The MPA Collaborative Network
Empowering California’s Coastal Communities in the stewardship of California’s marine protected areas
The vision of the MPA Collaborative Network is to ensure the health and sustainability of our natural and social environments through civic engagement in local marine management and stewardship.
The mission of the MPA Collaborative Network is to empower diverse communities to engage in marine protected area stewardship for a healthy ocean.
The purpose of the MPA Collaborative Network is to ensure and support a cooperative and just structure that encourages participation in decision-making processes, grounded in the values of respect for differences and the interconnection between humans and nature.
The MPA Collaborative Network commits to providing pathways for active participation in marine management and stewardship from people of all identities including but not limited to gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, national origin, ability, socioeconomic status, marital status, age, education level, culture, religion, and background. This includes actively acknowledging past and present injustice, including ongoing oppression. We recognize that there are barriers to engaging based on these identities. We commit to providing a structure where these diverse ideas and perspectives are heard and valued. We believe that building relationships based on mutual respect will allow us to collectively listen, make decisions, and act together to affect positive change. We acknowledge that societal and ecological health cannot be achieved without the inclusion and leadership of diverse peoples and voices.