Marine Protected Area Network Expansion

Atlas of priority areas of marine protected area (MPA) network expansion in the Coral Triangle region comprised of: (1). Regional priority areas, (2) National priority areas.

This map provides data described in: Asaad, I., Lundquist,C.J., Erdmann, M.V., & Costello, M.J. (2018). An Interactive atlas for marine biodiversity conservation in the Coral Triangle. University of Auckland, Auckland. New Zealand

Spatial distribution of priority areas of marine protected area network expansion in the Coral Triangle. These datasets were developed using conservation prioritization tools of Zonation, by analyzing the proportions of the CT region placed into an MPA network (e.g., expansion of the MPA network from existing coverage to 10%, 20% and 30 % of the Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) area).

These datasets is comprised of two sets of maps: (1). Regional priority areas (performed to the full CT EEZ region) and (2) National priority areas (performed individually on each of the CT country national EEZs).

All analyses were performed using sets of raster grids, with a spatial resolution of 500 m. The prioritization analyses were based on seven different sets of biodiversity feature: biogenic habitat, habitat rugosity, species richness, distribution of threatened and endemic species, areas important for sea turtle, two types of threat (anthropogenic and climate change induced pressure), and the coverage of existing MPA network.