MPA policy must include wastewater management to achieve 30×30 effective conservation aims

Presented by: David Carrasco Rivera of the University of Queensland and Amelia Wenger of the Wildlife Conservation Society

Description: Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are central to global efforts to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030. Yet emerging evidence indicates that nearly three-quarters of MPAs are exposed to sewage pollution, with typical pollution levels inside protected areas often substantially higher than in surrounding unprotected waters. Drawing on a global assessment of more than 16,000 MPAs – including detailed analysis of 1,855 tropical coastal MPAs across six regions – this webinar examines patterns of total nitrogen exposure from wastewater and the implications for coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangrove forests associated with these MPAs. Results reveal marked regional disparities with the highest pollution loads in parts of East Africa and the Middle East and North Africa – underscoring the need for context-specific wastewater management strategies. The findings point to a critical gap in current conservation policy – area-based protection alone cannot achieve biodiversity or resilience goals if land-based pollution remains unaddressed. This session will explore why wastewater pollution reduction must be integrated into 30×30 implementation to achieve effective conservation aims, while simultaneously strengthening ecosystem health, climate resilience, and the wellbeing of coastal communities.

Hosted by: OCTO

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TYNatTDPRI-j4p1c0EisPA

MPA policy must include wastewater management to achieve 30×30 effective conservation aims

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