The Faculty of Environment is pleased to invite you to a special talk and discussion, "Evidence-Based Conservation: ecological connectivity and the design of Marine Protected Areas" presented by Dr. Anna Metaxas, a professor in Oceanography at Dalhousie University. Jenn Burt, a PhD Candidate with our School of Resource and Environmental Management and the B.C. Marine Program Lead for Nature United will then respond to the presentation exploring what this means locally for British Columbia.

Date: February 7th

Time: 7:00PM - 9:00PM

Location: Room 1900 SFU Harbour Centre

Abstract

The increasing pressures the oceans are facing have led to mounting conservation efforts both internationally and on multiple national stages. Countries, including Canada, are racing to meet their Aichi target 11 obligation to conserve at least 10% of their coastal and marine areas by 2020 through the establishment of marine protected areas. On the international stage, the International Seabed Authority and the UN BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) process are also faced with the challenge of conserving regions of the seabed and the high seas and are considering the implementation of area-based management tools (ABMT) to do so. The design of effective and equitably managed ABMTs requires, in part, scientific evidence to establish representative and well-connected systems that protect biodiversity and ecosystem services. While many ABMTs have considered representation of a range of habitats, including unique and vulnerable ones, the inclusion of connectedness among habitats, populations or ecosystems remains more elusive. Our work has shown that this lack of inclusion is the result of a disconnect between scientific evidence and management. I will use examples from our own work, as well as that of others, in Canada and areas beyond national jurisdiction to illustrate the current state of including ecological connectivity as a design element in ABMTs. Based on those and recommendations made in the scientific literature I will discuss the evidence on the relative importance of connectivity in designing marine protected areas. I will conclude with some recommendations for the way forward.

Bios

Anna Metaxas

Speaker

Anna Metaxas is a Professor in Oceanography who studies marine benthic populations of ecological and economic importance, including invasive species. Her research group uses a combination of approaches, such as field sampling, laboratory experiments and mathematical modelling. She has worked in habitats from shallow rocky subtidal regions to the deep sea, including hydrothermal vents and deep-water corals, in temperate and tropical regions of the world. Her research has implications for marine conservation, such as the establishment and success of conservation areas. She is currently involved in a number of national and international initiatives that have as an ultimate goal the translation of scientific outcomes into information that is relevant to policy. She has served on several national and international steering and scientific advisory committees and boards. Anna received a B.Sc. in Biology from McGill University in 1986, a MSc in Oceanography from the University of British Columbia in 1989 and a PhD from Dalhousie University in 1994. She was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in Fort Pierce, Florida, from 1995 to 1997, and a Postdoctoral Scholar at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Massachusetts, from 1997 to 1999. She has been at Dalhousie since 1999.

Jenn Burt

Respondent

PhD Candidate, School of Resource and Environmental Management and the B.C. Marine Program Lead for Nature United

Jenn Burt is a marine ecologist and the B.C. Marine Program Lead for Nature United where she works to build effective partnerships and find innovative solutions to advance marine planning, sustainable fisheries, and ecosystem-based ocean management on the B.C. coast. Jenn is also a PhD Candidate in SFU’s School of Resource and Environmental Management, where she studies the ecological dynamics and management of B.C.’s kelp forests. Jenn has led research on Marine Protected Area Network Design in B.C., participated in MPA network advisory committees, and is part of several integrated marine planning processes currently unfolding on the B.C. coast.

Tickets

NOTE: With free events, there are some people with reservations who do not claim them. If you are unable to reserve a seat, we encourage you to come and we will do our best to find you a seat. Reservations are held until 6:50pm and then we offer empty seats to newcomers.

If you have a reservation and your plans change, please cancel it so someone else may have your seat.

Faculty of Environment