Priority-Setting Priority-Setting Exercises at Exercises at

Various ScalesVarious ScalesTundi Agardy, Ph.D.Tundi Agardy, Ph.D.

Marine Biological Valuation Marine Biological Valuation WorkshopWorkshop

2-4 Dec 20042-4 Dec 2004

Interpretation of TaskInterpretation of Task

Address how to undertake biological Address how to undertake biological valuationvaluation

Not how to map biota or build Not how to map biota or build databasesdatabases

Attaching value to a site = Attaching value to a site = determining priority areasdetermining priority areas

Experience with priority-Experience with priority-settingsetting

Two extremes in data-driven, objective Two extremes in data-driven, objective analyses:analyses:

1. Global scale: CI Hotspots 1. Global scale: CI Hotspots

2. Local scale: Asinara Marine Park 2. Local scale: Asinara Marine Park zoningzoning

CI Marine HotspotsCI Marine Hotspots

74 LMEs provided the framework74 LMEs provided the framework Analysis of biodiversity, including Analysis of biodiversity, including

species richness, endemism, habitat species richness, endemism, habitat diversitydiversity

Analysis of productivity and other Analysis of productivity and other ecological processesecological processes

Analysis of degree of threatAnalysis of degree of threat

Resulting Priority AreasResulting Priority Areas

15 Highest Priority Areas15 Highest Priority Areas Antillean/Bahamian LMEAntillean/Bahamian LME Californian LMECalifornian LME Celebes and Sulu Seas Celebes and Sulu Seas Galapagos LMEGalapagos LME Gulf of Guinea Gulf of Guinea Indonesian Archipelago Indonesian Archipelago Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Sea Melanesian LMEMelanesian LME Micronesian IslandsMicronesian Islands Northeast US/ Gulf of MaineNortheast US/ Gulf of Maine Peruvian LMEPeruvian LME Red Sea Red Sea Sea of CortesSea of Cortes Somali Current LMESomali Current LME W Madagascar/ W Indian Gyre LMEW Madagascar/ W Indian Gyre LME

Asinara Marine Park Asinara Marine Park ZoningZoning

Optimization using a MARXAN Optimization using a MARXAN precursorprecursor

Concordance analysis looking at Concordance analysis looking at maximizing certain kinds of objectivesmaximizing certain kinds of objectives

Presenting various sorts to zoning Presenting various sorts to zoning scenarios to target different objectives scenarios to target different objectives (biodiversity conservation, fisheries (biodiversity conservation, fisheries use, recreational, use, tourism use, recreational, use, tourism development, etc.)development, etc.)

Asinara A1 Zone Asinara A1 Zone PrioritiesPriorities

Data used in concordance Data used in concordance mappingmapping

Geology & geomorphologyGeology & geomorphology Benthic assemblagesBenthic assemblages Fish species diversityFish species diversity Nursery areasNursery areas Patella feruginea, Caretta caretta Patella feruginea, Caretta caretta sitessites Potential cetacean and Potential cetacean and Foca monachaFoca monacha sites sites Marine bird rookeriesMarine bird rookeries Archeologically important sitesArcheologically important sites Scientific research sitesScientific research sites Traditional and commercial fishing sitesTraditional and commercial fishing sites Aquaculture sitesAquaculture sites RRecreational sitesecreational sites Navigation areasNavigation areas Industrial installations; security zonesIndustrial installations; security zones Tourism infrastructureTourism infrastructure

Results highlighting Results highlighting priorities varypriorities vary

Depending on what ``values`` are Depending on what ``values`` are considered most importantconsidered most important

Learning from these two Learning from these two extremesextremes

1. Scale matters1. Scale matters

2. Knowing objectives 2. Knowing objectives a prioria priori is is crucialcrucial

Examples from delphic Examples from delphic processesprocesses

LAC Priority-setting Exercise = scale LAC Priority-setting Exercise = scale mattersmatters

Mid-Atlantic Priority Oceans Areas = Mid-Atlantic Priority Oceans Areas = objectives matterobjectives matter

LAC Geographic LAC Geographic PrioritiesPriorities

Nine biogeographic provinces, with Nine biogeographic provinces, with regions in eachregions in each

Top priorities selected in each Top priorities selected in each regionregion

Mid-Atlantic Priority Ocean Mid-Atlantic Priority Ocean Areas Areas

14 experts14 experts Criteria:Criteria:

biodiversitybiodiversityhigh abundancehigh abundancemigratory pathwaysmigratory pathwaysphysical features*physical features*nursery/spawning areasnursery/spawning areasendangered/threatened speciesendangered/threatened speciesfisheriesfisheries

Map notable for degree of non-overlap!Map notable for degree of non-overlap!

A Possible SolutionA Possible Solution

Hierarchical System Spanning Hierarchical System Spanning ScalesScales

Different Objectives lead to focusing Different Objectives lead to focusing of conservation spotlight within each of conservation spotlight within each scalescale

Example: NAMPANExample: NAMPAN

Largest scale (Continental):Largest scale (Continental): Ecoregions, with Ecoregions, with goal of representationgoal of representation

Within EcoregionsWithin Ecoregions: Priority Conservation : Priority Conservation Areas, Areas, with goal of ecosystem-based with goal of ecosystem-based managementmanagement

Within PCAsWithin PCAs: ecologically critical areas, : ecologically critical areas, with with goals of biodiversity conservation goals of biodiversity conservation or or fisheries management, focusing on fisheries management, focusing on processesprocesses

Within ECAsWithin ECAs: Specific MPAs: Specific MPAs

Role of Focal SpeciesRole of Focal Species

Marine Species of Common Marine Species of Common Conservation Concern (MSCCC) – Conservation Concern (MSCCC) – priorities for different countriespriorities for different countries

Umbrella function – choose species Umbrella function – choose species whose protection will protect a whose protection will protect a whole suite of other specieswhole suite of other species

Span all scales, from local through Span all scales, from local through ecoregions and Large Marine ecoregions and Large Marine EcosystemsEcosystems

Other Hierarchical Other Hierarchical ExamplesExamples

Tanzania MPA NetworkTanzania MPA Network Emerging Mediterranean InitiativeEmerging Mediterranean Initiative

(building on SPAMI)(building on SPAMI)

Thank you!Thank you!