Managing through Partnerships

Lynne Zeitlin HaleDirector, Marine InitiativeSeptember, 2003

lands“To preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.”

THE NATURE THE NATURE CONSERVANCYCONSERVANCY

A growing marine commitment

1990 1995 2000

15

30

45

60

2003:100+ sites in•all coastal states•25 coastal countries

How we work

Marine Conservation

State and Country programsOn the ground/ in the waterconservationCoastal /marine focus varies

Global Marine Initiative1 of 5 Organizational PrioritiesStrategic leadershipInnovationIncreased impact•on policy•on conservation

Marine Conservation

Focus areas

Seas to Summit Conservation•Critical ecosytem conservation•Focus on land/sea/ocean interactions •MPAs nested within larger “conversation”•Multi-site conservation strategies

Expansion of the conservation “toolkit”Conservation in context of global change

•Coral reef conservation that lasts•Resilience of other systems (e.g. marshes)

US International Leadership•Implementation of WSSD Oceans and Coasts agenda

Seas to Summit

Ecoregional assessments…a building block

•Identify conservation targets-- ecosystems & spp.• Collect the available information on targets• Set conservation goals• Develop “strawman” set of priority sites using

a reserve selection program• Evaluate these mathematical results in workshops

and interviews with scientists & managers• Finalize the portfolio of sites into an

ecoregional plan

MARINE ECOREGIONAL

PLANNING in the Northwest Division

Zach A. Ferdaña, The Nature Conservancy Curtis D. Tanner, U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service

Michael W. Beck, Ph.D., The Nature Conservancy Paul Dye, The Nature Conservancy

Lead Participants in Ecoregional Assessment

U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceWashington Department of Natural ResourcesWashington Department of Fish and WildlifeOregon Natural Heritage ProgramConservation Data Center of British ColumbiaBureau of Land Management People for Puget SoundUniversity of WashingtonBC Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management Nature Conservancy of Canada The Nature Conservancy of WashingtonThe Nature Conservancy of Oregon

Seas to Summit Conservation

W-P-F Ecoregional assessment outcomes

New Relationships•traditional relationship with Washington DNR & DFW grew•competitive relationship with People for Puget Sound turned into a solid partnership on nearshore restoration •scale and scope brought new relationships concerning salmon conservation

New Approaches•Integrated land/coastal/marine conservation sites•Built partnerships for implementation

Goal implementation through multiple mechanisms•TNC portfolio site selection •State fish and wildlife habitat priority plans •State designation of marine reserves and aquatic reserves •Status reports and recovery plans for species of concern •Leasing and management of state submerged lands

Seas to Summit Conservation

Ecoregional Assessments

Basis for new partnerships

Common information base (what is important / where it is)

Process for development of shared goals (or implications of different goals)

One building block for ocean planning/zoning

Help clarify additional data needs

Marine Ecoregional Assessments completed / underway

Conservation toolkitInnovation in Implementation

Photo caption, ©photographer

Estuary/watershed/ Nursery focus•Demonstration sites•Methodology development

Innovative Tools•Leasing/ownership of submerged lands•Restoration

Innovation

Photo caption, ©photographer

•Conservation of submerged lands not currently on the agenda•Private entities (including TNC) have opportunities to lease/own submerged land•Can be teamed effectively with restoration but broader look at use crucial•Ownership / lease hold increases “stake” in whole ecosystem

Bay Bottom OwnershipBlue Points in Great South Bay

• Restoration of Great South Bay: Preservation and restoration activities could have ecosystem-wide benefits

• Develop a multi-use plan for preservation, restoration and use

• Co-management

Bluepoints Bottomlands Council

• TNC• SUNY Stony Brook• Town of Brookhaven• Town of Islip• Cornell Coop. Ext.• Suffolk County• NY Sea Grant

Members

• NYS DEC• NYS DOS• SSER• FINS• Baymen• Bluepoints Co.• Environmental Defense

Bluepoints Projects

• Historical data collection, GIS mapping & Analysis

• Eelgrass mapping (DOS)

• Benthic mapping (DEC)

• Research & Monitoring of restoration, protection and use activities

• Eelgrass restoration and preservation

• Hard clam and scallop restoration & spawner sanctuaries

• Small-scale, enviro-friendly aquaculture

• Public harvest of wild resources

Applied ResearchApplied Research Restoration, protection & useRestoration, protection & use

Potential to become a MARINE ZONING MODEL for estuaries

throughout the United States

Innovation

Restoration

NOAA photo library

•Necessary to achieve conservation targets

•New vision beyond “bucks and acres” to restored ecosystem function

•A proactive, partnership approach that yields tangible results

TNC/NOAA Community-Based Restoration Program: Year 1 in blue -- Year 2 in red -- Year 3 Proposals in green

Seas to Summit Conservation

Anticipated supportive OPC recommendations

Better coordination among federal, state, and local agencies to take advantage of their various authorities and capabilities. New models for federal action that empower state and local agencies to take the lead. Expanded roles and responsibilities for non-governmental organizations and private business interestsCoastal/Marine planning and implementation at a regional scale to address multiple issues simultaneously. A shift away from single species management toward integrated, ecosystem-based management of marine resources.

Potential Early Implementation Actions

•Support for marine and coastal habitat restoration at seascape scale•Revitalize, coordinate, provide adequate funding for existing ocean and coastal programs •Demonstrate that Ecosystem (Seas to Summit) conservation is practical and effective •Support, catalyze innovation in conservation techniques•Support the science and mechanisms for adaptive management, learning and dissemination of successful strategies•Provide incentives for strengthened partnerships (national, state, local - Governmental / non-governmental)

.

Coral Reef ConservationTNC goals•Expand the area of coral reefs and associated habitats under protection; Build resilience into MPA selection, design, and management; Establish mutually-replenishing, representative MPA networks; Strengthen the management effectiveness and financial sustainability of MPAs

Caribbean, Pacific (eastern and western), Southeast Asia

Potential Early Implementation Actions

Coral Reef Conservation

•Increased support of US Coral Reef Task Force Action Plan implementation

-Local Action Strategies -Climate change and coral reefs (resilience)-Capacity building

•Strengthened science and monitoring programs •Increased support for MPAs and MPA Networks•Strengthened links between MPA Management and Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management•Building resilience into coral reef conservation

USCRTF is one effective model for a partnership / ecosystem approach

How can TNC be a helpful partner in catalyzing action ?

State Level•State TNC teams work with Governors’ offices on comments•Contribute to identifying potential demonstration projects; identify funding opportunities•Contribute to developing capacity, project implementation

National Level•Work with National Governors Association; Coastal States Organization; other NGOS on comments•Work with both the Administration and Congress on both a strong, positive, early actions as well as long term strategy