Marine protected areas

The Hol Chan Marine Reserve Management Plan serves as a working document for the sustainable use and management of the marine resources in the area. This plan prescribes a zoning scheme that provides opportunities for the protection of specific natural features; for the maintenance of environmental services; and for tourism and fishing. It also prescribes a financial sustainability plan that could support the capital and operational expenses of the reserve.

This is a new editon of the classic textbook on marine protected area (MPA) management in the tropics, originally produced as an output of the Bali World Parks Congress in 1982. Approaches to planning and managing MPAs have evolved considerably. Major advances include innovative financing mechanisms, partnerships with the private sector and NGOs, and collaborative management between government and coastal communities.

Creation and effective management of marine protected areas (MPAs) have lagged behind those of protected areas on land, but they are just as important. The world urgently needs a comprehensive system of MPAs to conserve biodiversity and to help rebuild the productivity of the oceans. The aim of these guidelines is to help countries establish systems of MPAs as a key component of integrated management of coastal and marine areas and as part of their sustainable development.