Glossary#

[Under construction]

Answer#

In this Guidance, an Answer is a suggested approach to addressing a problem formulated as a question.

Criterion#

The term Criterion (pl. Criteria) refers to the operational principle whose information, provided by indicators (variables to infer the status of a particular criterion), can be integrated and interpreted to generate new knowledge (Prabhu et al., 2001, Prabhu et al., 1999). For illustrative purposes, a non-exhaustive list of criteria that could be considered. Examples of ecological criteria:

  • Biodiversity and Species Richness: for evaluating the presence and diversity of species. Consider indicators such as species richness, species composition, and the ecological importance of the area for maintaining biodiversity.

  • Habitats and Ecosystems: Assess the presence and condition of key habitats and ecosystems within the area. This may include coral reefs and seagrass meadows.

  • Connectivity and Spillover Effects: Evaluate the connectivity of the MPA with surrounding areas and assess the potential for spillover effects. Consider indicators such as larval dispersal, fish movement patterns.

  • Cumulative Impact on Ecosystems: Evaluate the cumulative effects of human activities on the marine ecosystems within and surrounding the MPA. Consider indicators such as the combined impacts of multiple stressors, such as fishing, pollution, coastal development, climate change, and shipping activities.

  • Reproductive and Nursery Areas: Identify areas that serve as important reproductive and nursery grounds. Consider indicators such as the ecological significance of these areas for the life cycle and population dynamics of key species.

Examples of socio-economic criteria:

  • Cultural and Traditional Practices: Consider the cultural and traditional practices of local communities that may be impacted by the MPA designation. Assess the potential effects on cultural heritage, local rights, and traditional resource use.

  • Ecotourism and Recreation: Assess the potential for sustainable ecotourism and recreational activities within and around the MPA. Evaluate indicators such as visitor numbers, tourism revenue, the quality of visitor experiences, and the potential for job creation.

  • Education: Assess the potential of the MPA to provide educational opportunities for local communities, visitors, and stakeholders. Consider indicators such as environmental education programs and public dissemination initiatives.

Criteria are not only connected to one or more management questions but they also have specific characteristics. These include being associated with a particular topic, having a connection to an ESE module, being applicable to a specific spatial and temporal scale and requiring a certain type and amount of data.

Management need#

In this Guidance, Management need means a category of issues that marine managers (MPA managers, planners, decision-makers, policymakers) need to solve.

Measure#

In this Guidance, a Measure is defined as a method for achieving a goal or addressing a situation (Cambridge Dictionary). The ESE framework provides a catalogue of Measures, including examples of best practices in implementing the MPA or MSP process. In the ESE, Measures are categorized based on the process phase they correspond to and the sector they are associated with. Within the ESE framework, answers may include references to relevant Measures as examples of successful solutions to specific management needs or questions.

Method#

A Method is one approach that can be used to answer management needs/questions. Based on a method, tools can be developed representing practical instruments that can be applied to specific cases (e.g. models, applications, data bases).

Example: Cumulative Effect Assessment (CEA) is a method to assess cumulative impacts on marine ecosystems. Some tools are available based on CEA: e.g. Tools4MSP CEA, HELCOM SPIA tool, Planwise4Blue. The tools can also be referred to as Decision Support Tools (DSTs).

Operational approach#

Operational Research is defined as the application of the methods of science to complex problems arising in the direction and management of large systems of men, machines, materials, and money in industry, business, government, and defence. The distinctive approach is to develop a scientific model of the system, incorporating measurements of factors such as chance and risk, with which to predict and compare the outcomes of alternative decisions, strategies, or controls (Operational Research Society of the United Kinkdom, Duckworth et al. 1977.

In this Guidance, the term Operational approach is used as an umbrella concept including both the methods that can be applied to answer management needs/questions, and the tools - based on the methods - that represent practical instruments that can be applied to specific cases (e.g. models, applications, databases). Example: Cumulative Effect Assessment (CEA) is a method to assess cumulative impacts on marine ecosystems. Some tools are available based on CEA: e.g. Tools4MSP CEA, HELCOM SPIA tool, Planwise4Blue. The tools are also sometimes referred to as Decision Support Tools (DSTs). Both the method and the tools are named as Operational approaches in the context of this Guidance.

Practice#

The term Practice refers to a structured methodology or approach that helps users make informed decisions. In this Guidance, a practice suggests a possible approach to answer a Question. In some cases, a Practice can also refer to a particularly complex process that requires multiple cycles of interaction, intermediate phases and the combination of sub-practices or steps that serve to describe a single phase. A Practice can suggest the use of criteria and indicators and explain how to combine them. A Practice can contain instructions/documentation on how to use the criteria/indicators to support decisions (e.g. threshold/weights to combine criteria results). A Practice can also suggest the use of one or more decision-support tools.

Question#

A question represents a problem the user is interested in solving, generally in a particular geographical context (sea basin, national, regional/local). A question is a specification of a more general management need (e.g. strengthening conservation).

Solution#

In this Guidance, a Solution is intended as a process or an approach that can be undertaken to face a spefic problem. The ESE framework refers to Solutions about policy-related processes or approaches that might be useful to consider in a specific context. Policy Solutions are provided in this Guidance as a catalogue. They are also associated with Answers, where pertinent.

Tool#

In this Guidance, the term Tool is used to define one specific practical instrument (e.g. a model, an application, a database) that can be applied to specific cases. Tools - also named Decision Support Tools (DSTs) - are based on Methods that represent their conceptual base. Example: Cumulative Effect Assessment (CEA) is a method to assess cumulative impacts on marine ecosystems. Some tools are available based on CEA: e.g. Tools4MSP CEA, HELCOM SPIA tool, Planwise4Blue. In this Guidance, both Methods and Tools are collectively named as Operational approaches.