Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MarinePlan (Improved transdisciplinary science for effective ecosystem-based maritime spatial planning and conservation in European Seas (MarinePlan))
Période du rapport: 2022-10-01 au 2024-03-31
The diversity of terrestrial and marine life is dramatically affected by human interventions including climate change. Compelling and growing evidence shows that biodiversity underpins ecosystem functions and services, and consequently, human benefits depend on them. Thus, the importance of ecosystems in a good state cannot be underestimated and calls for an effective management of marine activities and sustainable use of marine and coastal resources.
Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) is the main governance process that ideally balances economic, ecological and socio-cultural goals through the regulation of human uses at sea. As a future-oriented process, MSP is well-placed to realise sustainable marine futures. With global and regional conservation and green energy targets ahead, there is an urgent need to define pathways for a better alignment of MSP and systematic conservation planning, as part of the operationalisation of an Ecosystem-Based approach to MSP (EB-MSP).
The EU-funded MarinePlan project supports the implementation of EB-MSP through the development of a Decision Support System (DSS). It will offer guidance for an improved alignment of MSP, spatial conservation, and restoration interventions during the challenging times of ever-increasing pressures on marine ecosystems.
This main goal will be achieved through four specific objectives for the European seas:
#1 Co-develop with stakeholders the conceptual elements of the DSS (guidelines and tools) and derive best practice guidance for EB-MSP implementation.
#2 Develop quantitative metrics to operationalise Ecologically or Biologically Significant marine Area (EBSA) criteria and their application at various spatio-temporal scales.
#3 Implement and apply the DSS based on objectives #1 and #2, its guidelines, metrics, and tools at Planning Sites representing the diversity of European marine areas.
#4 Provide recommendations and improvements concerning the shortcomings, impediments to, and opportunities of prevailing governance processes to enhance the implementation of EB-MSP.
MarinePlan develops and applies the EB-MSP DSS within seven Work Packages and eight European Planning Sites. The Planning Sites range from coastal ecosystems to open ocean and the deep sea and from local to transboundary scales. Applying and validating the DSS incorporates realistic planning scenarios, key action points to achieve the EU Biodiversity Strategy, and policy recommendations on how to enhance EB-MSP implementation in European Seas. MarinePlan will communicate results to decision-makers at horizontal (between sectors) and vertical (from local to European) levels and enable the transfer of knowledge to areas in differing socio-ecological settings. The improved natural and social science base will ensure effective policymaking to support a greater coherence in implementing environmental policies as well as to enable streamlined planning for marine industries.
Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) is the main governance process that ideally balances economic, ecological and socio-cultural goals through the regulation of human uses at sea. As a future-oriented process, MSP is well-placed to realise sustainable marine futures. With global and regional conservation and green energy targets ahead, there is an urgent need to define pathways for a better alignment of MSP and systematic conservation planning, as part of the operationalisation of an Ecosystem-Based approach to MSP (EB-MSP).
The EU-funded MarinePlan project supports the implementation of EB-MSP through the development of a Decision Support System (DSS). It will offer guidance for an improved alignment of MSP, spatial conservation, and restoration interventions during the challenging times of ever-increasing pressures on marine ecosystems.
This main goal will be achieved through four specific objectives for the European seas:
#1 Co-develop with stakeholders the conceptual elements of the DSS (guidelines and tools) and derive best practice guidance for EB-MSP implementation.
#2 Develop quantitative metrics to operationalise Ecologically or Biologically Significant marine Area (EBSA) criteria and their application at various spatio-temporal scales.
#3 Implement and apply the DSS based on objectives #1 and #2, its guidelines, metrics, and tools at Planning Sites representing the diversity of European marine areas.
#4 Provide recommendations and improvements concerning the shortcomings, impediments to, and opportunities of prevailing governance processes to enhance the implementation of EB-MSP.
MarinePlan develops and applies the EB-MSP DSS within seven Work Packages and eight European Planning Sites. The Planning Sites range from coastal ecosystems to open ocean and the deep sea and from local to transboundary scales. Applying and validating the DSS incorporates realistic planning scenarios, key action points to achieve the EU Biodiversity Strategy, and policy recommendations on how to enhance EB-MSP implementation in European Seas. MarinePlan will communicate results to decision-makers at horizontal (between sectors) and vertical (from local to European) levels and enable the transfer of knowledge to areas in differing socio-ecological settings. The improved natural and social science base will ensure effective policymaking to support a greater coherence in implementing environmental policies as well as to enable streamlined planning for marine industries.
We developed an operational EB-MSP framework and guidance for practical implementation, through a step-by-step approach involving defining concepts, co-developing an assessment framework, and organizing workshops. This framework is structured in stages and tasks to guide EB-MSP implementation, with a checklist for assessing compliance with EBM criteria. Its application across the PS showed from a practical perspective, big steps towards EB-MSP could be undertaken if the respective conservation and restoration objectives are integrated into planning objectives
Operational EBSA metrics were developed that consider different temporal and spatial scales to address biodiversity linkages and connectivity between hot spots, MPAs, and EBSAs, prioritizing conservation and restoration amid climate change. All planning sites ranked EBSA criteria by applicability and importance across various planning sites, and prepared EBSA criteria maps. To address connectivity, a two-dimensional Lagrangian tracking model for regional connectivity patterns, and a three-dimensional model incorporating biological processes were adapted to ensure applicability in planning sites.
