3 February 2023 — From 3-9 February 2023, the Ocean Governance project is at the 5th International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) in Vancouver, Canada. Partners from Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe will take part in official sessions to share the project’s approach to learning and knowledge-sharing for improved MPA management.
Official congress sessions
The congress, which aims to improve the management of marine environments, is closely aligned to the project’s own aims: to build dialogue, international cooperation and boost capacity of MPA managers and managers’ networks, for improved conservation outcomes. It follows the adoption in December of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, agreed by Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, which includes a target to protect 30% of Earth’s lands, oceans, coastal areas, inland waters by 2030.
“The Ocean Governance project has come to IMPAC5 to share with key MPA actors from around the world the strength of our project and the value of connecting MPA managers, networks and key players in the field with policies at national, regional and global levels. We will share the project’s methodology and approach and show how it is a relevant tool to achieve the 30 by 30 target,” said Puri Canals, project team leader.
From Saturday 4 February to Wednesday 8 February, Ocean Governance project participants will take part in one to three events per day, presenting the project’s activities, from ecosystem restoration at sites in the Coral Triangle in South-East Asia, tools for MPA managers on marine mammals and coastal and marine resilience, and strengthening networks of MPA managers.
Meetings and presentations in the exhibition hall at stand 412
As well as contributing to the official congress programme, the project will have a constant presence at a stand (no. 412) in the exhibition space, showcasing the project through talks and projections and providing a space for small meetings. A programme of presentations at the stand will cover specific activities, such as mangrove restoration, activity with indigenous communities and the recent effectiveness of MPA managers’ networks desk study.
As well as reaching out to the global audience, the congress offers a valuable opportunity for partners in the Marine Mammals, Resilience and MPA networks twinning partnerships to meet in person and exchange their experiences, one of the project’s key objectives and a welcome change after three years of largely virtual meetings.
The congress, which is normally held every 4 years, is organised jointly by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the host nation, this year Canada. The last event (IMPAC4) was in Chile in 2017 after which the COVID-19 pandemic forced the delay of IMPAC5. The Ocean Governance team will make the most of the opportunity of the congress to network with previous and potential collaborators.
About the Ocean Governance Project
Programme of OG project events at IMPAC5
For more information during IMPAC5, contact Katharine Mill, katharine@wisefrog.co.uk, tel +44 7762 121495.