MESMA
01/11/2009 - 30/11/2013
MESMA
Monitoring and Evaluation of Spatially Managed Areas
MESMA focuses on marine spatial planning and aims to produce integrated management tools (concepts, models and guidelines) for Monitoring, Evaluation and implementation of Spatially Managed marine Areas, based on European collaboration.
MESMA is expected to supply innovative methods and integrated strategies for governments, local authorities, stakeholders, and other managerial bodies for planning and decision making at different local, national, and European scales, for sustainable development of European seas.
List of Partners
- IMARES WAGENINGEN UR (leader)
- UCL (London global university)
- Senckenberg forschunginstitut und naturmuseum
- Universiteit Gent
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research
- Bulgarian academy of sciences
- HAVFORSKNINGSINSTITUTTET Institute of marine research (Norway)
- UCC Colàiste na hOlfscoile Corcaigh, Eire, University College Cork, Irlande
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
- AZITI tecnalia, Spain
- Ministry for Resources and rural affairs, Malta
- DTU Aqua, National Institut of Aquatic resources,
- CEFAS
- Heriot Watt University
- Deltares, Enabling delta life
- AquaBiota, water research, NIVA Norwegian Institut for Water Resarch
- ILVO, Instituut voor Landbouw, Flemish
- VTI, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut
- IOPAN, Instutut of Oceanology, Polish academy of sciences
- Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models
Work packages
- Compilation and analysis of existing information: existing information on spatial management (SM) of marine areas is compiled. Subsequently, a meta-analysis of this information is carried out regarding policy objectives, namely the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of marine spatially managed areas (SMAs): "Learn from the past and present".
- Framework for monitoring and evaluation of SMAs: develops a generic and operational framework for the monitoring and evaluation of SMAs across Europe. The framework is centered on science-based guidelines, criteria, concepts and models and ranges from the conceptual to the operational. In an iterative process, the WP2 framework guides the development of practical tools in WP4 and of governance approaches in WP6, and in turn, these tools and approaches are used to further develop the framework and its implementation.
- Case-studies: the generic framework developed in WP2 is tested in practice and further refined through the application to case studies, in a multi-sectoral and multi-objective approach. The selected case studies represent a range of geographical scales, representative habitats and different human pressures throughout European marine water bodies, encompassing the North Sea, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Black Sea.
- Development and evaluation of management tools: deals with the development of a set of management tools for SMAs, consisting of survey methods, models, maps, databases, indicators. Through implementation in actual management settings, the set of management tools is continually improved, evaluated and validated against pre-defined criteria. The outcome will be a consistent set of tools and techniques for management authorities across European waters that can aid in the systematic monitoring and evaluation of the status of SMAs, in successful management interventions, and in the reduction and resolution of possible conflicts between users. Both theoretical and end-user feedback loops between WP 2, 3 and 4 have been established to improve the outcomes of the generic concepts and tool development in an iterative process.
- Data standards and infrastructure for the Monitoring and Evaluation of SMAs: Responsible for data-management and geo-informatics, WP 5 needs to ensure consistency and quality in the handling and management of geospatial and other data and optimal alignment with EU common data standards. WP 5 coordinates and facilitates data and information flow and exchange within the project; it works proactively in close coordination with all the other work packages whilst being informed and guided by partner and end-user feedback received through workshops and other outreach activities.
- Governance: WP 6 deals with the governance of SMAs, which is about achieving a balance between providing for user participation and ensuring the fulfillment of strategic ecosystem conservation objectives. The focus of WP 6 is to develop a "tool box? of structural, process and information incentives that can be employed in SMA governance in various contexts, e.g. for assessing conflicts generated by SMAs and identifying "good practice? in addressing these conflicts. Recognizing that the long term effectiveness of SM and thus SMAs depends strongly on interactions between stakeholders, the research involves extensive participation of relevant stakeholder groups both as subjects of research and as actors with whom the research findings will be developed and disseminated. WP 6 interacts with WP?s 2,3,4 and 5, with an emphasis on the case-studies in WP 3.
- Public Outreach and Dissemination
- Management and Coordination
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