In 2018-2019, a Bass Connections project team completed a gap map – a matrix showing the intersection of conservation interventions with ecological and social outcomes, and the amount of papers that explore these intersections empirically. Building on this ocean evidence gap map, the 2019-2020 project team synthesized and assessed the strength and nature of evidence-related conservation interventions for coral reefs, mangroves and sea grasses.

To generate a more complete picture of the literature, the team identified a number of “boxes” in the gap map’s intervention/outcome matrix on which to focus evidence synthesis efforts. Team members found that the majority of the literature focuses on species or community level outcomes from conservation designation and planning interventions (namely marine protected areas) and species management interventions (namely fisheries management). There was a dearth of research on ecosystem function and service outcomes, as well as outcomes from capacity development interventions (e.g. awareness-raising, education and training, institution/organizational development).

Timing

Fall 2019 – Spring 2020

Team Outputs

Mapping the Impacts of Conservation Interventions (Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Virtual Showcase 2020)

Ocean Evidence Gap Map and Synthesis (poster)

Reflections

Grace Llewellyn

This Team in the News

Meet the Winners of the 2020 Bass Connections Student Research Awards

See related teams, Ocean Evidence Gap Map (2020-2021) and Ocean Evidence Gap Map (2018-2019).

Image: Second Longest Coral Reef in the World, by Eustaquio Santimano, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0