Principles of Western science used to inform management of marine protected areas (MPAs) prioritize strict rules for sampling, monitoring, and data analysis. Such an approach can help managers make objective decisions based on measurable outcomes and better incorporate climate considerations. Alternatively, Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Indigenous cultures – also referred to as Indigenous science – acknowledges and documents the co-existence of nature and humanity throughout millennia, bringing a unique capacity to understand and respond to change. Thus, Western and Indigenous science stand to benefit from one another in terms of painting a far more complete picture of marine environments.
This project aims to advance the integration of Indigenous and Western science to improve climate-ready management of a network of four MPAs – Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR), Great Bay NERR, Waquoit Bay NERR, and Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) – that sit on or adjacent to the ancestral lands of the Wabanaki Confederacy and the Wampanoag Nation in the Northeastern United States.
This project convenes a unique partnership among two Native American regions and managers and scientists associated with four MPAs. Working across the network will allow the research team and partners to integrate and apply Indigenous and Western science in MPA management, specifically: