MSP4BIO

The project will also facilitate effective collaboration between relevant projects and initiatives to fill present gaps on marine biodiversity, speeding up the scientific breakthrough while paving the way for effective biodiversity management.

MSP4BIO develops and demonstrates the ways in which knowledge-based MSP can become a vehicle and a tool for the protection and recovery of marine ecosystems. The project takes the collaborative approach to address

·       coherent implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy (EUBS) 2030,
·       Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) post-2020 framework, and
·       EU Green Deal.

Specifically, MSP4BIO will develop an integrated flexible socio-ecological management to cope with a rapidly changing environment for coastal, offshore, and deep-sea ecosystems. The concrete applicability of the integrated flexible socio-ecological management will be validated in 6 test sites in 5 European Sea Basins.
The management approach relies on improved systemic biodiversity prioritization criteria for MPAs and EBSAs. It is based on the best available scientific knowledge on biodiversity attributes, and linking spatial ecological features (including migratory ones) with socio-economic considerations.
MSP4BIO uses a participatory approach to co-develop ecosystem services trade-off scenarios to prioritize the areas and assess the suitability of spatial and strategic management measures from the ecological and socio-economic perspectives. The approach integrates the criteria and objectives of relevant maritime and biodiversity policies as well as the EUBS 2030 to ensure coherent policy implementation. The site-specific validation results, tools and guidance developed in the project will be of direct use to planners and MPA managers.