Marine Toolkits

In order to guide and support the data and information sharing on Large Marine Ecosystems – LMEs (as well as associated integrated coastal management, marine protected areas and Marine Spatial Planning projects), for use by GEF LME:LEARN stakeholders and the wider public, the GEF LME:LEARN project supports the Data and Information Management Working Group (DIM WG). The DIM WG was established as an informal body to guide the process with a clear mandate to create learning exchanges on data and information management tools to be used by the LME community of practitioners. Several meetings of the DIM WG have taken place since the start of the LME:LEARN project. The expected outcome of the DIM WG includes more harmonious data and information management across LMEs, as well as improved capacity of projects to report progress and results across for example, Strategic Action Program implementation as well as SDG targets.

In support of this work, the LME:LEARN project has developed a training curriculum and guidance document for Data and Information Management (DIM) to be applied amongst GEF LME, ICM, MPA and MSP projects, as follows:

Data and Information from The GEF Large Marine Ecosystem Portfolio - Metadata catalogue of available GEF marine project data and information (PDF)

This is a review and compilation of GEF LME project websites, tools and reports in relation to data and information management, as well as other key LME partners data and information websites.

Data and Information Management Guidelines for GEF LME Projects (PDF)

These guidelines present overall recommendations for GEF LME projects to consider to ensure a more integrated and comparable approach to data and information management across the IW LME portfolio. It also include tools and best practices from GEF LME projects and other international and regional organizations that can be applied and adapted within LME projects, and supports the implementation of the recommendations presented in the Data and Information Management Guidelines for GEF LME projects.

Identifying Common LME Indicators - Towards common reporting and comparability between LMEs (PDF)

Given the common issues that the majority of the LME projects address and also the increasing need to align reporting between regions and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this presents an overview of current indicator systems and proposes a series of common indicators that can be considered by LMEs for future reporting of key targets and Strategic Action Programs (SAPs).

Environmental policy and management only succeed if key stakeholders feel engaged and have bought into the
design of the actions concerned. The Toolkit for Stakeholder Participation in Environmental Policy (in further text:
Toolkit) provides practical guidance on how to achieve this, focusing on the Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) projects,
which seek to advance ecosystem-based management approach and action in five modules: productivity, fish and
fisheries, pollution and ecosystem health, socioeconomics, and governance.

This toolkit organizes and shares a range of approaches, gathering highly regarded tools for achieving effective
stakeholder participation at all stages of environmental policymaking. It is intended to equip users with:

• A framework and principles for working collaboratively,
• Approaches for identifying relevant stakeholders,
• Specific tools for different needs in stakeholder engagement, and
• Strategies for reaching agreements.

The Toolkit was developed based on the lessons learned, best practices, and experiences gathered by Conservation
International and partners in applying the Ocean Health Index (OHI) worldwide, with contributions from principles
developed by the Consensus Building Institute.

The Environmental Economics for Marine Ecosystem Management Toolkit (in further text: Toolkit) has been
developed within the GEF Large Marine Ecosystems Learning Exchange and Resource Network (GEF LME:LEARN)
project. GEF LME:LEARN is a GEF-UNDP-IOC/UNESCO project designed to improve global ecosystem-based
governance of Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) and their coasts by generating knowledge, building capacity,
harnessing public and private partners and supporting south-to-south learning and north-to-south learning. A key
element of this improved governance is mainstreaming cooperation between LME, Marine Protected Area (MPA),
and Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) projects in overlapping areas, both for GEF projects and for non-GEF
projects. This full-scale project plans to achieve a multiplier effect using demonstrations of learning tools and
toolboxes, to aid practitioners and other key stakeholders, in conducting and learning from GEF projects.

In pursuit of its global and regional objectives, GEF LME:LEARN seeks to strengthen global governance of large
marine ecosystems and their coasts through enhanced sharing and application of LME/ICM/MPA knowledge and
information tools.

Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) Projects are, by definition, “strategic” projects because they cover large territorial areas, involve many stakeholders at different levels.

The MSP toolkit provides practitioners with practical guidance, examples of tools and methods that are necessary for designing and carrying out the MSP process in an LME context.

This Governance “toolkit” provides an introduction into governance concepts relevant for Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) practitioners.

The Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) Management Effectiveness Scorecard provides LME managers and stakeholders with a tool to quickly evaluate management effectiveness to help improve decision making in LME implementation. Once completed by users, the scorecard will provide basic guidance that allow users to prioritize their efforts and determine tools to improve towards management targets.