The First International Conference on Marine Mammal Protected Areas

and dolphin-watching, as well as implementation of a regional manatee conservation
plan.
<strong>The</strong> CaMPAM experience has led to a number of positive lessons, including:
• Objectives need to be clear and realistic but also flexible and adaptable.
• Projects must be demonstrably useful in addressing real needs, and they must
produce relevant results.
• Leadership is needed with good knowledge of key issues and stakeholders;
• Communication links (e.g., the listserv) need to be maintained even through
“thin periods” when there seems to be little activity.
• <strong>The</strong> focus of time and effort should be on the most pressing needs in the region;
• <strong>The</strong>re should be a balance among participants, to include national and regional
groups, MPA managers, users, researchers, educators, planners, and decisionmakers.
• At least one successful program needs to be kept going to serve as a program
flagship activity.
• Resource searching can be opportunistic (e.g., take advantage of chances for
members to meet face-to-face).
<strong>The</strong> Latin American MPA network for cetacean conservation focused on MPAs “Red Cetaceos”: how
can we make it work?
Mabel Augustowski
In 2003, efforts began to develop a South American MPA network for cetacean
conservation. Initially, the focus was on the six species of baleen whales in the region
needing protection (right, blue, humpback, Bryde’s, southern minke, and dwarf common
minke) and on the need for scientific research, monitoring, and other management
actions. Whale migrations provided a natural rationale for such a network. It was also
recognized that whales are excellent flagship species, capable of strengthening the
broader role of MPAs in preserving biodiversity, conserving ecosystems and ecological
processes, and facilitating sustainable uses. <strong>The</strong> network was formally established in 2004
and, by 2006, had come to be known as the Latin American Network for Cetacean
Conservation focused on MPAs. As indicated by the name, the scope had expanded to
encompass small cetaceans as well as whales and a broader geographic area.
<strong>The</strong> network’s first official meeting, in 2007, brought together members of institutions
and MPA managers from Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador,
Venezuela, and Costa Rica, thus linking various regional initiatives that were already
ongoing. In addition to maintaining regular communication among network members,
the group has established a structure with clear functions, criteria, and principles.
However, to achieve integrated regional actions for cetacean conservation, it will be
necessary to move from case-specific, one-time projects to coordinated, long-range
planning and formal regional agreements, and this will require stable, long-term funding.
ICMMPA <strong>Conference</strong> Proceedings
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