Quality of marine protected areas is critical to achieving global biodiversity targets
Journal articles
Stephenson, F; Horta e Costa, B; Addamo, AM; Bueno, P; Costello, MJ; Dudley, N; Eskuche-Keith, PA; Fox, HE; Gill, D; Gordó-Vilaseca, C; Rao, M ...
Published in: Npj Ocean Sustainability
December 1, 2025
Summarising CBD target 3 to “30 × 30” emphasizes area coverage, but conservation success depends on MPA quality. Many existing MPAs are under-protected, and rapidly designating new areas risks creating ‘paper parks’ without ecological or social benefits. Prioritizing strictly or fully managed MPAs, supported by a clear and shared definition, is essential to achieve meaningful biodiversity outcomes. Quality-focused strategies ensure that global targets benefit both nature and people, rather than merely meeting numerical goals. (Figure presented.)
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Npj Ocean Sustainability
DOI
EISSN
2731-426X
Publication Date
December 1, 2025
Volume
4
Issue
1
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Stephenson, F., Horta e Costa, B., Addamo, A. M., Bueno, P., Costello, M. J., Dudley, N., … Claudet, J. (2025). Quality of marine protected areas is critical to achieving global biodiversity targets. Npj Ocean Sustainability, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-025-00169-8
Stephenson, F., B. Horta e Costa, A. M. Addamo, P. Bueno, M. J. Costello, N. Dudley, P. A. Eskuche-Keith, et al. “Quality of marine protected areas is critical to achieving global biodiversity targets.” Npj Ocean Sustainability 4, no. 1 (December 1, 2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-025-00169-8.
Stephenson F, Horta e Costa B, Addamo AM, Bueno P, Costello MJ, Dudley N, et al. Quality of marine protected areas is critical to achieving global biodiversity targets. Npj Ocean Sustainability. 2025 Dec 1;4(1).
Stephenson, F., et al. “Quality of marine protected areas is critical to achieving global biodiversity targets.” Npj Ocean Sustainability, vol. 4, no. 1, Dec. 2025. Scopus, doi:10.1038/s44183-025-00169-8.
Stephenson F, Horta e Costa B, Addamo AM, Bueno P, Costello MJ, Dudley N, Eskuche-Keith PA, Fox HE, Gill D, Gordó-Vilaseca C, Grorud-Colvert K, Klein C, Moore PJ, Morgan LE, Nalven KB, Paredes F, Pike EP, Rao M, Sullivan-Stack J, Weiskel HSW, Wenzel L, Wells S, Claudet J. Quality of marine protected areas is critical to achieving global biodiversity targets. Npj Ocean Sustainability. 2025 Dec 1;4(1).
Published In
Npj Ocean Sustainability
DOI
EISSN
2731-426X
Publication Date
December 1, 2025
Volume
4
Issue
1