This project is examining the UK government's recent public consultation process for designating Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs), focusing on two aspects: (i) how well it is including stakeholders in the process, following requirements set out under the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, and (ii) understanding the role of "evidence" in MPA site selection and designation, including the structure and function of scientific assessment, as well as problems with inconsistent standards. My previous research on UK conservation (including my PhD) examined how the UK implemented European Union legislation in offshore areas. I am now tracking how Brexit will affect UK MCZ planning and the future of UK marine conservation.
Publications:
Publications:
- De Santo, E.M. (2017) California dreaming: challenges posed by transposing science-based marine protected area planning processes in different political contexts. Environmental Science & Policy: 75: 38-46.
- De Santo, E.M. (2016) Assessing public "participation" in environmental decision-making: lessons learned from the UK marine conservation zone (MCZ) site selection process. Marine Policy 64: 91-101.
- De Santo, E.M. (2015) The Marine Strategy Directive as a catalyst for Maritime Spatial Planning: internal dimensions and institutional tensions. Chapter 6 in: Gilek, M. and Kern, K. (eds.) Governing Europe’s Marine Environment: Europeanization of Regional Seas or Regionalization of EU Policies? Ashgate. PDF
- De Santo, E.M. (2011) Environmental justice implications of Maritime Spatial Planning in the European Union. Marine Policy 35(1): 34-38.
- De Santo, E.M. (2010) “Whose science?” Precaution and power play in European environmental decision-making. Marine Policy 34(3): 414-420.
- De Santo, E.M., and Jones, P.J.S. (2007) Offshore marine conservation in the North East Atlantic: emerging challenges and opportunities. Marine Policy 31(3): 336-347.
- De Santo, E.M., and Jones, P.J.S. (2007) The Darwin Mounds: from undiscovered coral to the emergence of an offshore marine protected area regime. Pages 147-156 in George, R.Y. and Cains, S.D. (eds.) 2007. Conservation and adaptive management of seamount and deep sea coral ecosystems. Bulletin of Marine Science Volume 81 Supplement 1, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Copy of paper.