3.2 Recipient Benefits

1. MCA Field Guide: English | Spanish
2. MCA Field Guide Checklist
3. Phase 3: Agreement Design Checklist
4. 3.1 Conservation commitments are established
5. 3.2 Recipient benefits are determined
6. 3.3 Compliance mechanisms are developed
7. 3.4 Sanctions are agreed upon
8. 3.5 Regulatory permits issued or applied for
9. 3.6 Final actions are completed

One of the attractive features of Marine Conservation Agreements (MCAs) is that in exchange for conservation commitments, right-holders and other stakeholders receive tangible benefits that can improve their lives and communities. In doing so, conservation becomes a valuable and rewarding asset instead of a burden.

Determining the appropriate benefits that will be provided to right-holders and other stakeholders can sometimes be straightforward and other times very complex. Typically, determining benefits is an iterative process to find the middle ground between the desires of right-holders and other stakeholders and what can actually be delivered by conservation organizations.

Key issues to resolve with regard to benefits include:

• Value of the overall benefit package (e.g., what amount of benefits is affordable and appropriate)
• Type of benefit (e.g., infrastructure, services, direct payments, enterprise)
• If required, decision-making system for selection of investments (i.e., benefit is direct payments to a community fund)
• Mechanism for benefit delivery—a mechanism should be defined with the counterpart that transparently channels benefits to intended beneficiaries
• Frequency of benefit provision

Potential Benefits

MCA benefits can accrue to right-holders, other direct stakeholders and indirect stakeholders (see Stakeholders). The majority of these benefits have already been identified in sub-step 1.7: Costs and Financing as costs for the value of the MCA itself and as components of Phase 4: Implementation. Direct payments to right-holders are usually associated with the value of the MCA itself (i.e., payments for leases, easements, contracts, or acquisitions). Benefits for other direct and indirect stakeholders (as well as additional benefits for right-holders) are usually associated with implementation activities.

A critical aspect to consider when developing the benefits package is that support for and compliance with the MCA will likely be greater if at least some of the benefits are delivered periodically and predictably over the life of the project period, contingent on conservation outcomes. The table below gives examples of benefits practitioners can consider for MCA projects. Additional examples are identified in IUCN's report, Community-based Incentives for Nature Conservation (download pdf, 151k) and the Defenders of Wildlife report, Incentives for Biodiversity Conservation: An Ecological and Economic Assessment (download pdf, 1,808k).

Next Sub-step

After determining recipient benefits, mechanisms must be established that will ensure compliance with conservation commitments and benefit distribution.

Proceed to 3.3 Compliance

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