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Marine Conservation Marine Conservation he Wildlife Conservation Society’s management of marine protected areas and Protecting Ocean Giants (WCS) Global Marine program the development of policies to sustain these The world’s oceans once supported large and develops and implements innova- areas. The hallmarks of the WCS approach thriving populations of large marine verte- Ttive solutions to the most challenging threats are using sound science as the basis of man- brates, what we term Ocean Giants. WCS facing Coral Reef Seascapes and Ocean agement, working closely with decision-mak- is helping Ocean Giants flourish once again Giants through research, capacity building ers at all scales, and making long-term com- by developing conservation strategies and of local individuals and organizations, and mitments to seascapes and the communities approaches to protect these icons of wild, policy action. WCS maintains a long-term dependent on them. healthy oceans. Our species conservation ini- commitment to priority species and sites in 15 countries worldwide, recognizing that true conservation requires sustained on-the- WCS maintains a commitment ground efforts over decades. Conserving Coral Reef Seascapes to priority species and seascapes The widely published decline of coral reef ecosystems world wide has been attributed Across our global network of sites, WCS tiatives focus on whales, dolphins, elephant to a range of pressures from climate change synthesizes ecological, biological, and social seals, sea turtles, manatees, and sharks in key to overfishing. WCS addresses these threats science in teams led by their premier con- habitats across the Gulf of Guinea, western with a science-based, on-the-ground ap- servationist scientists. Our trans-oceanic re- Indian Ocean, south Atlantic, Caribbean, proach, working closely with governments search agenda ranges from resilience to cli- and Indo-Pacific seas. WCS brings a science- and communities in Belize, Indonesia, Papua mate change to the adaptive capacity of local based strategy, a commitment to training New Guinea, Fiji, Madagascar, and islands communities and is designed to pull together and capacity-building for emerging scientists in the broader western Indian Ocean. Our expertise, lessons learned, and a global data- and managers, and experience in developing role is to create a balance between the con- set from our long-term sites to give a clearer sound policy instruments to support good servation needs of ocean wildlife and marine picture of the state of coral reefs around the management for these species. Underlying ecosystems and the needs of local people. world and priorities for effective conserva- this work is a keen understanding of the need This often involves the establishment and tion action. to achieve effective conservation while meet- ing human needs. Each focal species strategy a range of species includ- draws on many tools, from community in- ing elephant seals, petrels, volvement to tracking movements of these penguins and a number of migratory species using cutting-edge tech- associated fisheries. In Ga- nologies to our important contributions to bon, WCS serves as techni- management policies, to address the highest cal advisor to the National priority conservation needs of the oceans’ Parks Service’s management most iconic species. of terrestrial, coastal, and marine protected areas that Integrating Land/Seascape Conservation boast some of the planet’s Leveraging WCS’ multi-decade commitment most dramatic wildlife aggregations. Loango 1. Conserving Living Seascapes: Ultimately, to coastal landscapes, several “summit to National Park, for instance, is one of the few we hold ourselves accountable for the seas” efforts are currently protecting large locations on Earth where tropical Africa's long-term conservation and protection adjacent tracts of both land and sea. Off great terrestrial icons—elephant, buffalo, of living seascapes and species of global Patagonia, the “Sea and Sky” program con- hippo, gorilla, and leopard—come down to importance, basing new marine protected nects open ocean conservation with coastal the shore to meet the world's marine icons— areas and other conservation actions on and terrestrial protected areas to conserve humpback whales and leatherback turtles. our field research and commitment to sites and species. The WCS Approach 2. Ecological and Social Scientific Investi- Our seascape and ocean giant gation: Science-based research to inform conservation strategies involve conservation action is central to WCS’s ap- working on multiple scales, proach. while pursuing on-the-ground 3. Building Capacity, Strong Partnerships, practical application and inves- and Local Engagement: Our long-term tigation of new scientifically commitment to the sites where we work tested approaches and results. allows us to build critical relationships with Our goals are: the key people and partners at those sites FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: CARLOS VERONA, MJM, SMITH, T. COLLINS; BACKGROUND: CR K. WALLS WCS delivers results around the world ners around the world track-record in delivering results around the to develop innovative world that are based on sound science and solutions to the chal- tailored to succeed in the local context. By lenges posed by climate 2020, WCS aims to: change, pressures on • Leverage regionally the conservation suc- resources to sustain hu- cesses of at least ten priority seascapes, to build support for marine conservation man livelihoods, natural resource extrac- starting with our current sites in Fiji, In- and enhance the skills of local managers tion, and the spread of disease and other donesia, Papua New Guinea, Belize, and and scientists. health-related threats. Madagascar. 4. Monitoring and Evaluation for Long-Term • Ensure adequate science, governance, and Success: WCS works closely with local The Next Decade economic incentives are in place to save communities and management authorities With the effects of serial overfishing and cli- and ensure the long-term viability of at to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness mate change on the world’s oceans becoming least five important populations of prior- of management plans and revise them, as starkly clear, the next decade may be a turn- ity marine wildlife species. necessary. ing point for coral reefs, sea turtles, whales, WCS’ long-term investment in sites, species, 5. Addressing Emerging Global Challenges: dolphins, and sharks. Though we have more and people gives us the perspective and expe- Conservation leadership in a changing scientific and management tools on hand rience to lead conservation efforts that deliver world demands that our work is relevant than ever before, the challenge of applying top-quality scientific results, a new generation across a number of emerging global chal- these tools in the most effective way is signif- of conservation leadership, and conservation lenges. WCS is working closely with part- icant. WCS brings to this challenge a proven impact in the places where we work. 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460 n www.wcs.org/marine BACKGROUND: MJM; INSET: MARNANE; COVER: R. GRAHAM (TOP), MJM (BOTTOM).
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