Assessing and Improving Social Equity in Marine Conservation

While marine conservation strategies are intended to support long-term sustainability and human wellbeing, past research has shown that in some cases they can cause negative impacts for coastal communities, exclude them from decision-making, and neglect their contributions to conservation. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework specifies that marine protected areas (MPAs) and other effective conservation measures (OECMs) must be both effectively managed and equitably governed. Yet, much work remains to ensure that marine conservation is inclusive and equitable. Clear guidance is needed on how to evaluate equity and improve marine conservation interventions to improve equity. To help fill this gap, we convened an international group of conservation researchers and practitioners to collaboratively develop several approaches for assessing social equity in different types of marine conservation initiatives (e.g., MPAs, OECMs, LMMAs). This includes a rapid, a stakeholder, and a participatory approach to assessing social in marine conservation. Next, we are field testing the assessment approaches in several marine conservation initiatives around the world. Finally, the assessment approaches will be published as an IUCN guidebook in time for the upcoming World Conservation Congress. The guide is intended for managers, practitioners, researchers, and representatives of government at different levels. Ultimately, users of the guide are encouraged to focus on collaboration with local actors, share and deliberate on the results of equity assessments, and to identify actions for improving equity in marine conservation. In this talk, we will present the approach, results of early testing from several case studies, and an early draft of the guide for discussion and feedback.