Project 1 – Bringing together MPA managers in the region

The “Marine Protected Areas Manager Network” project is led by Réserves Naturelles de France (RNF). The association RNF (French Nature Reserves) brings together a national network of over 700 nature professionals (rangers, conservationists, activity leaders, etc.) working in some 350 nature reserves.
The project
The structuring of a network of marine protected areas (MPA) managers for the southwest Indian Ocean region is an important issue. This network is meant to share tools, practices and experiences for a more sustainable management of local marine protected areas.
Areas of intervention: Union of the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, France, Seychelles
Partners :
- French office for Biodiversity (OFB)
- Western Indian Ocean Marine Protected Areas Network (WIOMPAN)
- Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA)
- The Indian Ocean Commission (IOC)
- MPA managers in the region
Activities :
- Animation of the prefiguration and elaboration of a roadmap 2023-2025
- Network support services: recruitment of a coordinator, member databases, dedicated website
- Organization of trainings: 1 to 2 per year on common and regional themes
- Organization of technical meetings
- Support to technical collaborations and companionship
- Implementation and capitalization of actions of collective interest: implementation of a call for projects
- Participation in the dynamics of supra (Western Indian Ocean Marine Protected Areas Management Network, International Marine Protected Areas Congress, Smart Seas) and infra (national or local) MPA networks
- Preparation of the post-2025 period to guarantee the sustainability of the system




