Google Earth – new layer for Marine Protected Areas

Article Type: News From: Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, Volume 20, Issue 3

Google Earth Outreach has added a new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) layer, incorporating compelling video streams, photo galleries and stories, and showcasing the network of MPAs around the world. This aims to bring the marine environment to life, and raise awareness of the need to conserve and embrace it.

Also recently launched is the IUCN’s new global web portal – Protect Planet Ocean (www.protectplanetocean.org) which is accessible through the MPA layer in Google Earth (http://earth.google.com/outreach/kml_entry.html#tMarine%20Protected%20Areas). Protect Planet Ocean provides further information about MPAs, marine conservation and the urgent need to strengthen protection for the marine environment, and will be the platform for launching the global Plan of Action to accelerate the process for establishing MPAs. Further details are available at: www.naturalengland.org.uk/press/news2008/071008.htm