1.5 Organizational Capacity
- MCA Field Guide
- MCA Field Guide Checklist
- Phase 1: Feasibility Analysis Checklist
- 1.1 Conservation targets are established
- 1.2 Threats and strategies are determined
- 1.3 Owners, managers, and users are known
- 1.4 Laws and policies are supportive
- 1.5 Organizational capacity is sufficient
- 1.6 Stakeholders and their issues are identified
- 1.7 Costs and financing are assessed
- 1.8 Reporting has been completed
After determining that applicable laws and policies are supportive of Marine Conservation Agreements (MCAs), an assessment should be conducted to determine if there are one or more local, national or international conservation organizations that are willing and able to assume lead responsibilities for Engaging right-holders and Designing and Implementing an MCA in the proposed project area. A lead conservation organization must be identified before an MCA can proceed.
Why would organizations be MCA leads?
In many cases, the management and conservation of lands, resources and ecosystem services associated with ocean and coastal waters can be undertaken by either public or private entities. While private conservation organizations can always advocate that public regulatory agencies and landowners protect and better manage ocean and coastal sites, there may be circumstances when private organizations want to become directly involved. MCAs can help achieve this direct involvement.
Organizations may want to be MCA leads for reasons such as:
- The conservation targets are rare, sensitive, or critical to the organization's success
The organization has invested or will invest substantial financial and staff resources- The protection needed is long-term and other entities may not be reliable in the future
What organizations should be MCA leads?
Some conservation organizations are not accustomed to acquiring or directing long-term responsibilities for the care of lands, resources or ecosystem services, particularly those associated with ocean and coastal waters. Depending on the specific conservation target, MCAs may require expertise that many organizations do not have. In addition, organizations must be able to estimate costs and secure funding for the initial MCA and the subsequent, long-term conservation activities proposed for the site (see Phase 4: Implementation). The funding must be sufficient to cover planning, permitting, material resources, staffing and development of expertise. In addition to these tangible resource needs, conservation organizations will need patience in order to develop and implement MCAs which may set precedents and be controversial.
A capable lead conservation organization for MCAs should possess, or be able to obtain, one or more of the following qualities:
- Shared objectives with supporting conservation organizations
- Good relationships with right-holders and the community or a track record of good relationships in similar circumstances
- Expected long-term organizational stability
- Financial and technical capacity in anticipated activities (e.g., community engagement, restoration, species management, patrolling)
Potential lead organizations may need additional resources or expertise to fully implement an MCA project. When this is the case, the availability of the additional needs should also be assessed.
Next Sub-step
After identifying a lead conservation organization, stakeholders and their issues should be identified.