Protecting Earth's last conservation frontier: scientific, management and legal priorities for MPAs beyond national boundaries

摘要: Marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) comprise most of Earth's interconnected ocean, hosting complex ecosystems that play key roles in sustaining life and providing important goods services. Although ABNJ encompass nearly half the planet's surface, biological diversity found these remains largely unprotected. Mounting pressures generated by escalation human activities threaten vital ecosystem services fragile web supports them. Marine protected (MPAs) are widely acknowledged as an tool for conservation diversity. Currently less than 1% protected, with vast majority MPAs located waters within jurisdiction. The existing legal framework protection sustainable use lacks common goals, principles or standards, multi-sectoral coordination comprehensive geographic coverage to ensure good governance grounded science-based decision-making, transparency, accountability effective enforcement. This paper highlights urgency importance protecting last frontier on Earth. Key lessons can be learned from regional, cross-boundary experiences shared during high seas workshop at IUCN World Parks Congress Sydney, Australia November 2014. The intent this is inform deliberations now underway United Nations General Assembly develop a new legally binding international instrument marine ABNJ. It also aims encourage further initiatives protect preserve our using currently available mechanisms powers consistent law. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.