Using biodiversity data in Marine Spatial Planning · Using biodiversity data in Marine Spatial...

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Using biodiversity data inMarine Spatial PlanningCase studies Finland and Zanzibar

Mats Westerbom

Markku Viitasalo, Finnish Environment Institute

Diagnosis of environmental problems in aquatic ecosystems12.10.2017

Background: Basics of marine spatial protection

Part 1: Marine Spatial planning as a tool for marine protection:case study Finland

Lecture contents

Part 2: Marine Spatial Planning in Zanzibar: an island state atthe crossroads

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Background:

Targets of marine protection

M. Viitasalo, Diagnosis of environmental problems in aquatic ecosystems, UH 12.10.2017

In COP 10, Nagoya (Aichi Prefecture), Japan, CBD agreed uponthe Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020=> 20 ”Aichi Targets”

www.cbd.int


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Strategic Goal B: Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promotesustainable use (by 2020)

Target 5: The rate of loss of all natural habitats is at least halved…

Target 6: All fish and invertebrate stocks and aquatic plants are harvested sustainably…

Target 8: Pollution, including from excess nutrients, has been brought to levels that arenot detrimental to ecosystem...

Target 9: Invasive alien species are identified, priority species are controlled, andmeasures are in place to manage (their) pathways...

Target 10 : Anthropogenic pressures on coral reefs, and other vulnerable ecosystemsimpacted by climate change or ocean acidification are minimized... (by 2015)

”Aichi targets” aim to alleviate environmental problems

Strategic Goal C: To improve the status of biodiversity by safeguardingecosystems, species and genetic diversity (by 2020)

Target 12: The extinction of threatened species has been prevented…

M. Viitasalo, Itämeren ajankohtaiset kysymykset 20.4.2017

CBD Aichi Strategic Goal C: To improve the status ofbiodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and geneticdiversity

Target 11:At least 10 per cent of… coastal and marine areas areconserved through1) effectively managed2) ecologically representative and3) well connectedsystems of protected areas


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The simplest way to choose MPA sites is to use habitats assurrogates for biodiversity.

International conventions: “MPAs are representative if they coverat least 20 % of each important habitat in each region.”

Representativeness

• MPAs cannot always be placed in the most valuable areas

• There is too little data on the spatial distribution of habitatsand species to make a wise choice.

This goal is difficult to achieve. Why?


Connectivity enables general metapopulation persistence and replenishment ofpopulations after disturbance. (Hastings & Botsford 2006; Gaines et al. 2010)

Why is connectivity important?

How is connectivity realised in practise?Through passive dispersal of spores and larvae or by active migration ofjuveniles and adults of species (Walters 2000)


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No-take zones

• Strongest response to protection is usually detected in areaswhere fishing is forbidden.

• By excluding fisheries, depleted fish stocks and theirecosystem functions may be restored, with effects cascadingthrough food webs and affecting habitat health (Eriksson etal. 2011; Leleu et al. 2012).


• HELCOM MPAs (formerly: ”Baltic Sea Protected Areas”)• Natura 2000 areas• RAMSAR (Convention on Wetlands of International Importance)• IBAs (Important Bird Areas)• National parks• Protection areas on private land/sea

MPA types in the Baltic Sea


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Marine protection works!

Benjamin S. HalpernUniversity of California,Santa Barbara

“Well designed and enforcedreserves can serve asimportant conservation toolsworldwide.”Sarah E. Lester, MEPS 2009;Review of 124 studies

“MPAs can sustain a higher population size and biomass, larger size ofindividuals, higher biodiversity, and higher food web complexity.”Halpern (2002, 2014)


On the other hand…• Of the 1306 MPAs studied worldwide, only 31 % were achieving

their objectives. (Kelleher et al. 1995)

Esben Moland Olsen, Univ. Agder, Norway

“There is a strong need of a radicalreform of the European Natura2000 network.”Position paper by the EuropeanMarine Board (Olsen et al. 2013)


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Part 1An approach to alleviate

environmental risks posed by humanmaritime activities:

Marine Spatial Planning


Uses of marine space are increasing• Building and expansion of ports• Construction of bridges and roads• Development of factories, power

plants and sewage treatment plants• Development of fairways; dredging• Extraction of sand and gravel• Cables, pipelines• Windmill parks• Marine traffic, fisheries, aquaculture,

recreation• Marine PROTECTION

=> ”Maritime Spatial Planning” needed

Oulunsalo-Hailuoto windmill park(Bothnian Bay) – planned for 2012-2018:43-75 turbines (100 m high)

Source: Environment Impact Assessment,virtual image


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UNESCO-IOC Marine Spatial PlanningGuidelines:

MSP is a public process of analyzing andallocating the spatial and temporal distribution of

human activities in marine areas to achieveecological, economic, and social objectives thatare usually specified through a political process.

