Project: World Marine Heritage Sites and the application of 'ecosystem-based Marine Spatial Planning' (MRP)
Beneficiary: UNESCO
Amount: 351.630 USD
Duration: 2013 - 2015
This project focuses on the conservation of an often underexposed form of World Heritage, namely the Marine World Heritage Sites, through the application of 'ecosystem-based Marine Spatial Planning' (MRP).
MRP is a conceptual method developed by the IOC (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission) on the basis of research by UGent. This project also resulted from the "World Heritage Marine Programme", one of the World Heritage Centre's flagship programmes co-funded by the General Trust Fund since 2011, due to concerns that African marine areas remain heavily under-represented on the World Heritage List.
The project provides regional training and workshops for the development of marine spatial plans, including the fight against illegal fishing and harmful dredging. This project is the stepping stone to a larger project for which additional partners are being sought to embed this MRP globally.