“A Senegalese poet said, ‘In the end we will conserve only what we love. We love only what we understand. And we will understand only what we are taught.’ We must learn about other cultures in order to understand, in order to love and in order to conserve our common world heritage.” – Yo-Yo Ma

As the effects of climate change become increasingly evident, the need for biodiversity protection is ever more urgent. Our open-source Great African Seaforest Habitat of Hope illustration embodies this by representing a kelp forest of our dreams: a balanced and biodiverse ecosystem that benefits fishing communities, tourists, divers, and our wonderful ocean kin.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) play an important role in safeguarding species and ensuring they are given the best chance to thrive. South Africa has 42 MPAs along its coastline and many adjacent communities that have generational, cultural, and economic ties to these spaces. However, some were displaced to make way for MPAs, resulting in a feeling of exclusion and disenfranchisement. So how do we balance community rights and needs with the need to conserve our ocean spaces? How can education, policy and scientific research intersect to benefit both the environment and people?

In our webinar moderated by Sea Change Project conservation journalist Swati Thiyagarajan, we explore these topics with three panelists who each have expertise on these topics, with the aim of highlighting the importance of the biodiversity represented in our Habitat of Hope illustration, providing educators and the public with insights on some of the complexities around MPAs, and examining solutions that would benefit both the environment and people.