Aligning marine and land protection means managing inland, coastal and marine areas in a coordinated way, recognizing their ecological links to maximize conservation benefits; healthy oceans depend on what happens on land, sometimes far from the immediate coast. On Caribbean islands, efforts to align marine and land protection focus on integrated coastal zone management, watershed restoration, and reducing land-based pollution to safeguard coral reefs and coastal ecosystems. Key actions include reforestation and soil erosion control to limit sediment runoff, improving wastewater and waste management, and establishing marine protected areas linked to land-use policies. Community engagement and traditional knowledge play a vital role, alongside climate adaptation measures that protect natural buffers like mangroves. Managing tourism impacts sustainably is also crucial to preserving both terrestrial and marine environments
Feasibility & Local Applicability
Aligning marine and land protection on the Dutch Caribbean islands is generally feasible, supported by existing community involvement, regional awareness, and international funding opportunities. Many islands have foundational frameworks like Terrestrial and Marine Protected Areas that facilitate coordination. However, challenges remain, including limited technical capacity, competing development interests such as tourism, housing, and fragmented governance across sectors. Achieving effective alignment requires long-term commitment, cross-sector collaboration, and sufficient resources for monitoring, enforcement, and community engagement to ensure desired sustainable outcomes.
Co-benefits
Possible co-benefits include improved water quality through reduced land-based pollution, which supports healthier fisheries and is attractive for tourism. It may also diversify the economic basis for livelihoods by creating opportunities in eco-tourism and sustainable resource management. Natural ecosystems like mangroves and coral reefs act as buffers against storms and flooding, reducing disaster risks and associated costs. Furthermore, involving local communities in these efforts strengthens stewardship, fosters social cohesion, and empowers stakeholders to manage their natural resources effectively.
Equity & Vulnerability Considerations
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Costs
Medium | The costs of aligning marine and land protection can be significant, particularly in resource-constrained island settings, but they must be weighed against long-term ecological, economic, and socio-cultural benefits.
Case studies & Examples
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Literature
- Armitage, D., Mbatha, P., Muhl, E. K., Rice, W., & Sowman, M. (2020). Governance principles for community‐centered conservation in the post‐2020 global biodiversity framework. Conservation Science and Practice, 2(2), e160.
- de Boer, R. A., Molenaar, R. E., Dankers, R., van Klaveren, S., de Rooij, B., & Verweij, P. (2023). Nature-based Solutions for flood resilience on Bonaire: A scoping study (No. 3292). Wageningen Environmental Research.
- Nos Plan Nos Futuro; ACF Terrestial Protected Areas Conservation Management Plan; ACF WWMP; NBSAP 2024-2030; ACF TPACMP Ecological Networks (Protected Areas: Sero Grandi, Muskita & Tres Cabes)
- Rechberger, K. D., Mayorga, J., Booth, M., & Sala, E. (2025). A pathway to protect 30% of coastal waters by 2030. Marine Policy, 180, 106773.