Regional Training Workshop to Strengthen the Regional Capacity for Implementation and Governance of MPAs; Integrating Best Practices and Actions for Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation and Environmental Protection: Workshop Report

Abstract

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are widely recognized as effective tools for conserving biodiversity and protecting vulnerable living resources in aquatic ecosystems. Their establishment within national Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), along with global commitments to protect critical areas of the high seas (Sumaila et al., 2007), has gained increasing international attention. Across Africa, most of the 38 coastal states have established MPAs to support marine conservation efforts (Maestro et al., 2019).