A garibaldi swims over an urchin barren, which is heavily disturbed habitat overrun by urchin and barren of kelp. Urchin barrens are exacerbated by climate change and are less resilient to environmental stress. Photo by Calla Allison
Overview
Marine health and abundance is tightly interwoven with climate conditions. The MPA Collaborative Network (CN) recognizes that stewardship of MPAs and the coast is incomplete without discussions of and action around climate change. Because of this, the MPA Collaborative Network is excited to announce its new climate initiative!
As always, the first step is collecting collaborative input! The CN hosted 14 community climate forums in fall of 2023. The forums were intended to serve the following purposes:
- Collection of social science data that can be shared with agencies, organizations, and other partners to use in decision making.
- Decision makers and funders are eager to learn about how climate change impacts social, spiritual, and economic values of communities that have connections to the coast, which is currently a data gap.
- The information collected in these forums will be turned into reports that can be shared with these decision-makers and partners who can then use the data to inform their work plans, priorities, and strategies to advocate for funding, legislation, etc.
- These reports can be used to elevate known issues or bring attention to new ones.
- Shaping the future of the MPA Collaborative Network’s climate initiative and work.
- The results and reports that emerge from the forums will directly inform the future work of the Collaborative Network as a whole and individual community-based collaboratives.
- The Collaborative Network has funds to implement some suggestions that arise. There is not funding for all 14 collaboratives to do projects like there was for the compliance projects, but there is funding to do one or two projects based on input gathered from the climate forums.
Get Involved!
Step 1: Watch the recording of the Climate Resilience and California’s MPA Network Webinar hosted on September 28th from 2pm-3pm.
Step 2: Keep an eye out for reports summarizing your local forums and survey results, as well as a statewide summary.
Step 3: Work with the Collaborative Network to implement climate projects relevant to your local community.
Kick-off webinar recording.
Resources
Climate Resilience and California's MPA Network Summary Report
In 2022, the MPA Collaborative Network hosted its first Climate Intern. The intern worked to summarize the Climate Resilience and California’s MPA Network report by Ocean Protection Council’s Science Advisory Team Working Group and the Ocean Science Trust. The 2-page summary document highlights a few basics of how climate change is impacting California’s coast and ocean and how California’s MPA Network may offer climate resilience.
Climate Resilience and California's MPA Network Webinar - RECORDING
This is a recording of the kick-off webinar, hosted on September 28, 2023, where partners from the California Ocean Science Trust, Ocean Protection Council, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife shared information about the connections between climate resilience and MPAs. The event consisted of a presentation and a panel Q&A about key takeaways from the Climate Resilience and California’s MPA Network report released in 2021 and ongoing state funded climate and MPAs research. We encourage you to watch the webinar before attending your local forum!
Climate Resilience and California's MPA Network Webinar - PRESENTATION SLIDES
This is the presentation from the kick-off webinar, hosted on September 28, 2023, where partners from the California Ocean Science Trust, Ocean Protection Council, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife shared information about the connections between climate resilience and MPAs. The event consisted of a presentation and a panel Q&A about key takeaways from the Climate Resilience and California’s MPA Network report released in 2021 and ongoing state funded climate and MPAs research.
Climate Initiative Outreach Flyer
Use this flyer to help spread the word and encourage your personal networks to join your local climate forum!
Climate and MPAs Media Toolkit
A toolkit with graphics and draft language to use in social media and email outreach about the Climate Initiative. Please use these resources to help spread the word and encourage participation in the survey and local climate forums!
Additional Resources Compilation
The following MPA and climate-related resources have been compiled courtesy of the MPA Collaborative Network. The list is not intended to be exhaustive, but is intended to represent resources that have been shared by collaborative members. This is a living document.
Reach out to our Climate Specialist, Jamie Blatter at jamie(at)mpacollaborative.org to learn more and get involved!
