Aichi Target 11 and the large-scale marine protected areas: Environmental protection or political opportunism?

Abstract

In 2010, during the 10th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) held in Nagoya, Aichi province, Japan, were established 20 targets for the protection of biodiversity, known as Aichi Targets. Aichi Target 11 set out by 2020 at least 10% of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through the creation of marine protected areas. Although the goal had been considered by many as bold and political unattainable, the percentage of the global protection of the sea and oceans has been increasing dramatically in the last ten years, particularly due to the establishment of large-scale marine protected areas (LSMPAs), either under national jurisdictions either beyond national jurisdictions. However, the establishment of LSMPAs raises a heated debate among the experts that point out advantages and disadvantages concerning the protection of marine biodiversity and ecosystem services. Another recurring aspect in relation to the LSMPAs is the claim that its creation is more oriented to political goals than conservationist aims. Thus, the original contribution of this paper is to analyze the role that the LSMPAs have been making towards the Aichi Target 11, in order to demonstrate that there is great attention to the quantitative aspect – driven by political considerations –, but considerably less to the qualitative aspects – effective environmental protection – of the goal. The current scenario of the protection of the marine environment and the role of the LSMPAs is examined in this paper through the deductive and analytical methods, by bibliographical research and data analysis of the marine area’s protection.