The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Guatemala (MARN) and the Executive Secretary of the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) have announced the expansion of new MPAs in Guatemala during the United Nation’s Ocean Conference (UNOC) event “Location, location, location: scaling-up the impact of 30x30”. 

Gabon's network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) provides a blueprint that could be used in many other countries, experts say.

Cuba has just declared Este del Archipiélago de Los Colorados (“East of Los Colorados Archipelago”), a new marine protected area. This new MPA covers about half of one of the four major archipelagos surrounding the country, and hosts exceptional marine life including Antillean manatees, American crocodiles, and critically endangered Hawksbill sea turtles.

Ratifying its global commitments, the Government of Colombia has recently declared Isla Ají a new marine protected area (MPA). Spanning 24,600 ha (95 square miles), this important and beautiful nature reserve will serve to protect threatened wildlife and safeguard the wellbeing of local coastal communities who depend on the area for food and their livelihoods. 

The Government of Bangladesh has declared a new marine protected area (MPA) spanning 1,743 square kilometers (672 square miles) around Saint Martin’s Island, a region which represents 1.5 percent of Bangladesh’s exclusive economic zone.

The National Assembly of Nicaragua has recently passed legislation declaring Corn Islands a new Marine Protected Area (MPA) under the category “Seascape and Landscape Protected Area.”

A powerful, long-term study from WCS adds scientific backing for global calls for conserving 30 percent of the world’s ocean. 

Diversifying the world’s portfolio of protected coral reefs is critical to safeguarding biodiversity for our oceans, says a 27-year study of Kenyan corals out now in the Journal of the International Coral Reef Society. Scientists emphasize that rather than continuing to protect the most charismatic and well-recognized corals and habitats, we must “spread our risk” by protecting a more diverse mosaic of reef habitats. Conserving uncommon coral varieties by establishing protected...

A recent expedition to Fiji’s largest two community protected areas, Namena Marine Reserve (88 km²) and Vatu-i-Ra Conservation Park (110.5 km²), shows that they are making an incredible recovery from the impact of a tropical cyclone in 2016.

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) congratulates the Government of Belize for legislating the expansion of its southernmost marine protected area.