1.8 Reporting
- MCA Field Guide: English | Spanish
- 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
The key output of a Marine Conservation Agreement (MCA) project feasibility analysis should be a narrative report. The table below provides an example of how the report can be structured.
Typically, the feasibility analysis report should be no longer than 20 pages in length with supporting maps and appendices. The report should include a map depicting the area where the project will take place, identifying uses, locations of the threats, tenure and conflicts.
The feasibility analysis report and table will support an informed judgment regarding the feasibility of the MCA project. Few projects will have entirely favorable conditions. Likewise, few projects will have a single criterion that is the decisive factor. Instead, it is the balance of factors, placed in the context of competing alternatives (in terms of other approaches and as well as other sites), that will yield a concluding recommendation as to the feasibility of an MCA in a particular setting.
| Phase 1: Feasibility Analysis Step | Result | Favorable | Not Favorable |
| 1. Conservation targets | Established? | ||
| 2. Threats and strategies | Determined? | ||
| 3. Owners, managers and users | Known and assignable? | ||
| 4. Laws and policies | Supportive of MCAs? | ||
| 5. Organizational capacity | Sufficient to implement? | ||
| 6. Stakeholders and issues | Identified? | ||
| 7. Costs and financing | Assessed? |
Result: The findings of the feasibility analysis for each of the criterion should be summarized in the table's results column. The objective is to have a quick reference of what was found (e.g., for conservation targets, threats and strategies—high, medium or low; for ownership and rights—private property, communal rights or open access; for stakeholders—the list of the key actors and conflicts encountered).
Favorable or Not Favorable: A simple yes or no, indicating whether each criterion was favorable and conducive to promoting an MCA or not favorable, should be indicated on the table for quick reference.
Next Phase
If the feasibility analysis yields a decision to proceed, the lead conservation organization should be confirmed, a work plan should be developed for Phase 2 and Phase 3, and a budget and financing plan should be finalized to support the work plan; these items should be compiled with the feasibility report. The lead conservation organization should then proceed with Phase 2: Engagement.
Proceed to Phase 2: Engagement