Creating a marine protected area network in the Wider Caribbean : strengthening connections and collaboration to conserve the Caribbean ecosystem

Abstract

The ecosystem of the Caribbean has evolved over millions of years of geological and biological processes that have shaped the islands and marine environments of the region. These processes have created diverse and complex habitats that have fueled the Caribbean’s spectacular biodiversity. The protected areas established to sustain this biodiversity, and the vibrant economies it supports, can be considered the lifeboats for the region’s ecosystem, and for the societies that depend on it.