Coral Reefs: A Reef Resilience Toolkit Module

Measuring Management Effectiveness

The Need for Evaluating Management Effectiveness

Management effectiveness is the degree to which management actions are achieving the intended goals and objectives of an MPA. Effective management requires continuous feedback of information to achieve the stated objectives through evaluation, which consists of reviewing the results of actions taken, and assessing whether the actions are producing the desired outcomes. In order to complete successful evaluations, management teams should develop consistent records of management actions and data. Evaluating management effectiveness can, and should, lead to improved management planning, implementation, and accountability; it can provide the MPA with information with which to implement adaptive management strategies. For example, evaluation results may help to:

• Change zoning plans to enable full protection of bleaching resistant sites
• Increase surveillance, enforcement, and management interventions at resistant or resilient sites
• Identify areas of strong recruitment
• Modify education programs and outreach about coral reef and fishery resources
• Enhance public participation in management activities

Effective management depends on measurement and evaluation. Photo © David Obura

Indicators for Evaluating Management Effectiveness

Periodic and comprehensive assessments of the social and natural processes occurring within and outside the boundaries of the MPA are required to adequately and adaptively manage MPAs. The many different biophysical, socioeconomic, and governance aspects associated with MPAs are organized into indicators (or parameters) that should be considered in the evaluation of the management effectiveness of the MPA. An indicator is a unit of information, measured over time, that enables managers to gauge changes in specific characteristics of the MPA. Identifying and developing indictors to continually assess the performance of MPAs is fundamental to evaluating whether the goals and objectives are achieved. Indicators for evaluating management effectiveness include:

Biophysical indicators: Focal species abundance and population structure, habitat complexity, type and return on fishing effort, and water quality.

Socioeconomic indicators: For example, perception of seafood availability, community infrastructure, resource use patterns, local values and beliefs about marine resources.

Governance (or institutional) indicators: For example, level of resource conflict, local understanding of MPA rules and regulations, existence and adequacy of formal legislation, existence and activity level of community organization and engagement with MPA management.

The Basic Steps for Evaluating Management Effectiveness

The basic steps below help identify how to evaluate MPA management success. The table illustrates the steps with examples for each of the three indicator types.

1. Clearly identify desired conservation outcome(s) and related management objective(s) for the MPA.
2. Identify and develop indicators (social, biophysical, and governance) for evaluating MPA management effectiveness to determine if the management actions have achieved their objective.
3. Design and implement a monitoring program aimed at measuring change in indicators as a result of the management action. This requires monitoring replicate sites both inside and outside the MPA, both prior to and after the management action.
4. Analyze the data collected during monitoring efforts, and develop a communication plan to share the information to the appropriate audiences.
5. Disseminate results and share with stakeholders. Based on feedback, modify management strategies and monitoring efforts accordingly.

Detailed examples of these Five Steps are also included in Monitoring Effectiveness, Monitoring Protocols, and Adaptive Management.

Resources

The Protected Areas Management Effectiveness Information Module

Return to Top