What is MSP?


Suitability map for theBaltic Sea

Best shipping routeFish reproduction areaBiodiversity hot spotArea suitable for windenergy

Symbols:

Spatial zonation plan forthe Baltic Sea

Shipping routeFishing areaBiodiversity hotspotWind energypark

Symbols:General usagePrimary usageExclusive usage

Source: ”Learn basics of Marine SpatialPlanning in the Baltic Sea in 10 minutes”

(www.wwf.fi)

What is MSP?

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Challenge of MSPin Finland


80 km


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Where are the most valuable habitats?

Lagoons EstuariesReefs M. Westerbom Underwater sandbanks

Where are the important and rare species?

BladderwrackFucusvesiculosus

Eelgrass Zostera marina Blue musselMytilustrossulus

Hippuristetraphylla

• Within the EUoccurs only inFinland


The main objectives are tosupport:

• marine conservation• sustainable use of marine resources• Maritime Spatial Planning

Parks & Wildlife Finland / J.. Nyström

The Finnish Inventory Programmefor Marine Underwater Environment


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1) Make a sampling scheme that• has sufficient spatial

coverage• covers the environmental

gradients affecting thespecies

2) Use quick methods (video)complement with dives

3) Use species and habitatmodelling

~17.000randomobservationpoints+ 50.000”grid points”

VELMU plan2012-2015

Solution


VELMU partners• Ministry of the Environment (funding and steering)• Finnish Environment Institute (coordination)• Coastal Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment• Parks & Wildlife Finland• Natural Resources Institute• Geological Survey of Finland• Naval Research Insitute (Finnish Navy)• Åbo Akademi University

Larger EU-funded projects:

Funding• Ministry of the Environment: ca 1,3 M€ /year in 2011-2015


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How were the data collected?Geological and biological inventories

• Bottom topography, geology• Habitats• Algae and water plants• Invertebrates• Fish spawning areas

Drop videoROV

Benthic samplingSampling of fish larvae

Geologicalechosoundingmethods

Scuba divingAlgal lines

Parks & Wildlife Finland

Geol. Surv. Fin./ H. Kutvonen

SYKE


~ 96 000video points

~ 23 000dive points

• Ca. 120.000 pointobservations of species andhabitats

• 1000+ benthos samples• 1800 Gulf-lines + 700 beach

seine areas for fish larvae• 20 000 km echosounding• 100 000+ underwater

photos

What was achieved in 13 years?


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Highlights


Shallow bays are importantbiodiversity hotspots

© Luke / Lari Veneranta

© Luke / Lari Veneranta

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Rare species

Hippuris tetraphyllafourleaf mare’s tail– in EU only inFinland

Alisma wahlenbergiiBaltic water-plantain- most of itsoccurrences inFinland

Macroplea pubipennisa leaf beetle

– in EU only in Finland

Non-indigenous species

Harris mud crab… … is spreding fast…


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New species for Finland – and for science!

Unknown Murchisonellidae snail Unknown feather duster wormLaonome sp.


End products


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Geographical distributionmaps

Markku Viitasalo, SYKE

Green: Mytilus foundRed: Mytilus not found

Blue mussel Mytilus trossulus

Lasse Kurvinen, Parks & WildlifeFinland

Biodiversity mapsNumber of algal genera

Water temperature atbottom

Eelgrass Zosteramarina

ModelsEnvironment & Species

Elina Virtanen, SYKE


Habitat models: reefs, skerries and sandbanks


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Modelling threatened speciesExample: Characeae in the Quarken, Gulf of Bothnia

Probability of presence ofCharaceae:

Possible

Probable

Parks & WildlifeFinland / Matti Sahla


The current MPAsThe most valuable areas inside the MPAsThe most valuable areas outside the MPAs

Conservation prioritization for the Finnish sea area (using Zonation©)

Elina Virtanen,SYKE, unpublished

Developing the network of MPAs


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VELMU Map Portal

Minister Tiilikainen speaks in the openingof the VELMU Map Portal 28.1.2016

http://paikkatieto.ymparisto.fi/velmu

Usage of VELMU datain marine spatial

planning

Example:Kymenlaakso Regional Plan


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Summary graphEskers, sandbanks, reefs, algae and indicator species

The current Natura 2000 area

Decision makingWhere to allow dumping of dredged materials?

