Terms of Reference

Guidance on the Formulation of Conservation Objectives for Bioregional Marine Protected Area Networks, as well as Guidance on the Identification of Indicators, Monitoring Protocols and Strategies to Evaluate their Effectiveness

National Peer Review - National Capital Region

3-5 October, 2012
Montreal, Quebec

Co-Chairs: Jake Rice & Cecilia Lougheed

Context

Canada’s Oceans Act (1997) authorizes Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to conserve and protect living resources and their supporting ecosystems through, among other measures, the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) and MPA networks. In 2011, Canada's federal, provincial and territorial members of the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers reviewed and approved in principle a National Framework for Canada's Network of Marine Protected Areas (Government of Canada, 2011). Canada has also committed to the establishment of a network of MPAs at a number of international fora, including the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, 2002), and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Conference of the Parties (COP) Decision VIII/24 (UNEP, 2006). The CBD subsequently provided technical guidance on establishing MPA networks in the CBD-COP9 Decision IX/20 [Marine and Coastal Biodiversity] (UNEP, 2008).

Science has provided guidance to ensure national consistency in the implementation of these commitments, while allowing flexibility for adaptation to regional conditions. In 2009, science provided advice on MPA networks including CBD design features in the Annexes from Decision IX/20 (scientific criteria in Annex I and scientific guidance in Annexes II and III), particularly at regional scales (DFO, 2010). It was clear that as the policy discussion and implementation of MPA networks evolves, Science advice would be required to address other implementation questions.

Among the implementation priorities are defining MPA network conservation objectives and evaluating the network's effectiveness in achieving those objectives. Conservation objectives are important components of a bioregional MPA network and as such network-level indicators and monitoring protocols and strategies are required (as opposed to MPA-specific ones) to evaluate progress in achieving these objectives. The identification of indicators, monitoring protocols and strategies to test MPA network effectiveness is also a commitment under the Health of the Oceans initiative. Science advice is required to continue to ensure sound methodology and national consistency.

The purpose of this national science peer review process is to provide guidance for the development of measurable conservation objectives for MPA networks, as well as guidance on the identification of indicators, monitoring protocols and strategies to evaluate the effectiveness of the networks. To the extent possible, the advice will consider the goals, design properties, etc., outlined within the National Framework for Canada's Network of Marine Protected Areas, particularly goal #1: To provide long-term protection of marine biodiversity, ecosystem function and special natural features.

Objectives

The two primary objectives for this meeting are to provide:

Guidance on the formulation of conservation objectives for bioregional MPA Networks in Canada.

Develop guidance on the formulation of measurable conservation objectives for Canada’s bioregional networks of MPAs (types and phrasing of objectives, consistent with national MPA network goals). Include the level of specificity that conservation objectives should have in order to identify indicators for monitoring. Provide guidance on whether network-level conservation objectives should differ from, relate to or complement site-specific MPA conservation objectives and how. In developing the guidance consider:
1. International best practices related to the formulation of conservation objectives for MPA networks;
2. Existing guidelines for phrasing conservation objectives that were developed for the LOMAs; and,
3. Existing domestic science advice specific to regional MPA networks.
Guidance on the selection of indicators and development of monitoring protocols and strategies to evaluate the effectiveness of Canada’s bioregional MPA networks in meeting their conservation objectives.

Develop guidance for identifying indicators and developing monitoring protocols and strategies that would effectively measure changes of the indicator over time, to evaluate if the conservation objectives of the MPA network are being achieved. Provide guidance on setting benchmarks for indicator evaluation for general conservation objectives such as those included in goal #1 of the National Framework (marine biodiversity, ecosystem function and special natural features). To the extent possible, include recommendations on the types of analyses that could be used to measure the effectiveness of the network in meeting its conservation objectives. In developing the guidance consider:
1. International best practices related to indicators and monitoring protocols to evaluate effectiveness of an MPA network in achieving its objectives;
2. Existing science advice (domestic and international) on selection of appropriate and meaningful monitoring indicators.

Participants will develop national guidance by first evaluating national and international experiences with developing conservation objectives and identifying indicators, monitoring protocols and strategies for MPA networks, and then by discussing the extent to which existing methodologies could be applied in the Canadian context. To the extent possible, the advice will consider the goals, design properties, etc., outlined within the National Framework for Canada's Network of Marine Protected Areas.