Colleagues:

I am pleased to announce the release of 3 new publications promoting
solutions to the global ocean crisis. Produced by the Science-to-Action
partnership, which includes more than 75 organizations led by Conservation
International’s Marine Management Area Science Program, the publications are
based on 5 years of natural and social science research in over 70 marine
managed areas in 23 tropical countries.

Drawing on the results of more than 50 studies, the Science-to-Action
partnership offers recommendations for successful implementation of marine
managed areas (MMAs) to maximize the benefits to people and nature. The
findings and recommendations are presented in 3 reader-friendly, richly
illustrated booklets:

• People and Oceans explores the role of people in marine managed areas,
including the human well-being benefits and challenges of MMAs, and how
socioeconomic conditions affect success.
http://www.science2action.org/peopleandoceans

• Living with the Sea examines the role of MMAs in restoring and sustaining
healthy oceans, particularly the importance of local management efforts.
http://www.science2action.org/livingwiththesea

• Marine Managed Areas: What, Why, and Where defines MMAs and discusses the
challenges of implementation.
http://www.science2action.org/mmas-whatwhyandwhere

I encourage you to use these booklets to advance discussions with government
agencies, non-government organizations, user groups, and other stakeholders
to influence better decisions for coastal and ocean resources and about how
and why to implement integrated management systems for the ocean.

These and other publications may be downloaded in pdf format at our new
website http://www.science2action.org. Please contact Septiana Rustandi at
s.rustandi@conservation.org if you would like printed copies of the
booklets. Figures and illustrations from the booklets are provided on the
website in jpeg format for use in presentations and documents. Additional
information on marine managed areas and the Science-to-Action global
learning network is also available at http://www.science2action.org.

The MMAS Program welcomes feedback on the utility of these documents.

With kind regards,
John J.Tschirky
Conservation International
Marine Managed Areas Science Program
2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 500
Arlington, VA 22202  USA
office: 703 341 2628
email: j.tschirky@conservation.org
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Richard Charter notes:  Perhaps of interest to various groups, major National Council for Science and the Environment conference in DC in January 2011 with the first day (January 19, called the “Oil and Oceans Symposium”) to incorporate a focus in the plenary sessions on offshore drilling, including the Arctic Ocean:

“Our Changing Oceans”  Draft Agenda http://ncseonline.org/conference/Oceans/cms.cfm?id=4028

Also inviting “Collaborators” without fiscal commitment: http://ncseonline.org/conference/Oceans/cms.cfm?id=3702

NCSE’s 11th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment: Our Changing Oceans will provide a forum to address the crisis facing our oceans, new knowledge and innovative tools to effectively face this challenge, and the policy and governance needed to restore and protect the oceans.

Expecting over 1,000 attendees, Our Changing Oceans will bring together scientists, professionals, policy makers, university faculty and students, and educated citizens from a wide range of disciplines to share their perspectives and work to address the topic at hand. This year, all three days of the event will be held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

NCSE utilizes a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach to convene involved scientists and decision-makers from various sectors of society. Our conferences include renowned speakers, topical symposia to explore issues in depth, and breakout sessions to develop a set of recommendations on how to advance science and connect it to policy and decision-making.

We welcome you to join us in our 11th year of this impactful event!

Special thank to Richard Charter

Dear Listers

Earlier this year there was a debate on Coral List concerning the Chagos
Archipelago and the proposal by the UK Government to implement a Marine
Protected Area (MPA). Readers may recall that the indigenous population
was expelled in the 1960s to make way for the US Military Base on Diego
Garcia. Since that date the Chagossians have been denied a right of
abode and most recently had pursued their case to the European Court of
Human Rights (ECtHR). The case was due to be heard later this year.

On 1 April 2010 the former Foreign Secretary, David Milliband, announced
the UK’s intention to implement a MPA in the Chagos Archipelago. To date
no further action had been taken pending a Judicial Review of that
declaration by the Chagossians which was filed in the UK Courts in August.

In a remarkable about turn, the new Coalition Government revealed in a
letter from Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP dated 9 September that it is
abandoning its defence of the ECtHR case, “opting instead for a friendly
settlement” with the Chagossians. Furthermore the letter declared that
“The Foreign Secretary, William Hague, is also committed to a fair
settlement of this long-standing dispute. Steps have already been taken
to ensure their [Chagossians] return.”

This is wonderful news for everyone. It ensures that the Marine
Protected Area now has a real chance of being implemented, that the
islanders will be entitled to return and indeed could participate in the
enforcement of the MPA, preventing it from just becoming a “paper park”.
Although the concept of a complete “no-take zone” throughout the MPA,
and an archipelago devoid of any human habitation (apart from the
massive base on Diego) was attractive to certain conservationists and
heavily lobbied by some parties, it was also naive and patently unjust.
Although it is still early days and there will be many issues to be
resolved, we now have the opportunity to move forward with this
important decision, whilst including all the stakeholders.

In addition it has been announced that a Swiss billionaire, Ernesto
Bertarelli, and his British wife are in talks with the UK Government
about providing some of the funding which will be necessary to police
the MPA. It was feared that the spending cuts which the UK Government
has had to make might have prevented the implementation.  For the full
report see:
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/billionaire-saves-marine-reserve-plans-2077437.html

It is an important day for both conservation and human rights.

—
Richard P Dunne

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