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The maritime spatial plan


Geological maps and habitat models can be used inidentifying areas that support high biodiversity.

Species Distribution Models can be used in planning thedevelopment of MPA network

All data together can be used in marine spatial planning

Summary of Part 1


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Part 2:Using biodiversity data in Marine Spatial

Planning: Case study Zanzibar

• A semi-autonomouspart of Tanzania

• Two main islands:Unguja and Pemba

• Population 1,3 mill.

Zanzibar

North-EastGrowth Area

ZAN-SDIA spatial planning project between the Finnishand Zanzibar governmental institutes


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Stone Town – UNESCO World Heritage Site



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Mnemba Island Lodge:US$ 1500 per night

Average incomefor Zanzibar people:250 US$ per year

The standard-of-living gap between thetourists and the locals is enormous

in Zanzibar

This needs to be taken into account inspatial planning and nature protection


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The challengeVery little spatial data on biodiversity,

pollution, or human activitiesVery limited resources for collecting new

data


The Zanzibar people depend on the sea


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Seaweed farming provides income to womenM. Viitasalo, Diagnosis of environmental problems in aquatic ecosystems, UH 12.10.2017

Fishing is entirely artisanalMarkku Viitasalo


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Coral rag

Urban

AgroforestCoastal

Intertidalzone

Courtesy: Niina Käyhkö, Univ. Turku

Coral rag


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Zanzibar Tourism Plan1993

Tourism development areas


The main tourist area, Nungwi, North Unguja M. Viitasalo

Markku Viitasalo

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Conflicts between locals and tourism

• People are denied of using land and the sea• Seaweed farmers are forced to move away• Tourist boat routes conflict with preferred fishing areas• Traditional passages to sea are closed due to hotels


2005 20171993

Original drawings:©Antoni Folkers, Draft of the North-East Special Area Plan(NESAP)

Conflicts between locals and tourism


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Risks of human activities to marine ecosystem

• Coastal construction• Nutrient loading from cities/villages• Destructive fishing practises• Coral damage by anchoring, snorkeling

Kids swimming at the sewage water discharge of StoneTown

North-East MPA

… is notenforced

The knowledge of corals

… is notprecise


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Problem1. Many human pressures threaten the future of

the marine ecosystem

2. The MPAs are not enforced

3. No information of where the most valuablecoral reefs and seagrasses are


1. Locate corals and seagrasses2. Locate human activities

3. Create a National Spatial Data Infrastructure4. Put everything on a map

5. Create a Coastal and Marine Spatial Plan

Solution

ZAN-SDI project


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Multi-sourcing of information!

1. Satellite imagery2. Field work

3. Workshops and expert interviews4. Participatory GIS in villages


Remote sensing of coral reefs- Widely studied habitat in the tropics- Aerial images reveal underwater areas- satellite images with different

wavelength bands can reveal more ofthe underwater environments than thevisual eyeBand calculations

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Validating the satellite imagery by drop video method


Workshops and expert interviews


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Participatory mappingin Zanzibar villages


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What can befound out bymulti-sourcing?

1. Location of corals2. Location of seagrasses3. Fishing areas4. Seafood collection

areas5. Reef passages6. Landing sites7. Sea turtle nesting sites8. Diving sites (high value

areas)


Coastal and MarineSpatial Plan- proposal for theNorth-East GrowthArea

Original drawing: ©Antoni Folkers, Draftof the North-East Special Area Plan(NESAP)

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Multiple methods are needed to source the informationon hotspots of biodiversity and human activities

Conclusions

Local communities are very concerned of their livelihoods

=> communication of the benefits of sustainableuse of the ocean

=> acceptance of the spatial plans


• Environmental risks are largely similar in both Finlandand Zanzibar

• The balance between “stoppable” and “unstoppable”threats are different

• Grave standard-of-living gap creates specific socio-ecological risks in Zanzibar

• The differences need to be taken into account whenplanning to alleviate the risks

Environmental risks in Finland andZanzibar – and their mitigation


Using biodiversity data in Marine Spatial Planning · Using biodiversity data in Marine Spatial...

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