The 6th International MSPforum took place in Bali, Indonesia, from 8-11 October 2024 gathering 99 participants from 46 countries and 67 Indonesian guests, to discuss and exchange recommendations on strengthening the links between Marine/Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) and the three thematic pillars of the Updated MSProadmap: Marine Protection and Restoration, Climate Change, and the Sustainable Blue Economy.
The 6th MSPforum was co-organized by the host, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia (MMAF) together with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (UNESCO-IOC) and the European Commission (EC). At the centre of the discussions were the three pillars of the Updated MSProadmap, a framework adopted by UNESCO-IOC and DG MARE to contribute to the achievement of global ocean governance goals, in particular SDG14.
The conference kicked off with an opening ceremony including speeches by all co-organizers from MMAF, EC and IOC as well as video presentations on the history of Indonesia’s MSP and Sustainable Blue Economy. The highlight of the day was the announcement of the next phase of MSPglobal (3.0), an initiative aimed at promoting MSP implementation worldwide. The Balinese dance accompanied by live music at the reception dinner set a good tone for the agenda ahead, which would be similar to previous MSPforum editions consisting of interactive panels followed by round-table discussions, and a day dedicated to visiting stakeholders.
MSP and Marine Protection & Restoration
On the second day, three panellists from Seychelles, Canada and Thailand took the stage for the first session which focused on the pillar of the MSProadmap ‘MSP and Marine Protection and Restoration’. During the round-table discussions, the speakers highlighted that advancing the link between MSP and conservation requires frameworks that foster stronger institutional cooperation and collaboration among the involved agencies. It was also pointed out that to effectively contribute to conservation, MSP needs to be ecosystem-based, dynamic and based on adaptive management.
MSP and Climate Change
In the afternoon, it was time for the second thematic session which centred around ‘MSP and Climate Change’. The panel consisted of three speakers from Portugal, Australia and Chile who all emphasized that there has been progress in data and mapping projects to address climate-smart MSP but examples of full practical integration are still lacking. It was also emphasised that there is a need for comprehensive and user-friendly guidance on the integration of climate change issues in MSP, sustainability mapping and permitting processes. In order to address these concerns, MSPglobal is working on the co-development of new guidelines about climate-smart MSP, which will benefit from the discussions of this forum.
Stakeholders Day
Day three of the MSPforum was a full day dedicated to visiting local stakeholders to understand their needs, concerns, synergies and their role in MSP. The participants were divided into four groups to visit the Mangrove Information Center (MIC), Ornamental Coral Reefs (Cahaya Baru), the Turtle Conservation and Education Center (TCEC) and the Benoa Integrated Port.
MSP and the Sustainable Blue Economy
The last day of the MSPforum in Bali revolved around ‘MSP & the Sustainable Blue Economy’ starting with a panel of three speakers from Indonesia, Belize and France. One of the main conclusions from the discussions was that MSP serves as a process to achieve broader national sustainable blue economy objectives. Integrating sectoral policies within MSP is often considered a foundational step towards this goal. Involving stakeholders in the process is an important step. It was also addressed that appropriate marine and coastal zoning categories are closely tied to the types of uses within marine spaces, which vary greatly by country. These zones may address traditional sectors transitioning towards more sustainable practices, or innovative sectors that are planned and expected to grow.
Finally, the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries highlighted Indonesia’s significant strides in integrating MSP as an approach to the implementation of a sustainable blue economy. The MSPforum reflected Indonesia’s valuable experience in MSP which can serve as a reference for other countries seeking to adopt similar approaches.
Like previous editions, the 6th International MSPforum in Bali ultimately aimed to empower planners, researchers, sectors, and civil society to identify solutions towards cross-sectoral actions to conserve our ocean and use its resources in a sustainable way. Find a detailed event report here.
DOCUMENTS:
- MSP & Marine Protection and Restoration – PANEL
- MSP & Climate Change – PANEL
- MSP & Sustainable Blue Economy – PANEL
- Stakeholders Day
- Closing remarks
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CONTACT:
MSPglobal.comm@unesco.org