Call for Proposals: Ecological Connectivity to maximize Bio-Diversity Conservation

The Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO) basin is a globally recognized hotspot of endemism and biodiversity. It is home to many spatially fragmented Marine Protected Areas (MPA), which are essential in maintaining marine ecosystems. A crucial element, which requires further investigation, is the ecological connectivity, often highlighted in the design of MPAs and the guarantees of conservation success. This ecological connectivity governs the exchange of marine species moving across spatially fragmented habitats during their different life stages. The establishment of a powerful regional network of MPAs would help to promote the notion of linking management actions as well as to develop bold initiatives to achieve conservation goals.

The extent to which measured or modelled representations of this connectivity are applied to marine management decisions is uncertain, as there are currently limited interactions between MPA governing bodies at the regional, and sometimes national level. Detailed knowledge of the distribution, movements, and interactions of marine species with their oceanic environment between different marine protected areas is essential for implementing effective marine spatial planning strategies, for assessing the effectiveness of marine protected areas, identifying new areas to be protected as a priority, but also strengthened existing strategies and areas.

This collaborative research call for proposals will have the broader objective of supporting projects studying the evolution, functioning and dynamics of the socio-ecosystems of the region, in all their diversity, and will draw on a wide range of scientific disciplines (from physical, biological and ecological sciences to human, social and economic sciences).

Finally, it is expected that the projects developed from this collaborative research call will pay particular attention to the network of existing MPA or planned marine protected reserves in the SWIO, with the objective of contributing to regional public policies for the establishment and management of these networks.

Scientific Framework

• How can everyone harmonize environmental monitoring of the MPAS of the regional area?
  • In the perspective of long-term environmental monitoring in the MPAs of Southwest Indian Ocean region, it is proposed to design harmonized monitoring systems and networks of different parameters considering the connectivity of different kinds between the socio-ecosystems. They must also integrate the links between the state of these ecosystems, the existing or future natural heritage protection and conservation mechanisms, and the current or planned biological and the impact of mineral resource exploitation activities. This may include:
    • Designing spatio-temporal monitoring of different biotic and abiotic variables, characterising the state and evolution of climate and biodiversity at a regional scale. Identify an inventory of existing monitoring activities in the different MPAs and develop an appropriate monitoring framework and implementation pathways to ensure long-term collaboration in the region around issues of socio-ecosystems monitoring.
    • Develop assessment tools and indicators to establish, on the basis of the data collected through these networks, a diagnosis of the state of the ecosystems, their evolution in relation to anthropic pressures, and the assessment of on-going management measures to evaluate their effectiveness.
    • Develop new autonomous, eco-responsible and connected biological, chemical or physical sensors.
    • The projects proposed in the framework of this axis will have to propose pathways to reach a sustainable monitoring strategy:
      • built on the basis of an inventory of existing monitoring systems,
      • detailing the methods and means to be deployed to ensure long term monitoring and establishment of open access data base,
      • considering the specificities of the sites/species targeted for the deployment of the systems,
      • evaluating, the feasibility of integrating these systems into approved national and international monitoring frameworks.
• How are the ecosystems of the region structured and/or connected?
  • The projects proposed could aim in particular at:
    • Modelling oceanic, atmospheric, and biological circulations, to identify links between regional ecosystems and their MPAs.
    • Study the connectivity between ecosystems, ecosystems and/or species in the biogeographic context of the Western Indian Ocean and at a larger scale of the Indo-Pacific. Connectivity may be examined from different angles (e.g., hydrodynamical model, genetic). Proposals may also aim at establishing links between different ecosystem compartments.
    • A focus on the remarkable, iconic species or vulnerable species and ecosystems, which are the object of protection measures to contribute to the orientation of large-scale preservation policies for the future.
    • Establish a link on a biogeographic scale between the networks of marine protected areas and the structuring of the ecosystems and associated connectivity mechanisms, with a view to evaluating the coherence of this network and, if necessary, issuing recommendations on a regional scale and/or between countries.
• What are the various anthropogenic impacts on the ecological states of the ecosystems and what measures should be proposed to reduce these impacts?
  • Management proposals will be made to reduce the impacts and risks. The work will be able to relate in particular to:
    • The characterization and mapping of anthropic pressures that are exerted on the region’s ecosystems. The evaluation of the associated impacts on ecosystems and ecosystem services they are delivering as well as, if necessary, modelling/projection of the induced environmental risks at short, medium, and long term, considering the possible measures taken to reduce these risks.
    • Proposals for management modalities and measures to move towards sustainability of activities at the local and regional scales, particularly with regard to the impact of offshore activities to make it possible for these activities to coexist while preserving species and ecosystems of the region.
• What are the links between the ecological state of the ecosystems, the protection measures and the human populations of the socio-ecosystems concerned?
  • The projects responding to this axis will aim at achieving all or part of the following objectives:
    • Understand the context and characterize the consideration of local perceptions and local knowledge in monitoring tools and in decision related to management and protection of ecosystems.
    • Study the practices and social representations of the local, neighbouring populations including tourism that use the marine environment as a prerequisite for the appropriation and acceptability of environmental management measures implemented in the area.
    • Study the processes leading to the social and economic acceptability of environmental policies and projects, in particular the establishment and management of marine protected areas for the countries of the region: participatory research, co-construction of scenarios, knowledge sharing, mediation, approaches integrating historical aspects, memories and imaginary linked to the different territories.
    • Develop a reflexive approach on the actors taking decisions in the region and on the decision process: legal aspects and policy angle on the models of development and visions of local actors and their projects. Bring economic elements of market and nonmarket goods to contribute to policy decision making.

Eligibility Criteria

The call is open to proposals that meet the following criteria:

• Each collaborative proposal must involve applicants from at least three different countries funding the call. Those countries are France, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania. These countries and in addition Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius can request fund to AFD. Co-applicants from the same laboratory, research unit or university cannot be considered as different partners, even if they are located in different territories.
• In-kind contributions from third parties/countries will be welcome in addition to the funding countries. Researcher entities who are willing to contribute in-kind to the proposed project will be considered part of the project consortium and will be requested to sign the consortium agreement.
• The coordinator who lead the project (PI) and submits the proposal, must be part of an eligible entity for funding. A researcher is allowed to be project coordinator of one proposal within this call and can be involved as project partner(co-PI) in a maximum of one more proposal. A researcher can be involved as a project partner in maximum two proposals without being the coordinator.
• Maximum duration of the project is 48 months.
• Each proposal must address every specific requirement published in the relevant funder’s annex available on the website.

For more information, visit NRF.