A guide for planners and managers - IUCN

14 MARINE AND COASTAL
PROTECTED AREAS
Photo by Erkki Siirila.
Photo by Erkki Siirila.
FIGURE I-1.
A hawksbill turtle returning to the sea after having laid
its eggs on Grand Anse Beach, a critical habitat
considered for protection in St. Lucia.
FIGURE I-2.
Villagers have planted cacti to control beach erosion
north of Tanga in Tanzania. The erosion is also
reduced by protected coral reefs in front of the beach.
or a tourist attraction; (6) it provides a
critical habitat for particular species or
groups of species (Figure I-1); (7) it has
special cultural values (such as historic,
religious, or recreational sites); (9) it protects
the coastline from storms (Figure I-
2), and (10) it facilitates necessary research
or determination of “natural” baseline
conditions.
There is increasing need to justify
protected areas in measurable and convincing
terms to satisfy social, commercial,
development, and planning interests.
Solely ethical arguments (spiritual values)
are convincing only in a few privileged
nations, and then not always. For these
reasons conservation agencies and protected
area planners should have a well
defined policy and a clear idea of the
purpose of each protected site, stressing
the practical (material) aspects.
1.1 Multiple Objective MPAs
MPAs should be designed to simultaneously
accomplish as many conservation objectives
as possible. Multiple-objective programmes
may be prescribed for a particular desig-
nated MPA or applied to broader management schemes that incorporate one or
more protected areas. Such programmes can include any of the following:
Limiting, as necessary, particular exploitative uses of coastal and marine waters
and their resources or of linked areas that influence life in MPA waters (for example,
preventing the mining of living coral reefs to maintain their value to fisheries and to
protect the coast).
Protecting particular vital parts of coastal or ocean ecosystems (for example,
critical habitats such as prime coral reefs or mangrove forests).
Restoring earlier conditions (for example, closing areas to enable the recuperation
of damaged habitats or depleted stocks, or prohibiting activities that are physically
damaging or polluting).
Enhancing certain economically important activities such as fishing or tourism.