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24 | OCEAN GOVERNANCE

IMPROVING EFFICIENCY AN INTERDISCIPLINARY
How can we improve the efficacy of conservation? APPROACH TO CREATING
"It has to be a global effort, with long-term involve- SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
ment from communities," says Timothée Cook, Head
of Science at BlueSeeds. This fledgling organisation, Far from being a one-way street, ocean conserva-
which focuses on training MPA managers and staff in tion is based on an interdisciplinary approach which,
financial strategy, introduced a guide for MPA mana- according to marine biologist Christophe Mocquet,
gers and presented research projects, in particular on director of the MARRES programme on marine re-
blue carbon in the Mediterranean and West Africa. sources at the Côte d'Azur University, should be
encouraged in teaching programmes, particularly at
university level.
COLLABORATIVE APPROACHES
"My experience as a botanist in the Chihuahuan desert
The theme of the societal acceptance of conservation had a major impact on the way I see intersectiona-
measures was also addressed, by drawing a land- lity in conservation." was an enlightening account
based comparison between the reintroduction of the highlighting the context of environmental crises,
wolf in France and the clash between different par- shared by Nikita Rose, an environmental science gra-
ties. Independent consultant, Florent Favier, empha- duate from New York, who joined the MSc MARRES
sised the importance of listening to all stakeholders, to become involved in protecting the ocean. "As I had
working together, and providing support. Faced with to preserve native plants in this extreme environment,
the "triangle of inaction", the panellist proposes im- I had to take the time to listen to the advice of the lo-
proving the involvement of the private sector in efforts cals and their traditional stories about their ecological
to protect the environment, through a roadmap ena- heritage. That's how I was able to establish a solid
bling informed choices to be made. relationship with the community and preserve the de-
sert's indigenous flora."

IN Also demonstrating the importance of interdiscipli-
narity, two former MSc MARRES students founded
SIGHT the start-up BlueLeaf with the mission to protect
Posidonia meadows in the Mediterranean. They are
“If we want to create sustainable working on both aspects of integrated conservation,
solutions, we need to reach a common with scientists to better understand the carbon sto-
understanding, which means breaking rage process and with economists to find ways of
down the barriers between the natural financing protection measures using the concept of
sciences and the social sciences.” ecosystem functions.
Christophe Mocquet,
Director of the MARRES programme
at Côte d'Azur University