The BUFFER project - how research allowed classifying Marine Protected Areas for better clarity in the sustainable use of natural resources and conservation of biodiversity

The BUFFER project has been awarded the second edition of the BiodivERsA Prize for Excellence and Impact, highlighting its excellent achievements in terms of advancing science and practice of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The project was funded under the 2011-12 BiodivERsA joint call on “Biodiversity Dynamics: Developing scenarios, identifying tipping points and improving resilience”. The project developed a new Regulation-Based Classification System for Marine Protected Areas. This system was already adopted by major international organisations as well as local management authorities. The BiodivERsA prize will be awarded on a yearly basis to showcase the achievements of BiodivERsA-funded projects that have produced excellent science with concrete impacts for policy and/or society. The Belgian Biodiversity Platform (RBINS/BelSPO) & BiodivERsA led the production of this video, along with the BUFFER project coordinator Joachim Claudet and the video production company, Squarefish.