Ocean Managers XChange 2022
For the first time in five years, co-organizers Big Ocean and the Blue Nature Alliance are pleased to host a global peer-to-peer learning exchange of ocean managers and practitioners. Ultimately, the XChange aims to advance best practices in large-scale ocean conservation and create new relationships that become resilient, reciprocal, and sustainable over time. The five day gathering, held at Camp Mokulēʻia on Oʻahu’s North Shore, will reconnect sites and managers through interactive sessions and experiential learning.
As the origin of large-scale marine conservation is in the Pacific, and Big Ocean was conceived of and launched out of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, it is fitting that this first collaborative event between Big Ocean and the Alliance is being held in Hawaiʻi. Native Hawaiian values, practices, and intergenerational knowledge will provide the framework within which participants will listen, learn, and build relationships between and amongst sites and managers––people and places. As our ultimate host, the ʻāina (land, that which feeds) will be a safe space for participants to share their lifeways, traditions, and cultural perspectives.
Intended outcomes include:
New relationships between and amongst a more diverse network of sites
A Strengthened community of practice for managing oceans at-scale
Peer-learning and exchange
Co-designed strategies to advance knowledge management and sharing of lessons learned
Increased capacity for management planning, human dimensions and conducting capacity needs assessments
Co-designed roadmap with and for indigenous peoples and local communities to facilitate delivery of effective ocean conservation solutions at-scale
Co-defined tools, products and approaches (based on manager input)
Building upon Big Ocean’s legacy of convening large marine-managed sites and the Alliance’s effort to nearly double ocean protection globally, this convening has more participants and greater diversity of sites than ever before. In this spirit of amplifying collective effort, organizers hope that all involved are inspired to further efforts to positively impact ocean conservation and governance worldwide. As managers and practitioners stand shoulder to shoulder on the first day, they will collectively represent 17 countries that are working to conserve more than 8 million square kilometers of the ocean.
For more information, please contact Big Ocean Director, Naiʻa Lewis.
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Launched in 2010, Big Ocean remains the only peer-learning network created by managers of large-scale MPAs to advance the genre’s professional standards and best practices. A champion and thought-leader in ocean management and governance at-scale, Big Ocean is a growing global network of member sites and a broader community of practice that spans more than 17 countries.
Established in 2020, the Blue Nature Alliance (Alliance) aims to catalyze the conservation of 18 million square kilometers of ocean while safeguarding biodiversity, building resilience to climate change, promoting human well-being, and enhancing ecosystem connectivity and function. To achieve this, the Alliance supports area conservation worldwide, including improving enabling conditions by advancing capacity development and learning, new science and tools, sustainable financing mechanisms, and global policy. This event will launch the Alliance’s Capacity Development and Learning work stream.