Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) Chairs’ Statement
As co-chairs of the Leadership Forum (February 9, 2023) of the Fifth International Marine Protected Area Congress (IMPAC5, February 3 to 8, 2023), and on behalf of many attendees, we, the Ministers for Fisheries and Oceans Canada and for Environment and Climate Change Canada and Minister responsible for Parks Canada:
- emphasize that healthy oceans are essential for sustaining nature and human life, supporting the continued availability of marine resources to benefit future generations and achieving our collective commitments to combat climate change and ensure biodiversity conservation;
- support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (COP15, United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity), the Ocean Conservation Pledge (COP27, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) and the “Our Ocean, Our Future, Our Responsibility” Call for Action (2022 United Nations Ocean Conference);
- commend global progress made to establish, expand and more effectively manage Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and other effective area-based conservation measuresFootnote 1 (OECMs) and the 16 nations which adopted the Ocean Conservation Pledge at COP27, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change;
- declare our continued commitment to protect and restore the world’s ocean and sustainably use marine resources;
- affirm effectively-managed MPAs and OECMsFootnote 2 represent essential investments to preserve, restore and support resilient natural capital (marine and coastal species, habitats, ecosystems and biodiversity); mitigate climate change (blue carbon); sustain livelihoods of Indigenous peoples and local communities; and safeguard areas of cultural and historical heritage;
- recognise a global system of effectively managed MPAs and OECMs is required to deliver these benefits and support the development and deployment of sustainable financing mechanisms and resource mobilization to accomplish this;
- affirm that Indigenous-led conservation is critical for successful conservation of the marine environment and is best supported through implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP);
- support enhanced and strengthen dialogue with maritime industries, and welcome their expanded participation at future International Marine Protected Area Congresses and actions to protect biodiversity and sustainably manage marine resources;
- emphasize the interconnections of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and recognise effectively managed MPA and OECM networks are key to protecting 30% of our ocean by 2030 and achieving the full recovery of nature by 2050; and
- thank the Host First Nations, the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh for hosting and welcoming us, as well as the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and the Province of British Columbia for their partnership in hosting IMPAC5.
As concrete steps to protect the ocean, its biodiversity and its ecosystem services, we recommend the following as a Call to Action emerging from these discussions:
In the immediate sense, we call for
the timely conclusion of negotiations, scheduled from February 20th-March 3rd 2023,to establish a legally binding treaty under the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea to allow for protection, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction – otherwise known as the high seas, which cover 64% of the ocean.
In the lead up to 2030, we call for
- Nations to accelerate progress to fully implement the actions and targets under UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 (conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development), strengthen MPA and OECM protection standards, and increase efforts in order to achieve Target 3 (conserve 30% of marine and coastal areas by 2030) of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework;
- the formation of transboundary MPAs and OECMs to enhance ecosystem conservation, connectivity and species migration (i.e., Marine or Blue Corridors) and cultural and social links;
- the establishment of MPA and OECM networks that are: well-connected; equitably-managed; ecologically representativeFootnote 3; integrated into the wider landscape, seascape and ocean (e.g. through Marine Spatial Planning); and integrated into national plans for environmental protection, sustainable development (e.g., Blue Economy; Green Economy), and climate change mitigation and adaptation;
- sustainable long-term MPA and OECM financial support, particularly for developing nations, from governments, private financial institutions, maritime industry, philanthropic organizations and NGOs; and the exploration of innovative financial tools to do so;
- bilateral and multilateral support to developing nations for capacity-building, access to and transfer of technology and development of innovation and technical and scientific cooperation (Target 20 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework) to establish, and effectively and equitably manage MPAs and OECMs, protect the marine environment, and sustainably manage marine resources; and
- a precautionary approach to ensure that the development of marine resources are consistent with strong environmental, social, and governance principles which support our efforts to combat climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
These actions should be underpinned by
- increased international cooperation to protect the marine environment, including through greater collaboration between international and intergovernmental organizations;
- partnership with Indigenous Peoples to enable Indigenous-led conservationFootnote 4 and the establishment and management of MPAs and OECMs in a manner consistent with principles of the UNDRIP, in particular Article 29(1);
- two-eyed seeing, and the consideration of both traditional knowledge and scientific researchFootnote 5 to further understand the ocean and coastal zones, including the carbon absorption potential of blue carbon ecosystems (e.g. marshlands, estuaries).
- nations, civil and international organisations, and industry to prioritize the protection and restoration of areas with high blue carbon absorption potential;
- inclusive processes for ocean protection to engage people across society: Indigenous Peoples, youth, women, local communities, civil society, governments, academia and industry;
- ocean literacy programs to increase public and industry understanding of the importance of oceans and of the actions needed to protect them; and
- increased collaboration, resources, and strategies to reduce illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
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