Special places in the ocean : a decade of describing ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs)

Abstract

In an effort spanning more than a decade, over 300 of these special marine areas have been described around the world, through a scientific and technical process involving more than 500 experts from 144 countries. EBSAs are described on the basis of whether or not they meet one or more of seven internationally agreed scientific criteria. The process is facilitated through a series of regional expert workshops convened by the CBD that bring together scientists and key data holders from a range of stakeholder organizations, including governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, research institutions, and indigenous peoples and local communities. A systematic review process culminates in the EBSA descriptions being considered by the Conference of the Parties to the CBD before formal identification as EBSAs.