Introduction

Abstract

This special issue provides a synthesis of the status and development of marine protected area (MPA) networks at regional, national, and subnational scales in response to the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) commitments to establish a Coral Triangle Marine Protected Area System (CTMPAS) to reduce threats to marine resources in the region. The six articles selected describe: the status of MPAs in the Coral Triangle; key principles and strategies to apply at a regional scale under the Coral Triangle Marine Protected Area System (CTMPAS) Framework and Action Plan; successes and challenges regarding developing a regional database (the Coral Triangle Atlas) to track progress toward MPA targets; ecological considerations and guidelines for designing marine reserves to maximize benefits for fisheries management, biodiversity protection, and climate adaptation; social–economic drivers affecting marine resource use, and strategies required to improve food security and incomes; and case studies (one from each of the six countries) that exemplify different approaches, best practices, and lessons learned for developing MPA networks in the Coral Triangle. This introduction provides the context regarding the Coral Triangle and MPA commitments under the CTI-CFF, which endorsed a Regional Plan of Action for marine conservation in 2009.

Keywords:

• Coral Triangle
• marine conservation
• marine protected areas
• regional

Acknowledgments

This special issue is the outcome of collaboration among many organizations and individuals working with and within the CT6 at regional, national, and subnational scales over the last 5 years. Thus it represents the challenges and achievements of MPA practitioners working throughout the CT, and international NGOs, scientific organizations, and other countries that have supported them. Maps were created under the Coral Triangle Atlas by Nate Peterson (The Nature Conservancy). Spatial Data was compiled by the Coral Triangle Atlas team: Annick Cros, Nate Peterson and Wen Wen from The Nature Conservancy, Shwu Jiau Teoh and Nurul Ahmad and Stanley Tan (from WorldFish), and Charles Huang from WWF-US. The database and maps can be accessed at http://ctatlas.reefbase.org/. The authors are grateful to all of the above, and Stacey Kilaski for assistance with editing and coordinating this special issue.