Using systematic conservation planning to align priority areas for biodiversity and nature-based activities in marine spatial planning: A real-world application in contested marine space. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Holness, Stephen D.; Harris, Linda R.; Chalmers, Russell; De Vos, Deidre; Goodall, Victoria; Truter, Hannah; Oosthuizen, Ané; Bernard, Anthony T.F.; Cowley, Paul D.; da Silva, Charlene; Dicken, Matthew; Edwards, Lloyd; Marchand, Gordon; Martin, Paul; Murray, Taryn S.; Parkinson, Matthew C.; Pattrick, Paula; Pichegru, Lorien; Pistorius, Pierre; Sauer, Warwick H.H.; Smale, Malcolme; Thiebault, Andréa; Lombard, Amanda T.
• Is Part Of: Biological conservation. Volume 271(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: Social-ecological systems -- Sustainable use -- Spatial prioritization -- Participatory mapping -- Stakeholder engagement; Conservation of natural resources -- Periodicals; Nature conservation -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 333.9516
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109574
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0006-3207

Abstract

Abstract: To support sustainable growth of ocean-based economies, many countries are engaging in marine spatial planning (MSP) processes, which require robust decision-support tools. Systematic conservation planning (SCP) is commonly used in decision-making to guide spatially efficient protected area expansion. Here we contend that SCP can also be used to streamline MSP negotiations by developing a coherent, integrated portfolio of sites for multiple sectors that depend on biodiversity being maintained in a good state, as a counterpoint to spatial priorities for those commercial and industrial activities that have negative environmental impacts. We demonstrate this in Algoa Bay, South Africa, given the social-ecological complexity of the bay, and its central location in the first national MSP process. In anticipation of this national process, a civil-society-led Community of Practice was established with a core team to lead stakeholder engagement, data acquisition and management, and SCP analyses. More than 500 stakeholders participated in the project and many contributed spatial data or engaged in expert-based participatory mapping. Spatial products were supplemented with existing, published datasets. Altogether, conservation targets were set for 115 biodiversity features and 22 nature-based activities, with the cost layer built from data on 10 commercial and industrial activities, cumulative pressures (n = 31) on ecosystems, and planning-unit area. All targets were met in 15% of the study area, of which only a third (4%) was outside of marine protected areas, demonstrating that it is possible to align multi-sector priorities for intact biodiversity. This approach can be widely applied in MSP to support sustainable ocean economies. Highlights: An efficient spatial outcome is designed for a bay with conflicting marine uses. Marxan input features include both biodiversity features and nature-based activities. Six recommendations for undertaking local-scale spatial prioritization are provided. Coastal spatial planning is complex because there are many users and stakeholders. Coastal planning should focus on smaller areas because of this complexity.