The MACBIO project classify the entire marine environment within the MACBIO participating countries to inform, in particular, their national marine spatial and marine protected area planning efforts. The draft outputs are marine bioregions that include reef-associated and deepwater biodiversity assemblages with complete spatial coverage at a scale useful for national planning. Results for the Solomon Islands have been presented to the marine experts and government of the Solomon Islands for review. Specifically, it allows for the identification of candidate sites for an ecologically-representative system of MPAs in the country. By ensuring that each bioregion is represented adequately within the Solomon Islands’ network of marine protected areas, the government will ensure that the network is ecologically representative as per their commitment under the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
