The closing activity of the Diploma Course was held in Coyhaique and Puerto Raúl Marín Balmaceda, Aysén Region, between August 24 and 31, during which students analyzed a real case of marine protected area management and governance in the field, complementing the seven virtual modules developed from June to August this year. The area chosen for this purpose was the Pitipalena-Añihue Multiple Use Conservation Area, whose experience and management track record were analyzed based on information provided directly by territorial actors, members of the governance body, and other relevant actors.
“This diploma course is extremely relevant for addressing the challenges of marine conservation, as it seeks to close the knowledge and skills gaps in institutions and individuals involved in the management and governance of marine protected areas. To this end, we have sought to bring together the vast academic experience of the Austral University of Chile and the long territorial track record of the Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea and Areas of Influence,” said the Academic Director of the Austral University Academy, Dr. Mylthon Jiménez, emphasizing that this university has been researching coastal marine environments and their natural resources for more than 70 years and that the Forum has worked for decades on the effective management of marine protected areas in Latin America and the conservation of their biodiversity. “We believe that this fusion of capabilities and experience allows our students to have a broad, cross-cutting, and complex vision of how MPAs are managed today and how to face future challenges. The satisfaction of our students reaffirms this”, said the academic director of AUA.
International validation
The students selected for this first edition of the diploma course come from a wide range of public, private, and civil society institutions closely involved in the management of Marine Protected Areas, which enriched the exchange of views and experiences during the program. Among the national institutions, the following stand out: the Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca); the Ministry of Environment (MMA) of Magallanes, Aysén, Los Lagos, and Rapa Nui; the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (SERNAPESCA) Juan Fernández, the Pitipalena-Añihue Foundation, the Melimoyu Foundation, the Maritime Governorate of Valparaíso, and the National Forest Corporation (CONAF).
The broad international interest was reflected in the participation of numerous institutions such as the Southern Regional Directorate of the National Parks Administration of Argentina, the Chubut Fisheries Secretariat, the State Institute of the Environment (INEA, Brazil), Nema (Brazil), WWF – Oceans Program – Mexico, the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta Sanctuary – National System of Protected Areas of Colombia, National Natural Parks of Colombia, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition – Santa Clara Island Marine Reserve (Ecuador), the inter-institutional program composed of the Ministry of Environment (Uruguay) and the National Service of Protected Areas of the MMA (Peru).
About the diploma
The specialization program aimed to strengthen technical and strategic capacities for participatory, evidence-based management with a focus on governance in MPAs, applying principles of transparency, citizen participation, and accountability. Through theoretical classes, analysis of real cases, and collaborative work, participants consolidated tools to address the challenges presented by marine protected areas in Latin America.
The program included a comprehensive training curriculum, ranging from the fundamentals of marine biology and its applications in the conservation and sustainable management of marine ecosystems to the design of monitoring processes for marine-coastal and oceanic species and environments, along with social and economic monitoring approaches.
It also addressed topics such as comprehensive marine conservation and marine protected area management, theoretical and conceptual elements of governance, the national and international legal framework, and the use of best practices and measurement tools to implement effective governance. The program was complemented by a fieldwork session, which allowed participants to apply the knowledge they had acquired in a real-world context.
“Since 2017, the School of Management of Marine Protected Areas of the Southern Cone has not only strengthened more than 30 Marine Protected Areas and trained dozens of managers but has also created a true community of practice and collaboration that transcends borders. Completing this diploma course with this renowned academic institution, bringing together the knowledge and experience of teachers and professionals, means joining a multi-stakeholder effort committed to adaptive management and collective work, aware that our role will be key in addressing the urgent challenges threatening the oceans, from climate change to increasing pressure on marine ecosystems” pointed out Alejandro Arias, representative of the Forum’s MPA Management School.
