CTC is proud to share that our case study on the Ay and Rhun Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Banda Islands is featured in the newly published International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Technical Report, Establishing Marine Protected Areas in a Changing Climate.

This landmark report, released by the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) and the International Partnership on MPAs, Biodiversity and Climate Change, charts the course for establishing MPAs that are resilient to climate change. MPAs play a vital role in safeguarding marine biodiversity, protecting coastlines, and offering low-stress zones for marine life to adapt. Yet they face mounting threats such as coral bleaching, sea level rise, and ocean acidification—challenges that this guidance directly addresses.

Our work in Ay and Rhun MPA is highlighted in Chapter 6, Ensure Equity and Inclusivity, which demonstrates how marine conservation can succeed when biodiversity protection is paired with community needs. The case study shows how inclusive, bottom-up approaches empower local communities to remain active stewards of the marine ecosystems they depend on.

The report draws on the latest ocean science and real-world examples from Indonesia, Kenya/Tanzania, Australia, the UK, the US, and the Central Arctic Ocean. It introduces four guiding principles for climate-smart conservation: understand change, strengthen adaptation and resilience, ensure equity and inclusivity, and generate holistic co-benefits.

Importantly, the report also highlights how climate considerations should be integrated from the earliest stages of MPA planning and aligned with broader marine spatial planning. It underscores the value of Indigenous and local knowledge in shaping adaptive strategies, ensuring both ecological integrity and human well-being. By showcasing best practices from around the globe, the publication serves as a vital resource for policymakers, practitioners, and communities working to safeguard our oceans.

With global efforts underway to achieve 30×30 under the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework, this guidance is both timely and practical. It offers tools for governments, NGOs, and local communities to plan, design, and manage MPAs and networks that are equitable, adaptive, and climate-resilient.

We are honored that Ay and Rhun MPA contributes to this global resource, advancing inclusive and climate-smart marine conservation worldwide.

A copy report can be downloaded from this link: bit.ly/AyRhunMPACaseStudy