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Paige Rothenberger USVI Dept. of Planning & Natural Resources
MPA Center National System Partners Meeting June 13, 2012
Virgin Islands Marine Protected Area Network
© T. Smith
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VI Marine Protected Area Network
Need – History Member MPAs Vision, Mission Shared Priorities Challenges Activities to date Lessons learned
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Why a VI Network?
Increase communication, coordination, collaboration and support among MPAs
Maximize efficiency and effectiveness Address targeted issues of mutual concern to the MPAs
and wider community in a coordinated, cohesive manner Reduce confusion surrounding MPAs and marine mgmt Need an easier way for local managers to work together NFWF MPA Fund grant through TNC to facilitate process
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Who is VIMPAN? Federal (NPS)
Buck Island Reef NM VI National Park VI Coral Reef NM Salt River NHP (co-mgmt)
Territorial St. Croix East End Marine Park St. Thomas East End Reserve
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Vision (draft)
To cooperatively conserve and restore shared resources across a system of MPAs and to raise awareness and foster stewardship of these areas to ensure the quality of life and economy for the USVI community, culture and environment
A joint network of marine protected areas for the
conservation and restoration of marine resources for the benefit and stewardship of the USVI and future generations.
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Mission (draft)
To establish interagency relationships and create opportunities for cohesive marine protected area management, collective environmental planning and response that will address common challenges, inspire action and build community support.
To improve coordination, cooperation, communication,
and collaboration among USVI marine protected areas by creating opportunities for collective environmental planning and response; information sharing; leveraging resources; and conveying a common message.
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Shared Priorities Communication, education & outreach Enforcement Policy, planning & fundraising Biophysical and social monitoring, other research needs
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Challenges to Implementation Managers and staff limited, full workloads
Knowing, advocating each other Regional and international connections, needs, caveats Watershed impacts & management issues Insufficient enforcement capacity Political and economic climate Dive reciprocity
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Current Linkages between MPAs
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What have we done? One on one interviews Planning workshops VIMPAN meetings Formal mechanism to
facilitate inter-agency collaboration Draft Memorandum of
Agreement (NPS and DPNR)
Draft supervisor letter Draft/evolving VIMPAN
coordination framework
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Immediate Next Steps Finalize MOA –
signatures Finalize Coordination
Framework Implementation plans
for shared priorities Create VIMPAN identity VIMPAN website VIMPAN calendar Regular meetings
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Lessons Learned Even with dedicated, focused &
committed participants it can be challenging to move forward need for coordination (the Ryan
model) Where, who, how?
Need to institutionalize collaborations and maximize partnerships so as to withstand political terms and staff turnover
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Thank You