Mapping and Evaluating Marine Protected Areas and Ecosystem Services: A Transdisciplinary Delphi Forecasting Process Framework

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are an important tool for management and conservation play increasingly recognised role in societal human well-being. However, the assessment of MPAs often lacks a simultaneous consideration ecological socio-economic outcomes, this can lead to misconceptions on effectiveness MPAs. In perspective, we present transdisciplinary approach based Delphi method mapping evaluating their ability protect biodiversity while providing Ecosystem Services (ES) related well-being benefits – i.e., ecosystem outputs from which people benefit. We highlight need include dimensions marine protection such assessments, given that over time is conditional social, cultural institutional contexts evolve. Our supports Ecosystem-Based Management highlights importance achieving restoration, conservation, sustainable development objectives relation EU Directives as Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), Maritime Spatial Planning (MSPD), Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).