<
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/270000-square-miles-around-easter-island-to-become-indigenous-managed-ocean-reserve/>
"As one of the most isolated landmasses on Earth, residents of Rapa Nui, or
Easter Island, rely on the bounty of the ocean more than most.
It’s as good a place as any to institute marine environment protections, and
indeed the island’s famous stone heads, or moai, now gaze out upon one of the
largest marine protected areas (MPAs) on Earth at more than a quarter-million
square miles.
Moreover, the indigenous people of the island will maintain a voting majority
on a “sea council” established to govern the massive area, holding 6 seats
compared to 5 held by elected officials from Chile, the sovereign of Rapa Nui.
It will be one of the largest indigenous-managed reserves on land or sea
anywhere in the world, and reflects the rich Polynesian heritage that saw this
seafaring race make an unprecedented trip across the open ocean to settle the
island.
“This partnership is about ensuring that Rapa Nui’s marine protected areas are
not only designated, but also effectively managed and sustained for generations
to come,” said Jose Luis Cabello, Senior Latin America Director, for Island
Conservation, a nonprofit which helped structure and organize the MPA.
“By supporting Indigenous leadership and strengthening long-term stewardship,
we are helping translate protection on paper into real outcomes for people,
biodiversity, and ocean heals,” he added.
The management framework will cover ranger patrols and regulation enforcement,
scientific monitoring, and community outreach to combine traditional knowledge
with scientific methods, with funding from the Packard Foundation."
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
