Fisherman, Fort Dauphin, Madagascar. Photo source: ©© David Dennis
Comparison of Marine Spatial Planning Methods in Madagascar Demonstrates Value of Alternative Approaches
Excerpts;
A new study, conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, the Wildlife Conservation Society and others, provides a plan for preserving Madagascar’s dazzling array of marine life. Though it ranks among the poorest countries on Earth, the island nation has proposed to create more than 1 million hectares (3,861 square miles) of protected areas to conserve its coral reefs, mangroves, and other marine ecosystems.
The study, used what is called (borrowing from the financial world) a “diversified portfolio” approach, to identify what areas need protection and use a variety of strategies to protect them. These options include implementing strict no-take zones (where fishing is completely banned) to areas that would allow fishing.
Madagascar Gets ‘Roadmap’ To Conserving Marine Life, Our Amazing Planet
