Speaker: Dr. Kirsten Grorud-Colvert, Associate Professor at Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, USA 

Dr. Kirsten Grorud-Colvert is a marine ecologist in the Integrative Biology Department at Oregon State University. She co-leads the research The MPA Guide, published on Science in 2021. Her current research focuses on ecological & social processes related to Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and other area-based management tools worldwide, such as other effective area-based conservation methods (OECMs). 

Introduction: 

The research team led by Dr. Grorud-Colvert published a paper The MPA Guide on Science. This video mainly introduces the findings of this paper and relevant MPA case studies from Mexico and Philippines. 

The MPA Guide provides scientific solutions for effectively protecting the ocean. It introduced four elements of MPAs: Levels of Protection, Stages of Establishment, Enabling Conditions, and social and ecological Outcomes. By assessing the actual situation of MPAs in terms of Levels of Protection, Stages of Establishment, and Enabling Conditions, the Outcomes of the MPAs can be predicted. Compared to MPAs that are only partially protected, MPAs that are fully and highly protected provide greater conservation benefits. Protection for biodiversity in MPAs means protecting the environment from damaging activities. Therefore, MPAs in the early Stages of Establishment cannot generate ecological benefits. An MPA can achieve its goals only when it is implemented in the water. MPAs need to adopt ecological design and share benefits with the community. MPAs need high levels of protection to conserve biodiversity and bring its benefits to people.