The Fifth International Marine Protected Area Congress (IMPAC5) is a biennial event that brings people together from around the world to talk about the conservation and management of Marine Environments, with a focus on reaching 30% Marine Protected Areas by 2030. This IMPAC was co-hosted by the Squamish, Masqueam, and Tsleil Waututh Nations. Jeanine Clarkin and I were invited to present in two sessions during the conference by WWF, and our trip was kindly sponsored by PEW International and Foundation North.
At IMPAC5, we were able to listen and learn from many other indigenous peoples from around the world. Indigenous Communities governance of protected areas are becoming central to the conservation conversation, especially in all the nations connected by Te-Moana-Nui- a-Kiwa and the Pacific ocean. A common theme that strummed across all of the sessions we attended was what did 30% protection actually mean? How do we define what is worth protecting and what happens to the ‘other’ 70%? Those responsible for defining MPA’s rarely apply an indigenous perspective to the why and the how of them. The purpose of the MPA’s and its components are often misaligned with our cultural values and point of views, and continue the story of colonisation.
One thing was obvious, that Indigenous and local community voices are becoming central to conservation conversations around the world. Ahu Moana is a way of exploring the partnership that lays in between Mana Whenua, and the local community. With the intention to regenerate our coastal marine environment, Ngāti Paoa ki Waiheke continue to embody this through the use of mātauranga Māori, knowledge from the local community and citizen science/observations from our local community.
The full report from this event will be on our website soon.
Mereana Berger
Coordinator
