BLUE CONNECT
BLUE CONNECT is a Horizon Europe (EU) funded project that aims to enhance marine ecosystem resilience and promote sustainable stewardship of Europe's coastal and offshore habitats through collaboration and involvement with government agencies, local MPA managers and stakeholder groups.
- Project period
- -
- Funders
- Horizon Europe (Mission Ocean)
- Total budget (NOK)
- 98,826,708
- External webpages
- blueconnect-project.eu
- Research section
- Water and society
- Contact persons
Laura Friedrich
Kristina Øie Kvile
Federico Håland Gaeta
About the project
Leading Marine Conservation into the Future.
The BLUE CONNECT project addresses the urgent need to protect and restore marine habitats and ecosystems and to reach ambitious EU and global protection and restoration targets by 2030. Together with Marine Protected Area (MPA) managers, authorities, industries, and local communities from 12 Demonstration sites and beyond, BLUE CONNECT is co-developing, promoting, and demonstrating a systematic approach to marine conservation planning and management.
This collaborative effort will result in the creation of a powerful Blueprint, directly supporting 1) setting science-based conservation objectives, 2) co-defining conservation actions for effective MPA co- management, 3) ensuring conservation effectiveness and 4) demonstrating the high potential of these tools for replicability and broader use. This will done by establishing a holistic modelling framework that integrates various elements of biodiversity, ecological functioning, ecosystem services, and connectivity, while considering inputs from stakeholders and local communities regarding social, economic, and cultural aspects when defining MPAs and ecological corridors. The project will contribute to a more comprehensive, science-based and inclusive approach to designating new MPAs or expanding existing ones, transitioning to strict protection, restoring ecosystems, enhancing ecological connectivity, and facilitating MPA co-management. By fostering just and fair stakeholder cooperation and citizen science initiatives, BLUE CONNECT will build a greater feeling of co-ownership of protected and restored marine ecosystems and MPA networks and empower communities to play a crucial role in safeguarding our seas.
In Norway, Raet MNP is selected as one of these 12 Demonstration sites, and NIVA is in this project working truly interdisciplinary integrating social and natural sciences to aid the process towards co-defining just and effective conservation measures, establishing knowledge-based conservation targets, as well as integrating ecosystem assessment and monitoring tools applicable in a Norwegian context. In collaboration with the locally based marine consulting company SALT, NIVA is also contributing to stakeholder engagement and outreach activities.
The project runs from 1 October 2024 until March 2028.