In an effort to support China in strengthening marine biodiversity conservation planning and management, NRDC and the First Institute of Oceanography (FIO) of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) held the 2nd Annual MPA (Marine Protected Area) Workshop on December 12. The workshop theme was monitoring and evaluation of MPAs. 

Senior officials from government and experts from research institutions, universities, and NGOs attended the workshop. Mark Carr, a professor from the University of California, Santa Cruz, introduced the monitoring and evaluation project of the California MPA network, one of the most extensive networks of MPAs in the world. His presentation garnered positive feedback from an attentive professional audience, leading to several follow-up requests for his presentation materials. 

At the workshop, NRDC released the case study report Summary of the California MPA Network Monitoring Program. The review of the first ten years of monitoring data demonstrates the value of monitoring investments and the range of ecological benefits that MPAs can bring to marine ecosystems. 

See media coverage on the workshop and the report by the Beijing News, Southern Metropolis Daily and China Environment News.