MAGELLANIC PENGUINS IN PATAGONIA: CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES

GARCÍA BORBOROGLU, PABLO; REYES, LAURA; BOERSMA, DEE

Oamaru, Otago, Nueva zelanfda

Simposio; Oamaru Penguin Symposium; 2010

Department of Conservation, New Zealand

Magellanic penguins breed in the Southern Cone of South America, and are a major ecotouristic highlight in Patagonia. The Atlantic population distribution is shifting northward. Central Atlantic Patagonia colonies decreased substantially during the last 2 decades while northern colonies increased, and new colonies expanded the northernmost distribution range. The new scenario raises conservation and management challenges for the designation and management of Coastal/Marine Protected Areas (CMPA) in Patagonia. Design and implementation of CMPA should consider the socioeconomic context and community values,where public participation is crucial for success. However, in Latinoamerica past dictatorial governments delayed citizen involvement in public issues, and governments are still reluctant to share decisions. Our goal was to analyze the recommendations for successful planning and implementation in CMPA to benefit penguins, within the Patagonian coastal zone, based on the authors experience in planning processes coordination, and proposing alternatives to solve critical aspects. Crucial identified aspects include: political support, stakeholders involvement, inclusion of science, effective design, efficient governability, and regular monitoring. Social aspects that affect stakeholders involvement require particular strategies for its resolution. Political instability, government vertical structure, and dilution of responsibility require the construction of a social mesh during the planning process that can hold the objectives beyond the government changes, the generation of co-management agencies, and the clear definition of roles, respectively.