title: [Identification of marine and coastal biodiversity conservation priorities in Costa Rica].
abstract: Costa Rica is recognized as one of the most diverse countries in species and ecosystems, in their terrestrial realm as well as in the marine. Besides this relevance, the country presents a delay on conservation and management of marine and coastal biodiversity, with respect to terrestrial. For 2006, the marine protected surface was 5,208.8 km2, with 331.5 km of coastline, in 20 protected areas. The country has made progress on the conservation priority sites identification for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity, with few efforts on marine planning. This research presents the analysis and results of the gap identification process, for marine and coastal biodiversity conservation in the protected areas system of Costa Rica. The analysis was built with the spatial information available on the presence and distribution of coastal and marine biodiversity, the establishment of the conservation goals and a threat analysis over the ecological integrity of this biodiversity. The selection of high-priority sites was carried out using spatial optimization techniques and the superposition over the current shape of marine protected areas, in order to identify representation gaps. A total of 19,076 km2 of conservation gaps were indentified, with 1,323 km2 in the Caribbean and 17,753 km2 in the Pacific. Recommendations are aimed at planning and strengthening the marine protected areas system, using the gaps identified as a framework. It is expected that the results of this study would be the scientific base needed for planning and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in the country.
authors: Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR), Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, 11501-2060 San José, Costa Rica. juanalva76@yahoo.com
authors: Juan José
authors: JJ
authors: Alvarado
authors: Bernal
authors: B
authors: Herrera
authors: Lenin
authors: L
authors: Corrales
authors: Jenny
authors: J
authors: Asch
authors: Pía
authors: P
authors: Paaby
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms; D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D003364:Costa Rica; D005843:Geography; D008386:Marine Biology