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The world's protected areas number nearly 114,000 and cover almost 20 million square kilometers. However, researchers and practitioners alike have documented numerous problems with the management effectiveness of the world's protected area. For example, more than 70 percent of 201 tropical parks are affected by poaching, encroachment, logging and a host of lesser threats; more than 90 percent of Russia's 197 National Parks have serious gaps in infrastructure, management, planning and staffing, and most of the 110 parks in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal Province have major gaps in data collection, park layout and design, field equipment, and research.

The world's protected areas number nearly 114,000 and cover almost 20 million square kilometers. However, researchers and practitioners alike have documented numerous problems with the management effectiveness of the world's protected area. For example, more than 70 percent of 201 tropical parks are affected by poaching, encroachment, logging and a host of lesser threats; more than 90 percent of Russia's 197 National Parks have serious gaps in infrastructure, management, planning and staffing, and most of the 110 parks in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal Province have major gaps in data collection, park layout and design, field equipment, and research.

This report presents the findings of a socio-economic study conducted in six coastal villages in Kimbe Bay, West New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea. From west to east around the Bay the study villages were Kulugi, Guango, Tarobi, Baikakea, Potou and Baea. The central aims of the study were to provide information for the design and implementation of a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) within Kimbe Bay and to give direction for future marine education and awareness campaigns for Kimbe Bay's communities.

The Objectives Of the Kimbe Bay MPA Network Are twofold: to conserve marine biodiversuty and natural resources of the bay in perpetuity, and to address local marine resource management needs, the scientific design of the Kimbe Bay MPA network is based largely on a scientific assessment of biodiversity Values, And Identifies 15 Areas Of interest that meet specific conservation goals. The Design process involved expert scientific advice, targeted research and monitoring, and an analytical design process(using marine reserve software MARXAN)

This survey was conducted in the northern part of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville between 1st – 25th of November 2008. The survey covered the western side and outer islands of Buka Island, the Saposa and Buka Town region and the Tinputz region on north eastern side of Bougainville Island. The survey team was comprised of marine scientists, conservationists and fisheries’ officers. The survey provided an assessment of the status of sea cucumbers, reef fish and corals in Northern Bougainville, with recommendations for their conservation and management.

In many ways The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is already successfully implementing a great many of the imperatives of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries in their work in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. The following TNC platforms are much in line with the EAF: 1) The Marine Managed Areas / Marine Protected Areas (MMA/MPA) approach, backed up by local level legislative support, 2) collaboration with a range of other relevant institutions, particularly in relation to the mitigation of sedimentation from terrestrial developments, 3) consistent and sustained outreach, and 4) involvement of local people in monitoring and enforcement. TNC’s marine resource management work is clearly one of the most culturally, politically and ecologically enlightened programs in the region. This can be attributed in large part to the presence of high calibre teams at all of the project sites I visited, which include a large number of highly experienced, motivated and effective staff, many of whom TNC has recruited from the governments, primarily the fisheries departments, of both countries. The group also benefits from a strong support team in Brisbane, with a similarly impressive collective experience, and a broad range of regionally relevant expertise.

The primary aim of this document is to provide a synthesis of current biodiversity knowledge to contribute towards the planning and implementation of a nationwide network of marine and terrestrial protected areas for Palau. This report provides a number of scenarios that give an overview of options for areas that could be included in the Protected Areas Network to meet biodiversity conservation goals. It is not intended that the areas presented represent actual areas that should be designated and managed as protected areas but this information can be used in the processes of community consultation and discussion at the State level to help progress the development of the Protected Areas Network.