IMPAC5

IMPAC5

News: Recently, the 5th International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) was held in Canada in order to discuss the solutions to address the Funding Gap of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

Background:
 This meeting is crucial since nations agreed to protect 30% of Earh’s lands and oceans by 2030 at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity held in 2022.

About IMPAC:
 IMPAC congresses are a collaborative effort between the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the chosen host country.
 The congress brings together scientists, policy makers, practitioners, and stakeholders from around the world to discuss the latest scientific knowledge, best practices and challenges in the management of MPAs.
 The goal of IMPAC is to advance the conservation and sustainable use of the world's marine biodiversity and to support the implementation of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity's goals for marine conservation and management.

What are Marine Protected Areas?
 MPAs are designated areas of the ocean that are set aside for the protection and conservation of marine ecosystems and their biodiversity. Within the region, certain activities are limited, or entirely prohibited, to meet specific conservation, habitat protection, ecosystem monitoring or fisheries management objectives.
 MPAs do not necessarily exclude fishing, research or other human activities; in fact, many MPAs are multipurpose areas.
 MPAs can generate sustainable revenues for their own management.
 Revenue can be generated from statutory and non-statutory MPA fees for tourism programmes, blue carbon credits generated from mangrove conservation and avoided deforestation as well as seaweed farming and sustainable coastal fisheries.

What is the need for MPA’s?
 Biodiversity Conservation
 To promote Sustainable Fisheries
 To minimize Climate Change impact as MPA’s can serve as important Carbon Sink zones
 To promote research and education of important marine areas
 Help promote eco-tourism activities

Key Highlights of IMPAC5:
 As many as 70% of MPAs are underfunded. A well-managed and sufficiently funded MPA can restore good health to vulnerable ecosystems.
 Achieving sustainable and resilient MPA networks depends on an overall commitment to protection, leadership, engagement from stakeholders, institutions, governments and organizations, Indigenous peoples, coastal communities, and individuals in an inclusive and equitable manner to advance ocean protection.
 IMPAC5 aims to provide a forum for sharing knowledge, successes and best practices in an open and respectful environment for the exchanging of ideas among a diversity of views.

Are there any MPA in India?
 In India, there are 33 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries designated under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 that make up the country's MPAs.
 Marine National Park and Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Kutch form one unit and Bhitarkanika National Park and Bhitarkanika Sanctuary are an integral part of one MPA. Thus, there a total of 31 MPAs in India.
 MPAs cover less than 4.01% of the total area of all Protected Areas of India.