What is an ecologically or biologically significant area?
Abstract The first iteration of the ecologically or biologically significant areas (EBSA) process, which aims to ascribe ecological value to marine and coastal regions, has drawn to a close. This Convention on Biological Diversity process has collated vast amounts of information to describe 338 EBSA...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | npj Ocean Sustainability |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-025-00126-5 |
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| author | D. C. Dunn J. Cleary S. DeLand N. Bax L. K. Bentley C. Curtice B. Donnelly P. K. Dunstan C. Barrio Froján K. M. Gjerde V. Gunn D. E. Johnson E. Klein C. Y. Kot D. Nisthar G. Ortuño Crespo P. N. Halpin |
| author_facet | D. C. Dunn J. Cleary S. DeLand N. Bax L. K. Bentley C. Curtice B. Donnelly P. K. Dunstan C. Barrio Froján K. M. Gjerde V. Gunn D. E. Johnson E. Klein C. Y. Kot D. Nisthar G. Ortuño Crespo P. N. Halpin |
| author_sort | D. C. Dunn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The first iteration of the ecologically or biologically significant areas (EBSA) process, which aims to ascribe ecological value to marine and coastal regions, has drawn to a close. This Convention on Biological Diversity process has collated vast amounts of information to describe 338 EBSAs that span from estuaries to ocean trenches. To increase the utility and accessibility of the ocean of knowledge generated by the EBSA process, and to support appropriate application of the dataset, clarity is required around the types of areas described, the biodiversity they hold, and the rationale for their selection. In this study, we provide a holistic answer to the question: What is an EBSA? We identify geographic and taxonomic gaps in EBSA descriptions, trends in the levels of protection observed, and ways forward to improve the uptake and appropriate use of the outputs of this singular intergovernmental process. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c4c48ba1116340b8a53dfdc143127a09 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2731-426X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Ocean Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj-art-c4c48ba1116340b8a53dfdc143127a092025-08-20T02:39:02ZengNature Portfolionpj Ocean Sustainability2731-426X2025-05-01411810.1038/s44183-025-00126-5What is an ecologically or biologically significant area?D. C. Dunn0J. Cleary1S. DeLand2N. Bax3L. K. Bentley4C. Curtice5B. Donnelly6P. K. Dunstan7C. Barrio Froján8K. M. Gjerde9V. Gunn10D. E. Johnson11E. Klein12C. Y. Kot13D. Nisthar14G. Ortuño Crespo15P. N. Halpin16Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of QueenslandMarine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke UniversityMarine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke UniversityInstitute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of TasmaniaCentre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of QueenslandMarine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke UniversityMarine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke UniversityInstitute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of TasmaniaGOBI Secretariat, Seascape Consultants LtdIUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, High Seas Specialist GroupGOBI Secretariat, Seascape Consultants LtdGOBI Secretariat, Seascape Consultants LtdIntegrated Marine Observing System (IMOS), University of TasmaniaMarine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke UniversityCentre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of QueenslandIUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, High Seas Specialist GroupMarine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke UniversityAbstract The first iteration of the ecologically or biologically significant areas (EBSA) process, which aims to ascribe ecological value to marine and coastal regions, has drawn to a close. This Convention on Biological Diversity process has collated vast amounts of information to describe 338 EBSAs that span from estuaries to ocean trenches. To increase the utility and accessibility of the ocean of knowledge generated by the EBSA process, and to support appropriate application of the dataset, clarity is required around the types of areas described, the biodiversity they hold, and the rationale for their selection. In this study, we provide a holistic answer to the question: What is an EBSA? We identify geographic and taxonomic gaps in EBSA descriptions, trends in the levels of protection observed, and ways forward to improve the uptake and appropriate use of the outputs of this singular intergovernmental process.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-025-00126-5 |
| spellingShingle | D. C. Dunn J. Cleary S. DeLand N. Bax L. K. Bentley C. Curtice B. Donnelly P. K. Dunstan C. Barrio Froján K. M. Gjerde V. Gunn D. E. Johnson E. Klein C. Y. Kot D. Nisthar G. Ortuño Crespo P. N. Halpin What is an ecologically or biologically significant area? npj Ocean Sustainability |
| title | What is an ecologically or biologically significant area? |
| title_full | What is an ecologically or biologically significant area? |
| title_fullStr | What is an ecologically or biologically significant area? |
| title_full_unstemmed | What is an ecologically or biologically significant area? |
| title_short | What is an ecologically or biologically significant area? |
| title_sort | what is an ecologically or biologically significant area |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-025-00126-5 |
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