Kristina M. Gjerde & Patricio Bernal, IUCN, interview: Rio Conventions Pavilion, CBD COP11, 15/10/2012 – Kristina M. Gjerde & Patricio Bernal, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), discuss the significance step of the development of a new enhanced marine protection areas on the table in Hyderabad.

Bernal says the highly significant move has been met very positively by negotiators and is optimistic that the areas could also spread to African waters.

Gjerde stresses that while the new development will not change existing marine laws, it will provide countries with better data allowing them to better implement these regulations.

They also discuss the possibility of the Arctic becoming a protected area, much like Antarctica however complex national claims to the Arctic and the distribution of natural resources complicate the issue.