PROTECTED AREAS
We protect surf ecosystems by creating well-managed protected areas in high priority coastal zones that overlap with high quality surf.
Save The Waves achieves long-term conservation goals and creates impact from the ground up through our two global programs: World Surfing Reserves (WSRs) and Surf Protected Area Networks (SPANs).
WORLD SURFING RESERVES
SURF PROTECTED AREA NETWORKS
RECENT NEWS IN PROTECTED AREAS

Protecting Waves in the Azores: Where Are We Now?
From hosting youth engagement workshops at schools to attending high-level interregional governmental meetings and international conferences, our team has seriously been making waves in the Azores.

Surf Protected Area Networks and the IMPAC 5 Conference highlights surfing’s role in conservation
Save The Waves just wrapped up a successful conference at IMPAC5 in Vancouver, presenting on our Surf Protected Area Networks program, meeting with partners, and forging new connections.

Application Window For ‘World Surfing Reserves’ Opens!
The search for the next World Surfing Reserve begins! Save The Waves has once again opened the application window and started the process to select the 13th WSR.

World Surfing Reserves at Work: Local Passion, Real Results in 2022
What does change look like at the ground level? As 2022 comes to a close, we look back at the progress of 3 individual World Surfing Reserves in different countries and in different stages of their work.
How Do We Create Protected Areas?
We use a combination of voluntary conservation agreements, economic incentives, coalition-building and regulatory frameworks to achieve this goal by creating individual Reserves (WSRS) and Networks (SPANS).