Establishing and Managing Marine Protected Areas - Ocean Expert Exchange

This 50-minute webinar from the Ocean Expert Exchange series, hosted by Scientist in Every Florida School and the ANGARI Foundation, features conservation ecologist Lindy Knowles sharing his expertise on establishing and managing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in The Bahamas. Learn about science-driven conservation approaches as Knowles discusses his work at the Bahamas National Trust's Science & Policy division, where he collects in-situ data to support effective protected area management. Discover how GIS technology, drone imagery, and underwater cameras are used to map boundaries, visualize field data, and create 3D models of terrestrial and marine environments. Explore the collaborative efforts to survey reef, mangrove, and seagrass ecosystems to determine their health and ensure vulnerable areas and species are included within the protected area system. The presentation highlights The Bahamas' progress toward their goal of protecting 20% of nearshore environments and includes K-12 educational resources for teachers and students.