Safeguarding marine protected areas from cumulative effects: a review of methods, best practices, and applications.

ABSTRACT: Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are key ocean conservation tools that can safeguard the diversity and function of marine ecosystems in the face of an increasing footprint and intensity of human activities. To be effective, MPA design, implementation, and management must consider not only individual, but also cumulative effects of historical, current and foreseeable future activities both within and outside MPA boundaries. Cumulative effects are seldom incorporated into MPA management as it can be challenging for MPA practitioners to select appropriate methods of assessment and integration. This paper examines two aspects of cumulative effects related to MPAs: a review of how cumulative effects are currently considered in MPA management worldwide, and a review of the primary and grey literatu

SUBMITTER: Murray CC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12546377 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature