Today (8 June) sees the launch of 'Developing the evidence-base to support 'climate-smart' decision making around Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)', a report produced by our experts working on behalf of UK Government. This new research reveals that half of MPAs could contain habitats important for climate resistance.
Dr John Goold, Director of Marine Evidence and Advice at JNCC said: "This report, released today on World Oceans Day, provides important evidence to further understand the susceptibility of protected features within MPAs to climate change and their functional role in building overall resilience to the impacts of climate change. Outputs from this collaborative project will help support concepts such as climate-smart decision making in the marine environment."
Defra Minister Rebecca Pow said: "Our Blue Belt of marine protection around our coast is now an area twice the size of England and truly a world-leading level of protection; however, there is always more that can be done. We have a duty to ensure that our marine life recovers and thrives for future generations. This research published on World Ocean Day gives us the tools to measure the impacts of climate change on some of our most sensitive habitats and provides an important insight into the benefits of Marine Protected Areas – not just for nature but for our own resilience in the face of a changing climate."
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Posted On: 08/06/2020