Three scoping reviews and meta-analyses on marine Systematic Conservation Planning (SCP), the potential contribution of OECMs to conservation targets, and the role of area-based fisheries management measures (ABFMs) in fisheries sustainability and marine conservation were conducted and published. To prepare for the development of decision support tools for integrated planning, workshops were held with experts and stakeholders, guiding the creation of the 'prior3D' package for user-friendly implementation of a 3D prioritization approach, which has been introduced to planning sites.
An institutional and policy audit of MPA and MSP processes was conducted within each Planning Site,. Results describe legislative contexts, major issues, participation frameworks, stakeholder influence, and governance reflexivity and adaptive capacity. Also, a series of interviews have been conducted for each planning site to prepare for future tasks.
A standardised guidance for planning sites on how to identify and engage key stakeholders was developed and an overview of the knowledge base for MSP and conservation planning for each site, highlighting gaps in integrative processes was provided.
We developed and implemented a data management plan and facilitated the storage of large data on pCloud, a platform compliant with EU and Swiss privacy laws. A data inventory is maintained on the SharePoint to describe all data used in MarinePlan deliverables. Public data and documents are hosted on a Zenodo community, and code is hosted on a GitHub repository.
We established internal and external communication channels, established a consortium agreement and a project advisory board (PAB). Frequent meetings were organised to facilitate collaboration, including a kick-off meeting, internal workshop, steering group meetings and general assembly. External communication comprise branding, a project website, and social media presence. MarinePlan engaged with other EU projects and participated in initiatives and workshops for knowledge exchange.
Operational EBSA metrics were developed that consider different temporal and spatial scales to address biodiversity linkages and connectivity between hot spots, MPAs, and EBSAs, prioritizing conservation and restoration amid climate change. All planning sites ranked EBSA criteria by applicability and importance across various planning sites, and prepared EBSA criteria maps. To address connectivity, a two-dimensional Lagrangian tracking model for regional connectivity patterns, and a three-dimensional model incorporating biological processes were adapted to ensure applicability in planning sites.
Three scoping reviews and meta-analyses on marine Systematic Conservation Planning (SCP), the potential contribution of OECMs to conservation targets, and the role of area-based fisheries management measures (ABFMs) in fisheries sustainability and marine conservation were conducted and published. To prepare for the development of decision support tools for integrated planning, workshops were held with experts and stakeholders, guiding the creation of the 'prior3D' package for user-friendly implementation of a 3D prioritization approach, which has been introduced to planning sites.
An institutional and policy audit of MPA and MSP processes was conducted within each Planning Site,. Results describe legislative contexts, major issues, participation frameworks, stakeholder influence, and governance reflexivity and adaptive capacity. Also, a series of interviews have been conducted for each planning site to prepare for future tasks.
A standardised guidance for planning sites on how to identify and engage key stakeholders was developed and an overview of the knowledge base for MSP and conservation planning for each site, highlighting gaps in integrative processes was provided.
We developed and implemented a data management plan and facilitated the storage of large data on pCloud, a platform compliant with EU and Swiss privacy laws. A data inventory is maintained on the SharePoint to describe all data used in MarinePlan deliverables. Public data and documents are hosted on a Zenodo community, and code is hosted on a GitHub repository.
We established internal and external communication channels, established a consortium agreement and a project advisory board (PAB). Frequent meetings were organised to facilitate collaboration, including a kick-off meeting, internal workshop, steering group meetings and general assembly. External communication comprise branding, a project website, and social media presence. MarinePlan engaged with other EU projects and participated in initiatives and workshops for knowledge exchange.
• The development of an Ecosystem-based MSP assessment method which was tested in all MarinePlan planning sites. A refined assessment will take place in the second phase of the project.
• MSP practitioners’ workshop on Ecosystem-based MSP process assessment.
• Development of quantitative, fully measurable EBSA criteria that allow to analyse the spatial, temporal and spatio-temporal variability of key properties of marine protected areas within planning sites.
• Adaptations of drift models to be applied in all PS
• New knowledge on the state of the art in systematic conservation planning, marine restoration and ecosystem-based MSP was gathered across the planning sites, providing the baseline for tool developments and policy recommendations
• A first version of the 'prior3D' package for user-friendly implementation of a 3D prioritization approach was developed and introduced to planning sites.
• An institutional and policy audit of MPA and MSP processes was conducted within each Planning Site
• MSP practitioners’ workshop on Ecosystem-based MSP process assessment.
• Development of quantitative, fully measurable EBSA criteria that allow to analyse the spatial, temporal and spatio-temporal variability of key properties of marine protected areas within planning sites.
• Adaptations of drift models to be applied in all PS
• New knowledge on the state of the art in systematic conservation planning, marine restoration and ecosystem-based MSP was gathered across the planning sites, providing the baseline for tool developments and policy recommendations
• A first version of the 'prior3D' package for user-friendly implementation of a 3D prioritization approach was developed and introduced to planning sites.
• An institutional and policy audit of MPA and MSP processes was conducted within each Planning Site