare, depleted or threatened species and communities  • provide for the conservation of special groups of organisms including migratory species  • protect areas of high conservation value  • provide for the recreational, aesthetic and cultural needs of indigenous and non-indigenous Australians

12. Based on:advice of reef and non-reef experts and all available data setsincluding data on geodiversity and biodiversity

13. Why doesn’t GBRMP comply with NRSMPA’s primary goal? • ~ 4.5% of GBR that is highly protected (i.e. ‘no take’) is not spread across all bioregions; some bioregions (espec. non-reef bioregions) clearly currently have little or no protection • Does not conform to CAR principles which have been adopted as national policy • Does not protect full range of biodiversity of GBRWHA

14. GBRWHA is much more than just coral reefs …. GBRWHA also includes: • mangroves • sandy & coral cays • continental islands • seagrass beds (shallow & deepwater) • algal & sponge ‘gardens’ • sandy and muddy bottom communities • deep ocean troughs.

16. Why does the application of the CAR system have the potential to succeed in protecting the biodiversity of the GBRWHA? • in contrast to a terrestrial environment all parts of the area are potentially available as highly protected areas - no private ownership • area is is huge - lots of choice • implemented within an ecosystem scale MPA framework with varying controls throughout the GBRMPA • biophysical principles have priority in process to select candidate areas - other values taken in to account

17. International Expert Opinion US National Research Council Committee on the evaluation design and monitoring of marine reserves 2000 recommends ForMPAs to protect biodiversity • set aside representative areas of each different habitat in each bioregion • establish systems of marine reserves which are large enough and interconnected to be self sustaining • include each habitat type in multiple reserves to provide buffers against changing environmental and societal forces Most international experts on MPA design regard the GBRMPA RAP process as THE MODEL TO WHICH THE REST OF THE WORLD SHOULD ASPIRE