The Blue Nature Alliance is a global partnership that works with governments, NGOs, local and Indigenous communities, and scientists to catalyze and accelerate large-scale ocean conservation. The Alliance supports the marine conservation work of more than 60 partners in approximately 25 sites across the globe, in all five oceans and the high seas.
This toolkit will provide real-time updates from IMPAC5, which runs Feb. 3-9 in Vancouver, British Columbia, including news and announcements, sessions highlighting Alliance partners and staff, lists of experts available for meetings and media interviews, and social media conversations.
Join us at the following IMPAC5 events:
• 6-10 p.m. Feb. 5: “A Celebratory Evening with Blue Nature Alliance Partners,” a reception featuring speakers and success stories from around the world where communities are protecting special places for nature, for people, and for the future; Vancouver Marriot Pinnacle Downtown Hotel, Point Grey Ballroom; email ebennett@conservation.org to RSVP.
• 2-3:30 p.m. Feb. 6: “Strengthening the Effectiveness of Marine Protected Area Management Using Integrated Sustainable Capacity Development to Ensure Compliance”; Vancouver Convention Center, rooms 223-224.
• 4-5:30 p.m. Feb. 7: “Effective Partnerships: Key Ingredients for Building Lasting Networks of Protected Ocean Space”; Vancouver Convention Center, rooms 215-216.
• 2-3:30 p.m. Feb. 8: “Social Equity in Marine Conservation”; Vancouver Convention Center, room 205
Announcements we're tracking:
Check back regularly for real-time updates.
To kick off IMPAC5, Canada announced Feb. 3 a new policy to guide the establishment and management of national marine conservation areas (NMCAs) that emphasizes the importance of collaboration and co-management with Indigenous peoples, setting direction for all current and future NMCAs. More here.
Alliance partner Coast Funds released a new report Feb. 3 that details the first 15 years of outcomes from a $120 million investment in conservation finance across the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii. The organization said it hopes the report will “support further investment in Indigenous conservation and economic development.” Read the report, "Sustaining People and Place," here.
Fifteen First Nations and the governments of Canada and British Columbia on Feb. 5 announced a blueprint for an Indigenous-led network of MPAs along British Columbia’s north coast, including the Great Bear Sea. The action plan is a pathway for creating the world’s largest and most ecologically robust Indigenous-led, collaboratively developed MPA network to both benefit coastal communities and safeguard marine ecosystems. Learn more here.
Connect with our team in Vancouver:
Experts from the Blue Nature Alliance and our partner organizations are available to speak with those looking for collaboration opportunities and members of the media about the following topics: 30x30, sustainable financing, Indigenous-led conservation, the need for partnerships, the science behind large-scale MPAs, technology including for monitoring and enforcement, and how climate change impacts MPAs, among other subjects.
We also have partners and experts who can discuss issues related to regional MPAs in Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, the high seas, Latin America, the Pacific, the Southern Ocean, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
If you are a member of the media, call, text, or WhatsApp message Kathryn Bomey, communications and media lead for the Blue Nature Alliance, at +1 (202) 573-2120 any time before, during, or after the conference.
If you are a current Alliance partner or are interested in discussing future collaboration opportunities, contact Emily Bennett at ebennett@conservation.org.
Follow the IMPAC5 social media conversation:
Join the global ocean conversation online by following @IMPAC5Canada, #IMPAC5, and @BluNatAlliance on Twitter.
On LinkedIn, check out IMPAC5 and the Alliance for additional updates.
Who we are
This fact sheet provides a brief overview of the Blue Nature Alliance: who we are, where we work, how we collaborate with partners, and our approach as we strive for equity. You can also access this document in Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
Recognizing that each place we work has special significance for local people and that we have a responsibility to promote solutions that generate benefits for both nature and the people living there, the Alliance has developed a code of conduct to guide and facilitate the integration of human dimensions into our work.
The Alliance is committed to recognizing and respecting the rights of our partners, as well as employing inclusive decision-making practices. Access our grievance mechanism manual, which seeks to facilitate timely responses and appropriate resolutions to any complaints that may arise from our partners.
The Alliance is working with partners in countries around the world toward shared conservation goals. In some places, we are collaborating to advance the designation of new or expanded ocean conservation areas. In others, we are improving the effectiveness, durability, and equitability of existing ones. While it may take years to achieve each individual goal, the work is well underway. Here’s a snapshot of our work in progress:
Our partners include high-level government officials working to implement bold and transformative policies, civil society organizations focused on marine protections, scientists conducting research on large-scale ocean conservation, and local and Indigenous communities that depend on a healthy ocean ecosystem for their cultural, economic, and food security.
The Alliance's 2021-22 impact report provides more information about these successes and tells the story of several incredible conservation projects being led by our partners around the world. Download the report here.
"As greenhouse gas emissions continue to threaten our world, restoring and maintaining the health of our ocean through efforts such as the Blue Nature Alliance can help to preserve biodiversity and buffer the planet against the devastating impacts of climate change."
— Former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres
The Blue Nature Alliance is a global partnership founded and led by five core partners: Conservation International, The Pew Charitable Trusts, The Global Environment Facility, Minderoo Foundation, and the Rob & Melani Walton Foundation.
Follow some of our core partners on Twitter: @ConservationOrg, @pewenvironment, @theGEF, and @minderoo.
Our paper footprint at IMPAC5
While attending IMPAC5, we will share materials about the Blue Nature Alliance; however we are mindful not to have a heavy paper footprint:
- Energy use for print: We utilize green energy that comprises a mix of solar and wind
- Paper: All our paper is chain of custody certified, (FSC, SFI, PEFC EURO/Label) with no less than 10% recycled
- Ink: Digital print uses ink jet inks which are sustainable; and offset print uses vegetable inks
www.BlueNatureAlliance.org
Credits:
Created with images by Shawn Heinrichs • emperorcosar - "Niue island. Hikutavake reef in Alofi," • Alba - "snorkelling in Niue" • Gary - "Coconut palms on the south Pacific tropical island of Niue."