NOAA OFFERS NEW WEB SITE ON SOCIAL SCIENCE TOOLS FOR MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has launched a new Web site on research techniques for examining the “human dimensions” of marine and coastal resource management. This “Social Science Tools and Methods for Marine Protected Areas Management” Web site gives basic information about social science concepts and methods, and guides managers in determining the appropriate tools, such as surveys and cost-benefit analyses, to address their specific issues. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Marine protected areas are valuable management tools, but the development and implementation of them can be controversial. Recent studies found that social factors, rather than biological or physical factors, determine the success of marine protected areas.

“Creating and managing a marine protected area is often challenging. This Web site provides resources that can help managers and staff understand and address many of the issues that arise between marine protected areas and affected stakeholders,” said Margaret Davidson, director of the NOAA Coastal Services Center, which developed the Web site in collaboration with NOAA’s National Marine Protected Areas Center.

Located at: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/mpass/, the site is divided into sections that focus on social science themes (including use patterns; attitudes, perceptions and beliefs; governments, institutions and processes; communities; and economics), tools, case studies, and references. Topics include surveys, non-market valuation, and social assessment.

The NOAA Coastal Services Center supports the environmental, social, and economic well being of the coast by linking people, information, and technology. The National Marine Protected Areas Center, housed within NOAA and managed in conjunction with the Department of the Interior, forges partnerships and serves as a major resource for information about the nation’s marine protected areas.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov

NOAA’s Coastal Services Center: http://csc.noaa.gov/mpass

NOAA’s National Marine Protected Areas Center: http://mpa.gov