Engage policymakers to make policy changes beneficial to marine and freshwater mammals

Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 1
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

75%
Certainty

25%
Harms

0%

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Engaging with and raising awareness amongst policymakers about specific threats to marine and freshwater mammals, and the need for conservation, may result in improved legal protection of mammals and their habitats.

Study locations

Key messages

One study evaluated the effects of engaging policymakers to make changes beneficial to marine and freshwater mammals. The study was in the Catazajá wetlands (Mexico).

COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES)

POPULATION RESPONSE (0 STUDIES)

BEHAVIOUR (1 STUDY)

Change in human behaviour (1 study): One study in the Catazajá wetlands reported that engaging policymakers resulted in the designation of a protected area for West Indian manatees.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A study in 2001–2008 in the Catazajá wetlands, northeast Chiapas, Mexico (Rodas-Trejo et al. 2008) reported that engaging policymakers in West Indian manatee Trichechus manatus manatus conservation resulted in the designation of a protected area. Policymakers were engaged in manatee conservation over a seven-year period in 2001–2007. In November 2006, wetlands (41,000 ha) used by West Indian manatees were designated as a protected area by local and regional governments. In February 2008, the area was designated as an internationally important site. In 2001–2007, local government officials, fishers and students were informed about the value of conserving manatees and their habitats. A total of 4,540 participants attended 23 workshops and 80 public talks. Publications on manatee conservation (four posters, five videos, two leaflets, one booklet) were distributed to community government officials and local schools. Local community members assisted researchers in recording manatee sightings and rescuing stranded manatees.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Rodas-Trejo J., Romero-Berny E.I. & Estrada A. (2008) Distribution and conservation of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) in the Catazaja wetlands of northeast Chiapas, Mexico. Tropical Conservation Science, 1, 321-333.

Please cite as:

Berthinussen, A., Smith, R.K. and Sutherland, W.J. (2021) Marine and Freshwater Mammal Conservation: Global Evidence for the Effects of Interventions. Conservation Evidence Series Synopses. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

All the journals searched for all synopses

This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Marine and Freshwater Mammal Conservation

Related Actions

Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
Involve local communities in marine and freshwater mammal conservation projects Action Link	No evidence found (no assessment)	0	Synopsis Link
Educate the public to improve behaviour towards marine and freshwater mammals Action Link	Likely to be beneficial	3	Synopsis Link
Engage policymakers to make policy changes beneficial to marine and freshwater mammals Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	1	Synopsis Link