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Research

Research

Research

Summary

The Center for Biodiversity Outcomes is developing a structured decision-making framework to assess whether the recently revised zoning in the Galápagos Marine Reserve will achieve stated objectives and to illustrate the use of adaptive spatial management to identify alternative zoning structures that will facilitate the long-term provision of ecosystem services.

 

Structured Decision-Making (SDM) provides a rigorous framework to identify interventions that are most likely to achieve stated management objectives. In the Galápagos Marine Reserve (GMR), the lack of effective SDM has contributed to reduced transparency and trust among stakeholders and ineffective monitoring programs, undermining the goals of the reserve. We are co-developing an SDM framework with the Galápagos National Park Directorate (GNPD) to ensure effective management of the GMR. We will evaluate three distinct regions to demonstrate the utility of this approach and create a model that could be applied across the GMR. To inform decisions for adaptive spatial management in the GMR, we will demonstrate how stated management objectives, the development of indicators, and thresholds for decisions can be linked with the monitoring of ecological responses and their associated socioeconomic benefits.

Partners

  • Galapagos National Park
  • Conservation International (Ecuador and Americas Field Division)
  • Universidad San Francisco de Quito, ECOLAP

Personnel

Funding

  • Lenfest Ocean Fund

Timeline

July 2019 — Ongoing