Marine Reserve Area (MPA) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Marine Reserve Area (MPA) - Essay Example The term MPA is used in the generic sense covering all marine sites that meet the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources’s (IUCN) protected area definition â€Å"regardless of purpose, design, management approach, or gazetted name including marine reserve, sanctuary, and marine park† (UNEP-WCMC, 2008, p.18). â€Å"Historically, protected areas were established on an individual ad hoc basis rather than through a systematic, planned process† (UNEP-WCMC, 2008, p.13). In the case of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), from as early as 1988, the need for a global protective system was recognized at various important global conferences. The establishment of marine protected areas were to be consistent with international law, based on scientific information, and required the formation of a global network of Marine Protected Areas. While regional action and targets aimed to establish protected area systems by 2010 based on regional and environmental conventions and protocols, the Congress also recommended the establishment of MPA networks across 20 to 30% of the world’s oceans by 2012. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) took into consideration all the recommendations, and responded by making it mandatory for all parties to establish protected areas as planned and managed as a system or network. Marine protected areas are developed for fulfilling multiple objectives. They take into consideration conservation of the biodiversity and genetic diversity of the area, preserving ecosystems and maintaining ecological processes, and sustainable use of natural resources. Further, MPAs protect commercially valuable species, replenish depleted stocks, provide protection from natural hazards, and undertake education and research in related fields. Marine protected areas also ensure benefits to society and the economy, and promote

What is the Bottom of the Pyramid approach, and why is it consider Essay

What is the Bottom of the Pyramid approach, and why is it consider controversial - Essay Example In this regard, the poor are seen to be resilient and enterprising in terms of managing their budgets with the meagre income they earn. In essence, the BOP concept has gained prominence out of the consideration of the over 4billion poor around the world who are ignored by multinational corporations, for instance. Consequently, BOP views this group to be significant in terms of influencing trade and growth. The proponents of BOP further suggests that market development targeting the BOP group leads to the development of new entrepreneurs, particularly, at the grass root level. While BOP approach appears controversial, it has opened up opportunities for multinationals to exploit and serve the BOP consumers effectively. For example, the establishment of micro-finance organisations in Kenya, for instance, has helped entrepreneurs in the informal sector to grow their businesses from small to medium sized businesses. While BOP approach has opened up market opportunities, it is considered that targeting the poor can result in wasteful spending of the already meagre income they earn. On the other hand, BOP considers spending by the estimated 4billion poor should be left free to decide how to use their earnings since they are value-conscious consumers. As such, they are the only ones who can determine how to maximise their utility. However, a free market ideology such as the poor’s right to maximise their utility tends to harm the disadvantaged in the society. This is because while the poor also can make choices just like the advantaged in the society, some of the decisions are not thought out properly. This approach is also controversial in the sense that, the poor are affected by numerous social issues and cannot be compared with the upper or middle-class population in terms of making informed choices. This is because a larger percentage of the disadvantaged in the society appears vulnerab le due to lack of proper education. They are also