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Enhancing marine protected areas with effective ecological and environmental data integration
Hoppit, George; Nurkse, Kristiina; Beleem, Imtiyaz; Cadoni, Nicoletta; Crowe, Tasman; Bekaert, Matthieu; Bongiorni, Lucia; Dvorski, Kora; Everaert, Gert; Frau, Francesca; Jernberg, Susanna; Krvarić, Ana; Kõivupuu, Anneliis; Malovrazić, Nemanja; Marchessaux, Guillaume; Perschke, Myriam Johanna; Petersen, H.Cecilie; Quintana, Cintia Organo; Raatikainen, Kaisa J.; Sará, Gianluca; Sicard, Maëlla; Stevens, Martha; Szava-Kovats, Robert; Vaher, Annaleena; Gerven, Annaïk Van; Barboza, Francisco R. (2025). Enhancing marine protected areas with effective ecological and environmental data integration. Ecol. Indic. 178: 114119. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.114119
In: Ecological Indicators. Elsevier: Shannon. ISSN 1470-160X; e-ISSN 1872-7034
Peer reviewed article  
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Author keywords
    Marine protected areas; Ecological indicators; Connectivity; Environmental management; Ecosystem resilience; top-down; challenges; management; conservation; knowledge; community; progress; science; mpas
Project Top | Authors 
  • Improved Science-Based Maritime Spatial Planning to Safeguard and Restore Biodiversity in a coherent European MPA network
Authors  Top 
  • Everaert, G.
  • Stevens, M.
  • Van Gerven, A.
Abstract
    Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) play a critical role in marine conservation, but their effectiveness, among other things, depends on robust ecological and environmental data integration. This paper explores key gaps and suggests ways forward for evaluating MPA ecological functionality, emphasizing the integration of species and habitat functional roles, process-based, and ecosystem-based indicators to assess species roles and ecosystem processes when identifying areas for conservation and supporting their management and governance. Connectivity is highlighted as a fundamental process, ensuring MPAs contribute to broader ecological coherence rather than acting as isolated spatial units. Given the dynamic nature of marine ecosystems, temporal adaptability, supported by long-term monitoring and data-driven decision-making, is essential for maintaining resilience amid climate change and anthropogenic pressures. Additionally, leveraging local and traditional knowledge through stakeholder engagement enhances MPA governance and implementation. By combining a diverse range of ecological indicators to aid decision-making, we can improve MPA effectiveness, ensuring they sustain biodiversity, ecosystem services, and resilience in the face of environmental change.
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