Tools and Approaches

A range of tools and approaches exist to conserve and sustainable use marine and coastal biodiversity, including tools applied in individual sectors and regulatory frameworks as well as tools that are cross-sectoral. Work under the Convention has focused on understanding how various tools and approaches can be utilized to achieve global goals for marine biodiversity and develop and articulate guidance (including through COP decisions) on how to apply these in various ways.

Work under the Convention has focused on a wide range of tools and approaches, including:

• Marine spatial planning (as an example, see CBD Technical Series No. 68-Marine Spatial Planning in the Context of the Convention on Biological Diversity)
• Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) (as an example, see Revised Voluntary Guidelines for the Consideration of Biodiversity in Environmental Impact Assessments and Strategic Environmental Assessments in Marine and Coastal Areas)
• Sustainable fisheries management (as an example, see CBD Technical Series No. 87-Assessing Progress Towards Aichi Biodiversity Target 6 On Sustainable Marine Fisheries)
• Integrated Marine and Coastal Area Management (IMCAM) (as an example, see CBD Technical Series number 76, Integrated Coastal Management for the Achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets: Practical Guidance for Implementation Based on Experience and Lessons Learned from Coastal and Ocean Governance in the Seas of East Asia)
• Area-based conservation through marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (including through the development of practical guidance in various forms)