Center for Coastal & Marine Studies
MSP4BIO PROJECT WAS LAUNCHED: 26-27 SEPTEMBER 2022, AZORES, PORTUGAL
The Kick-off Meeting for the official launching of the MSP4BIO project took place on 26-27 September 2022 at Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal (organised by the University of the Azores) and online.
The MSP4BIO project (Improved Science-Based Maritime Spatial Planning to Safeguard and Restore Biodiversity in a Coherent European MPA Network) is funded by the European Union` Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under the Grant Agreement: 101060707. The project runs for 3 years (August 2022 – August 2025 and its main objective is to develop and demonstrate the ways in which knowledge-based Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) becomes a vehicle and a tool for the protection and restoration of biodiversity in line with several policy objectives, within its more general objectives of promoting sustainable blue growth, and integrating maritime policies.
Using Shared Hydrospatial Data to Help Protect Vulnerable Coastlines
A new hydrospatial approach that integrates traditional hydrographic data with additional applications is set to play a key role in monitoring the impacts of climate change on coastlines and oceans around the globe.
Hydrographers once focused primarily on collecting data to update nautical charts for safe navigation, but they have since expanded their scope. They now integrate data from a range of applications to deliver a richer, more comprehensive hydrospatial overview.
Understanding our oceans
A key driver of this trend is government and private-sector clients’ desire to gain a deeper understanding of the oceans, including currents and tides, sea level rises, seabed morphology and sediment transportation. When hydrographic data is combined with additional data sources including topographic data, benthic habitat maps (aerial imagery, subsea imagery, acoustic surveys, etc.) and metocean information (tidal and current data) it can shed new light on key climate change issues including:
• Coastal erosion;
• Coastal communities at risk from rising sea levels;
• The impact of rising temperatures on marine life;
• The effectiveness of carbon-capture initiatives such as seagrass restoration projects.
A new study on the relevance of the MSP Directive for the achievement of the European Green Deal objectives
The new study by the European Commission`s European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) authored by Wageningen Research, Ramboll and Deloitte, aimed to assess the relevance and effect of the Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) Directive in the context of the European Green Deal and other relevant EU-level legislation. The study analysed the suitability of the MSP Directive and its implementation to address current and future challenges as regards the sustainable development of the Blue Economy, including the protection and preservation of the marine environment.
Using Policy as a Tool to support Conservation and Restoration of Coastal Blue Carbon Ecosystems
Recognizing that most environmental issues are best addressed through international cooperation, today there are a myriad of international policy processes meant to address the pressing challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and sustainable development. The world of international policy – one of conference centres and country name plates; far away from mangrove forests – plays a key role in increasing global action to conserve and protect coastal blue carbon ecosystems. Within these international policy processes, such as the United Nations conventions on climate change and biodiversity, countries come together to set ambitious goals, take on-the-ground action at the national level, and share what they have achieved to date.
However, many of these policy processes were established decades ago, in isolation from each other, often making it difficult for countries to collaborate across their closely-related themes of climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development.
