TKI Faculty Profile | Marjo Vierros

Biography

Dr. Marjo Vierros is an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS). In this capacity, she is developing an oceans-related programme for UNU-IAS with a focus on oceans governance and marine biocultural diversity. Her research interests include the way in which traditional and local knowledge and management systems contribute to human and ecosystem resilience, as well as in bridging the scales between local and global ocean management.

Marjo is a Finnish national and has degrees in marine biology and oceanography. She has previously coordinated all issues related to marine and coastal biodiversity at the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and held positions in research, conservation and United Nations organizations in several countries, including at the UNEP Regional Seas Programme in the Wider Caribbean, and institutions in Bermuda, Belize and the Pacific. Her work has incorporated tropical marine ecology, the identification of conservation priority areas, and ocean and coastal management and policy. She is a member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA); the IUCN Marine Specialist Group of the CEESP Theme on Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities, Equity and Protected Areas; the Steering Committee of the Global Forum on Oceans Coasts and Islands; and the Science Board of the Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative (GOBI).
 

Publications

A recent selection of publications related to traditional knowledge available online include:

Peer-reviewed Papers:

• Rice, J., Gjerde, K., Ardron, J., Arico, S. Cresswell, I., Escobar, E., Grant, S. and Vierros, M. (2011) Policy relevance of biogeographic classification for conservation and management of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. Ocean and Coastal Management 54: 110-122
• D. Leary, M. Vierros, G. Hamon, S. Arico and C. Monagle (2009) Marine Genetic Resources: A review of scientific and commercial interest. Marine Policy 33: 183– 194
• Vierros, M. (2006) The Convention on Biological Diversity in oceans and coasts: Moving from policy to implementation. Sustainable Development Law & Policy. Fall 2006, pp 17-20
• Marszalek, M. and M. Vierros (2006) Status and trends of marine protected areas in island countries. Insula- International Journal of Island Affairs. Year 15, No. 1, pp. 47-59
• T.J.T. Murdoch, A.F. Glasspool, M. Outerbridge, J. Ward, S. Manuel, J. Gray, A. Nash, K. A. Coates, J. Pitt, J.W. Fourqurean, P.A. Barnes, M. Vierros, K. Holzer and S.R. Smith (2007) Large-scale decline in offshore seagrass meadows in Bermuda. Marine Ecology Progress Series. Vol. 339: 123–130
• Vierros, M. and C. Salpin (2005) Evaluating and enhancing the implementation of the marine and coastal programme of work of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Ocean Yearbook, Vol. 19. University of Chicago Press.

Peer-reviewed Books and Book Chapters:

• Vierros, M., McDonald, A. and Arico, S. (2012) Oceans and Sustainability: The governance of marine areas beyond national jurisdiction. Chapter 11 in: Green Economy and Good Governance for Sustainable Development: Opportunities, Promises and Concerns, Puppim de Oliveira, Jose A. (Ed.). Tokyo: UNU Press.
• Vierros, M. (2012) Relevance of satoumi to the CBD mandate. In: United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies Operating Unit Ishikawa/Kanazawa (2011). Biological and Cultural Diversity in Coastal Communities, Exploring the Potential of Satoumi for Implementing the Ecosystem Approach in the Japanese Archipelago. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Montreal, Technical Series no. 61
• Vierros, M., Cicin-Sain, B., Arico, S. and Lefebvre, C. (2011) Preserving Life: Halting Marine Biodiversity Loss and Establishing Networks of Marine Protected Areas in 2010 and Beyond. In: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Insecurity – A Planet in Peril, edited by Ahmed Djoghlaf and Felix Dodds, published by Earthscan.
• Vierros, M. (2008) The ecosystem approach of the Convention on Biological Diversity. In: The Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries. G. Bianchi and H.R. Skjoldal, Eds. FAO, Rome. pp: 39-46
• Pauly, D., J. Alder, A. Bakun, K. Freire, S. Heileman, K. H. Kock, P. Mace, W. Perrin, Y. Sadovy, K. Stergiou, U. R. Sumaila and M. Vierros. (2006) Chapter 18: Marine Fisheries Systems. In Conditions and Trends Assessment Volume of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Island Press: Washington, D. C. 
   

Other Publications (Articles, Conference Proceedings, Policy Briefs, etc):

• Vierros, M, Tawake, A., Hickey, F., Tiraa, A. and Noa, R. (2010). Traditional Marine Management Areas of the Pacific in the Context of National and International Law and Policy. Darwin, Australia: United Nations University – Traditional Knowledge Initiative. ISBN: 978-0-9807084-6-2 (print), 978-0-9807084-7-9 (pdf).
• Prip, C; Gross, T; Johnston, S; Vierros, M (2010). Biodiversity Planning: an assessment of national biodiversity strategies and action plans. United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies, Yokohama, Japan.
• K Galloway McLean, A Ramos-Castillo, T Gross, S Johnston, M Vierros, R Noa (2009). Indigenous Peoples’ Global Summit on Climate Change. Report of the Indigenous Peoples' Global Summit on Climate Change, 20-24 April 2009, Anchorage, Alaska. ISBN: 978-0-9807084-2-4
• CBD (2012) Identifying Specific Elements for Integrating the Traditional, Scientific, Technical and Technological Knowledge of Indigenous and Local Communities, and Social and Cultural Criteria and Other Aspects for the Application of Scientific Criteria for Identification of Ecologically or Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAS) As Well As the Establishment And Management of Marine Protected Areas. Information document UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/16/INF/10 at the Sixteenth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice. Montreal, Canada 30 April–5 May 2012. Written by Marjo Vierros
• UNESCO (2009) Global Open Oceans and Deep Seabed (GOODS) – Biogeographic Classification. Paris, UNESCO-IOC. (IOC Technical Series, 84.). Edited by M. Vierros, I. Cresswell, E. Escobar-Briones, J. Rice and J. Ardron.
• Vierros, M., F. Douvere and S. Arico (2006) Implementing the ecosystem approach in open ocean and deep sea environments. A United Nations University – Institute of Advanced Studies report
   

Further information

• UNU Faculty Profile