IUCN WCPA Technical Note Connectivity in the Context of the BBNJ Agreement
This IUCN WCPA Technical Note provides guidance on integrating ecological connectivity into the implementation of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement). Connectivity—defined as the movement of species, genes, nutrients, and natural processes across ocean space—is a foundational principle for effective ocean governance, particularly in designing Area-Based Management Tools (ABMTs) and conducting Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).
The note explores different dimensions of marine connectivity, including structural, functional, oceanographic, genomic, and migratory pathways, and emphasizes the importance of both horizontal and vertical linkages across the water column. It outlines knowledge gaps in ecological, taxonomic, and geographic data, and offers targeted recommendations to embed connectivity considerations into international policy, spatial planning, and marine conservation. This includes updating legal frameworks, enhancing regional cooperation, expanding oceanographic monitoring, and applying emerging technologies. By advancing a connectivity-informed approach, the BBNJ Agreement can foster more resilient, equitable, and ecologically coherent governance of the global ocean.
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