Surf Protected Area Networks
A game-changing approach to protecting surf ecosystems on a global scale.
Surf Protected Area Networks (SPANs) combines legal protection and sustainable community development to leverage protection for critical coastal ecosystems on a global level.
pushing surf conservation forward
Our program utilizes networks of locally managed protected areas that both protect and are supported by sustainable surf tourism.
SPANs are defined as, “A collection of individual marine and coastal protected areas around surfing locations, operating cooperatively and synergistically, at various spatial scales, and with a variety of legal mechanisms enforced by local communities and governments.
Project Areas
With our pilot project launched in Morotai of Indonesia, we are focusing additional efforts in Costa Rica, Chile and Mexico.
Morotai, Indonesia
The First Surf Protected Area Network
Save The Waves launched our preliminary pilot Surf Protected Area Network Planning in North Maluku province, Indonesia with our partners at A Liquid Future.
The SPAN in Morotai now has institutional support create the first Coastal Park in Morotai.
Using Surf Conservation for Biodiversity Protection
Across the globe, there are thousands of areas where world class surfing waves and globally important marine biological diversity overlap where threats are prevalent. Save The Waves recently conducted a study showing that ~90% of the world’s top surf sites are located in global biodiversity hotspots for marine conservation and are ripe for new protected areas. The map below shows 50 globally important surfing areas overlaid with biodiversity hotspots.
Click on map to enlarge.
Our
Priority
Regions
- Mexico
- Chile
- Indonesia
- Costa Rica
- Azores
- Fiji
- Brazil
- South Africa
- Mozambique
- Madagascar
- California / Hawaii
The Surf Conservation Partnership
Save The Waves has teamed up with Conservation International! Together, our organizations have the necessary and combined forces to have a global impact for coastal conservation. Our projects in SPANs includes regions in Indonesia, Costa Rica and Brazil.
The Surf Conservation Partnership
Save The Waves has teamed up with international NGO Conservation International. Together, our organizations have the necessary and combined forces to have a global impact for coastal conservation. Our SPANs includes regions in Indonesia, Costa Rica and Brazil.
Recent News on Spans
Historic Milestone: 10,000-Acre Sanctuary Approved on Chile’s Central Coast
The Sanctuary encourages the protection of over 10,000 acres located on the central coast of Chile, including Topocalma and Puertocillo.
Take action to preserve Chile’s surf breaks. #LeyDeRompientes
Article written and provided by our international Coalition partners at Fundación Rompientes Social organizations request the State of Chile to protect waves suitable for sports For the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, surfing will be recognized as an Olympic sport. In that context, Chile, in its 6,435 kilometers of coastline, holds over a hundred surfbreaks or
Leadership in Conservation: Save The Waves & Partners Attend IUCN Conference
Save The Waves traveled to Lima, Peru to attend the III IUCN Latin America Protected Areas Conference with several of our coalition partners.
Creating a Nationwide Surf Inventory: Surf Protected Area Networks in Mexico
To expand Surf Protected Area Networks, Save The Waves and the Bahia de Todos Santos World Surfing Reserve are taking new strides to asses, monitor and, ultimately, protect surf ecosystems in Mexico. Using a nationwide surf inventory, Save The Waves will be able to identify and prioritize high-value Mexican surf breaks.
Help us push the boundaries of conservation.
Donate today and make a global impact for our coastlines.
Our SPANs Partners.
