Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

The two archipelagos are unique in their geological origin, which provides a high degree of endemism and a rich marine and insular biodiversity [ ] 67 Marine protection for endangered species The sites are situated in two large mosaics of marine protected areas in- cluding a sustainable-use area, Área de Proteção Ambiental, correspond- ing to IUCN international category V; and a full-protection area, Mon- umento Natural, equivalent to the IUCN international category III. These areas are in the two most remote regions under Brazil’s na- tional jurisdiction: the Archipelago of São Pedro and São Paulo, in the central part of the equatorial Atlantic Ocean, 1,010 km north-east of Natal (Rio Grande do Norte State) and the Archipelago of Trindade and Martim Vaz in the South Atlantic Ocean, 1,000 km east of Vitória (Espírito Santo State). The two archipelagos are unique in their geological origin, which provides a high degree of endemism and a rich marine and insular biodiversity. The Archipelago of Trindade and Martim Vaz has one of the highest rates of species diversity of the Atlan- tic islands and many deep-sea species are found around the oceanic islands of the chain. The São Pedro and São Paulo Archipelago (ASPSP) is the smallest and most isolated tropical archipelago in the world. Its rocky islets are located on the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Ridge, the longest mountain range in the world. Mainly due to its geographic isolation, the ASPSP pre- sents a high concentration of endem- ic species as well as those threatened with extinction, including corals, sea turtles and bottle-nosed dolphin. New species are still being discovered today in the region. Brazil encouraged public partic- ipation in the process of declaring the new protected areas, with input from civil society, academics and the fisheries sector. The Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conserva- tion and the Brazilian Navy manage both sites, which enjoy support for the conservation of ecosystems, endemic species and those species threatened with extinction. There is a focus on implementation of two objectives of the Convention on Bi- ological Diversity (conservation and sustainable use) and Goal 14 of the Sustainable Development Goals. The total marine protected area is now higher than Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 due to the establishment of these new protected areas. Part of Trindade Island Brazil I n March, 2018 Brazil established two new marine protected areas. The intention is to ensure marine biodiversity conservation and to deter the collapse of fisheries stocks in the protected areas, which are covered by two Presidential Decrees. Previously, only 1.5 per cent of significant marine areas enjoyed protection. Now, that figure is 26.3 per cent, representing a great advance for biological diversity as well as for sustainability. The new areas have also enabled Brazil to exceed Aichi Target 11, that is to have at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas under protected areas by 2020. João Luiz Gasparini