Benefits and challenges of scaling up expansion of marine protected area networks in the Verde Island Passage, Central Philippines

Locally-established marine protected areas (MPAs) have been proven to achieve local-scale fisheries and conservation objectives. However, since many of these MPAs were not designed to form ecologically-connected networks, their contributions to broader-scale goals such as complementarity and connectivity can be limited. In contrast, integrated networks of MPAs designed with systematic conservation planning are assumed to be more effective—ecologically, socially, and economically—than collections of locally-established MPAs. There is, however, little empirical evidence that clearly demonstrates the supposed advantages of systematic MPA networks. A key reason is the poor record of implementation of systematic plans attributable to lack of local buy-in. An intermediate scenario for the expansion of MPAs is scaling up of local decisions, whereby locally-driven MPA initiatives are coordinated through collaborative partnerships among local governments and their communities. Coordination has t...

经证实，本地设立的海洋保护区（Marine Protected Areas，简称MPAs）可实现局部尺度的渔业与保护目标。然而，由于多数此类MPAs并未被设计为构建生态连通的网络，其对互补性、连通性等更广尺度目标的贡献可能较为有限。与之相对，通过系统性保护规划设计的MPAs整合网络，被认为在生态、社会与经济层面均优于零散的本地MPA集群。然而，目前鲜有实证研究能够清晰证实系统性MPA网络的理论优势。核心原因之一在于，由于缺乏本地认同，系统性规划的实施记录欠佳。MPAs扩张的一种中间路径，是将本地决策进行规模化推广：即由本地主导的MPA倡议，通过地方政府与社区间的协作伙伴关系实现统筹协调。协调工作仍[原文未完整表述]