Surf Protected Area Networks
A game-changing approach to protecting surf ecosystems on a global scale.
The Surf Protected Area Network (SPAN) program is a new approach for marine and coastal conservation that combines the legal protection of ecosystems with sustainable community development. This approach follows a six-step process to identify, implement, and manage Surf Protected Areas around the world.
pushing surf conservation forward
Our program utilizes networks of locally managed protected areas that both protect and are supported by sustainable surf tourism.
Save The Waves proudly works in Coalition with local organizations to spearhead and maintain surf protected areas.
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.
Our Project Areas
With our pilot project launched in Morotai of Indonesia, we are focusing additional efforts in Costa Rica, Chile and Mexico.
Program Highlight:
THE AZORES, PORTUGAL
Save The Waves launched a new initiative for creating SPANs in the Azores through the Blue Azores program with Waitt Foundation.
Program Victory:
PIEDRA DEL VIENTO, CHILE
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
Our Ocean Conference: Save The Waves represents surf conservation on an international platform
“This experience was a powerful reminder that while our challenges are great, our collaborative potential is immense.”
World Surf League to support Surf Conservation Partnership efforts in Costa Rica and beyond
Today, we are excited to announce a new collaboration with the World Surf League and Conservation International through the Surf Conservation Partnership to protect world-class waves and coastal ecosystems.
What We Do: Protect
At Save The Waves, we strive to do more than react to immediate threats to surf breaks: we work hard to proactively conserve surf ecosystems and create surf protected areas.
Surf and Conservation in the Atlantic: Protecting Azorean Waves
Five islands, six events, twenty-five films and one goal: protect surf breaks in the Azores. João de Macedo recaps recents travels with Save The Waves.
Help us push the boundaries of conservation.
Donate today and make a global impact for our coastlines.
Our SPANs Partners.
