MSP4BIO: integrating marine biodiversity protection and MSP

With an overall aim to support the coherent implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy until 2030, the Convention on Biological Diversity post-2020 framework, as well as the EU Green Deal, MSP4BIO project develops and demonstrates the ways in which knowledge-based MSP becomes a vehicle and a tool for the protection and recovery of ecosystems. Specifically, MSP4BIO will develop an integrated flexible socio-ecological management to cope with a rapidly changing environment for coastal, offshore, and deep-sea ecosystems and validate its concrete applicability in 6 test sites (Baltic Sea, North-Western Mediterranean, Gulf of Cadiz, Belgian part of the North Sea, Western Black Sea and Azores Archipelago - Graciosa Island) in 5 European Sea Basins. The management relies on improved systemic biodiversity prioritization criteria for MPAs and EBSAs, based on the best available scientific knowledge on biodiversity attributes, and linking spatial ecological features with socio-economic considerations. MSP4BIO will improve the MPA prioritization criteria by integrating up-to-date ecological, socio-economic and policy considerations through a joint dialogue and validation by key user groups. The project will build on ongoing MSP and MPA processes at different scales from local, regional, national to sea basin level, and support effective management of future protected areas through the designation of right areas. The approach integrates the criteria and objectives of relevant maritime and biodiversity policies as well as the EUBS 2030 to ensure coherent policy implementation. As such, the project will develop and improve approaches, methods, and tools to feed scientific knowledge, making it of direct use to planners and MPA managers, while producing site-specific results informing site-specific, and broader policy processes and decisions.
MSP4BIO will develop and test a flexible management framework which integrates trade-off scenario analysis. The spatial and strategic measures for human uses developed in MSP4BIO will consider both sector and site-specific features. These measures will improve the MSP decision support tools for systemic consideration of biodiversity in MSP, as well as planners’ awareness and up-take into the planning process.
MSP4BIO test sites range from local to national, cross-border and sea basin-wide areas, allowing for a proper contribution to the identification and establishment of ecological corridors and MPA networks and EBSAs based on the different geographical and governance context. MSP4BIO will improve and validate the criteria for MPA prioritization including the consideration of a wider ecosystem and relevant processes. This approach ensures a better consideration of connectivity, integration of concepts such as blue green corridors for a more coherent MPA Network and considering the connection with coastal areas.
MSP4BIO will improve the knowledge base for reviewing and evaluating existing maritime spatial plans by expanding biodiversity consideration and will provide recommendations on how to improve sectoral policies to better mainstream biodiversity considerations at EU/sea-basin/national level. Impacts are maximised though direct involvement of planners in co-production, demo training, and collaboration with European and international initiatives.