AUTHOR=Rice Jake , Friedman Kim , Garcia Serge , Govan Hugh , Himes-Cornell Amber 

TITLE=A Contrast of Criteria for Special Places Important for Biodiversity Outcomes

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.912031

DOI=10.3389/fmars.2022.912031

ISSN=2296-7745

ABSTRACT=This paper contrasts six spatial biodiversity conservation area designations by five different bodies:  Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs), and the Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); the Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) of the Food And Agriculture Organization (FAO); the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) of IUCN; the Areas of Particular Environmental Interest (APEIs) of the International Seabed Authority (ISA); the Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO); and the Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) used by small island States in the Pacific Ocean; on five themes: biological and ecological features, functions served by areas receiving these labels, governance, threats and pressures, and other considerations.   The six different labels for such areas were general similar in the biologically and ecological criteria to be met, and the functions typically served by these areas. Differences among the labels increased when considering governance, threat and pressures, and other considerations.  Implications of these similarities and differences for policy development and outcomes are discussed.