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WWF Brings People Together to Address Conservation Issues
Building on its success in working to establish the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, WWF helped spearhead the creation of the sanctuary's Tortugas Marine Reserve, which is now the largest fully-protected marine reserve in the Western Hemisphere. The reserve protects 196 square nautical miles of the Keys' highest biodiversity, most prolific spawning grounds, cleanest waters, densest coral cover, most successful sea turtle nests, and North America's only breeding colonies of magnificent frigate birds and sooty terns. It also promises to help replenish depleted fish stocks throughout south Florida and as far north as Georgia. WWF collaborated with fishermen, environmentalists, tourism operators, scientists, managers and others in the Tortugas 2000 Working Group and crafted a proposal that met stringent criteria providing a "win-win" outcome.
"The chemistry that took place on our Tortugas 2000 Working Group was phenomenal!" says Billy Causey, superintendent of the sanctuary. "We had fishermen working hand in hand with conservation groups in such a way as to identify very special regions that they would be willing to see set aside so the Tortugas could be protected for future generations." Keys commercial fisherman Peter Gladding says, "The Tortugas Reserve came out really good; it's the best working group I've ever seen. The fishing industry's never really done this before," he notes. "In the end it was unanimous... It's a world-class reserve. Everybody will benefit."
This conservation achievement is particularly remarkable in the Florida Keys, which have a long history of divisive and controversial battles over environmental issues. "The Tortugas Ecological Reserve is a shining example," says U.S. Secretary of Commerce Don Evans, "of what can happen when diverse interests come together to accomplish a common goal."
This initiative was so successful because these principles were followed:
- actively engaging all stakeholders to make design and management decisions on a collaborative basis;
- employing conflict-resolution/facilitation practices and professionals;
- building agreements through consensus;
- educating the public and actively encouraging public input;
- creating strong partnerships, and developing the necessary trust among participants;
- utilizing the best available scientific and socioeconomic data and local knowledge;
- establishing sound, mutually agreed-upon criteria before drawing lines on maps;
- being sensitive to local socioeconomic, political and cultural factors;
- working on a broad regional/ecosystem basis;
- facilitating interagency coordination; and
- and fostering a willingness among participants to take precautionary measures.
Taken together, these components created a powerful dynamic that enabled former opponents to grapple with difficult issues. "Once people here got involved in the process the fear started to fade away," remembers Tony Iarocci, a Keys fisherman for nearly 30 years. "People got to know each other and recognize each other's needs and concerns, and as a result it became easier to look at compromises."
WWF's South Florida Program is now using the lessons we learned in this endeavor to assist priority ecoregions across the country and around the world in bringing stakeholders together to create effective marine protected areas.
Learn more about the socioeconomic impacts of marine reserves, specifically the Tortugas.
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Tortugas Video
