ISSRM Session Information
Session Title
Critical context: The necessary plurality of approaches to resilience in the U.S. National Estuarine Research Reserve System and their manifestation in a global self-assessment.
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Session Abstract
The Resilience Self Assessment Tool, or R-SAT, is an online platform that has been developed by the Resilience Partnership, a component of the EU-funded Ocean Governance Project. The R-SAT is currently used by more than a hundred marine protected areas (MPA) worldwide. By leveraging participatory methods, this tool aims to enhance the capacity of MPA managers to address our rapidly changing environment. An analysis of the tool’s results can not only be used to develop management plans and strategies, but also to compare and contrast resilience efforts among marine protected areas across the globe toward improved management. Implementation of the R-SAT tool within the United States (US) began through the National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) System, a federal entity of 30 marine protected areas. An exploration of results from four mid-Atlantic NERR site assessments, and an umbrella analysis, provide insight on contributing factors to successful MPA resilience. Further, initial assessment of these Mid-Atlantic sites inspired continued delivery of the tool to additional NERR sites across the US. Subsequent results are explored given various parameters, including but not limited to: staff positionality, co-management structure, and geographic location of network or parcel. Notably, the varied context of tool delivery during initial assessment (e.g. utilized with internal staff vs. external actors; administered independently vs. in team setting), illustrates the importance of participatory methodologies. We describe the merits and limitations of this inherently mixed-methods tool within the context of MPAs and an evolving coastal shorescape.
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