Strategic Adaptive Management approach peer training

In August, 30 marine protected area (MPA) staff from Kenya, Tanzania and the Seychelles were trained and assessed as peer trainers in Strategic Adaptive Management (SAM). SAM is a management approach that helps increase MPA success by establishing clear objectives, identifying key areas for improvement, and documenting resulting ecological and social change. It uses basic techniques that engage MPA staff at all levels in group learning and collaborative problem solving. SAM has been co-developed over the last decade (2009 to 2019) by the Kenya Wildlife Service, Tanzania Marine Parks & Reserves Unit, and the Seychelles National Parks Authority. Starting in 2009, leaders and staff from these agencies joined with regional and global scientists to form a network (SMART Seas Network: www.smartseas.org) to develop practical tools and approaches to improving MPA effectiveness, resulting in SAM. The expert working group and the peer training were supported by the Coral Reefs Initiative, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the Pew Marine Fellows Program and the Seychelles Environment Trust Fund. The SMART Seas Network and SAM approach were launched with support from the Switzer Foundation and WIOMSA.