New Research Highlights Financial Sustainability for Marine Protected Areas

From left, several of the paper's co-authors: Christine Santora, Maria Jose Gonzalez, Maria Grima, Joris van Pul, John Bohorquez, Ellen Pikitch, Amilcar Guzman Valladares, Monica Gamboa, and Katy de la Garza.

Researchers at Stony Brook University's School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences(SoMAS) are shedding new light on how marine protected areas (MPAs) can secure long-term funding to support conservation efforts worldwide.

A recent study published in Marine Policyemphasizes the critical role of practitioner perspectives in shaping sustainable financing strategies in Latin America and the Caribbean. The paper, "A Roundtable on Marine Protected Area Finance: Lessons from Latin America and the Caribbean on Four Keys to Success for Improving Financial Sustainability," grew out of a practitioner-focused session at the 5th International Marine Protected Area Congress (IMPAC5) in Vancouver in 2023.

John Bohorquez, a research associate in SoMAS, and Christine Santora, assistant director for policy and outreach at the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science(IACAS), led the session alongside co-authors Ellen Pikitch, endowed professor of Ocean Conservation Science in SoMAS,and former graduate student Maria Grima. The session brought together MPA managers from Belize, Honduras, and Costa Rica, as well as funders and consultants from around the world, many of whom were contributing to academic literature for the first time.

"We believe these lessons are globally relevant, not just for Latin America and the Caribbean, and they highlight how practitioner-led knowledge can shape broader conservation finance strategies," Bohorquez said.

John Bohorquez speaking at the International Marine Protected Area Congress (IMPAC).

MPAs are among the most effective tools for promoting ocean health. They can help degraded ecosystems recover and preserve healthy ones, while also increasing resilience to climate change. Yet, their potential and the success of global MPA commitments depends on reliable financial resources to support management, of which two-thirds or more are believed to lack. Without sufficient funding, even legally protected areas risk becoming "paper parks," designated in name only and lacking meaningful conservation impact.

The new study identifies and elaborates on four keys to improving financial sustainability: diversifying income and innovating financing mechanisms, strengthening internal financial capacity, leveraging partnerships across sectors, and aligning policies to remove barriers. These recommendations are drawn from case studies and peer-to-peer exchanges, offering globally relevant lessons beyond Latin America and the Caribbean.

Traditional funding sources such as government budgets and philanthropic grants often fall short, and many MPA managers lack the financial expertise to develop innovative solutions underscoring the importance of these peer-to-peer exchanges with knowledgeable colleagues. In Belize, a community-based group improved the financial stability of the Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary by establishing revenue-generating initiatives including eco-tourism services, water-quality monitoring, and equipment leasing. Coordinating with neighboring MPAs, even across borders with Mexico, helped stretch limited resources even further.

Christine Santora speaking at the International Marine Protected Area Congress (IMPAC).

Honduras offers another example. When COVID-19 decimated tourism revenue, a marine park developed a water-testing service for hotels and restaurants, creating a more predictable and long-term funding stream. Costa Rica has pioneered national-level strategies through the Forever Costa Rica initiative, which secured millions in funding to expand MPA coverage. A dedicated 'Blue Fund' now helps to support management of these MPAs, illustrating how bold commitments and innovative partnerships can yield durable financial solutions.

"These examples show that local innovations can yield lessons with global relevance," Bohorquez said. "From diversifying income streams to working across political boundaries and adapting traditional funding models, these efforts demonstrate how MPAs can achieve sustainable financing for a variety of contexts from local to national levels"

The importance of financial sustainability has never been greater. Only 10% of the world's oceans are protected, and most MPAs lack sufficient resources to meet their objectives. Governments have committed to safeguarding 30% of oceans by 2030, heightening the need for reliable funding. Recent global efforts, including the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework and the first-ever Blue Economy Finance Forum in Monaco, have highlighted finance as a cornerstone of ocean health. Bohorquez has participated in several of these discussions, including the UN Ocean Conference, sharing insights from his research.

The research team hopes that sharing these insights will encourage broader adoption of sustainable financing practices and promote knowledge exchange across disciplines and geographies.

- Beth Squire