Developing an integrated framework for Marine Cultural Heritage (MCH) and Marine Protected Areas (MPA) across Africa and the Middle East

C Breen; Sophie Tews; Julia Nikolaus; Nick Ray; Georgia Holly; Georgia Andreou; C McGonigle; K Westley; Lucy  Blue

doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106218

Developing an integrated framework for Marine Cultural Heritage (MCH) and Marine Protected Areas (MPA) across Africa and the Middle East

C Breen
, Sophie Tews
, Julia Nikolaus
, Nick Ray
, Georgia Holly
, Georgia Andreou
, C McGonigle
, K Westley
, Lucy Blue

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

26 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

There is currently a significant imbalance in existing marine resource management frameworks. Across Africa and the Middle East there is a developing network of marine protected areas focused on natural heritage but with very limited engagement with area-based management for cultural heritage. Yet both natural and cultural heritage resources are subject to the same considerable threat levels from both natural and anthropogenic processes of change. The MarEA project is engaged in an extensive programme of mapping and documentation of endangered cultural heritage sites and landscapes across the MENA region. During the course of this and aligned work, its engagement with coastal communities and international practice has identified a clear need for more informed and holistic approaches to marine resource management. This study presents a model for the integrated management of natural and cultural heritage and proposes a framework for the future identification and designation of Marine Cultural Heritage in Protected Areas.

Original language	English
Article number	106218
Pages (from-to)	1-8
Number of pages	8
Journal	Marine Policy
Volume	165
Early online date	20 May 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106218
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 1 Jul 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Elsevier Ltd

Data Access Statement

Data will be made available on request.

Funding

Over the past three years the Maritime Endangered Archaeology project (MarEA), supported by the Arcadia Fund, has been documenting cultural heritage sites and landscapes across the Middle East and North Africa [2] . One of the emerging outcomes of this project has been the recognition of the need for improved approaches towards the management of MCH, against significant rises in the level of natural and anthropogenic threat the resource is facing [4] . Coastal sites in particular are experiencing dramatic damage due to sea-level rise, increased storm activity and erosion [30,7] . A central aspect of this is the greater integration of natural and cultural resource management, and a realisation of a more holistic approach towards protected areas in the marine environment. Specifically, this paper further develops the concept of Marine Heritage Protected Areas (MHPA) which represents a conceptual shift from the perceived natural exclusivity of the majority of existing and emergent MPAs, and argues for an integrated framework of marine management. This is not necessarily to argue for a complete change to existing systems, but to instead suggest in many instances that cultural heritage requires greater attention within the MPA scoping and designation process and that in many instances it is of equal importance to natural resources. In doing so, this work can provide a platform for research regarding the fundamental divergences from traditional environmental resource management methods that are necessary for the inclusion of heritage within MPAs.

Keywords

Marine Cultural Heritage (MCH)
Marine Protected Areas (MPA)
Marine Spatial Planning (MSP)
Integrated participatory approach
North Africa
Western Indian Ocean

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106218

Developing an integrated framework for Marine Cultural Heritage (MCH) and Marine Protected Areas (MPA) across Africa and the Middle EastAuthor Accepted Manuscript, 1.13 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

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title = "Developing an integrated framework for Marine Cultural Heritage (MCH) and Marine Protected Areas (MPA) across Africa and the Middle East",

abstract = "There is currently a significant imbalance in existing marine resource management frameworks. Across Africa and the Middle East there is a developing network of marine protected areas focused on natural heritage but with very limited engagement with area-based management for cultural heritage. Yet both natural and cultural heritage resources are subject to the same considerable threat levels from both natural and anthropogenic processes of change. The MarEA project is engaged in an extensive programme of mapping and documentation of endangered cultural heritage sites and landscapes across the MENA region. During the course of this and aligned work, its engagement with coastal communities and international practice has identified a clear need for more informed and holistic approaches to marine resource management. This study presents a model for the integrated management of natural and cultural heritage and proposes a framework for the future identification and designation of Marine Cultural Heritage in Protected Areas.",

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AU - Breen, C

AU - Tews, Sophie

AU - Nikolaus, Julia

AU - Ray, Nick

AU - Holly, Georgia

AU - Andreou, Georgia

AU - McGonigle, C

AU - Westley, K

AU - Blue, Lucy

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N2 - There is currently a significant imbalance in existing marine resource management frameworks. Across Africa and the Middle East there is a developing network of marine protected areas focused on natural heritage but with very limited engagement with area-based management for cultural heritage. Yet both natural and cultural heritage resources are subject to the same considerable threat levels from both natural and anthropogenic processes of change. The MarEA project is engaged in an extensive programme of mapping and documentation of endangered cultural heritage sites and landscapes across the MENA region. During the course of this and aligned work, its engagement with coastal communities and international practice has identified a clear need for more informed and holistic approaches to marine resource management. This study presents a model for the integrated management of natural and cultural heritage and proposes a framework for the future identification and designation of Marine Cultural Heritage in Protected Areas.

AB - There is currently a significant imbalance in existing marine resource management frameworks. Across Africa and the Middle East there is a developing network of marine protected areas focused on natural heritage but with very limited engagement with area-based management for cultural heritage. Yet both natural and cultural heritage resources are subject to the same considerable threat levels from both natural and anthropogenic processes of change. The MarEA project is engaged in an extensive programme of mapping and documentation of endangered cultural heritage sites and landscapes across the MENA region. During the course of this and aligned work, its engagement with coastal communities and international practice has identified a clear need for more informed and holistic approaches to marine resource management. This study presents a model for the integrated management of natural and cultural heritage and proposes a framework for the future identification and designation of Marine Cultural Heritage in Protected Areas.

KW - Marine Cultural Heritage (MCH)

KW - Marine Protected Areas (MPA)

KW - Marine Spatial Planning (MSP)

KW - Integrated participatory approach

KW - North Africa

KW - Western Indian Ocean

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85193539810

UR - https://pure.ulster.ac.uk/en/publications/6bbf679f-7994-4d96-84e3-eefb4b24dfda

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DO - 10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106218

M3 - Article

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EP - 8

JO - Marine Policy

JF - Marine Policy

M1 - 106218

ER -

Developing an integrated framework for Marine Cultural Heritage (MCH) and Marine Protected Areas (MPA) across Africa and the Middle East

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Data Access Statement

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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Integrating Cultural Heritage to Marine Protected Areas in the MENA Region

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