Across the world’s coastlines, waves are bringing people together in unexpected ways. What once began as local efforts to protect beloved surf breaks has grown into a global movement connecting communities, conservation practitioners, researchers, and policymakers working to safeguard the ecosystems that make surfing possible.

Surf ecosystems are far more than recreational spaces. They are defined as the interface between land and sea that creates the conditions for the formation of waves suitable for surfing, as well as for the flora, fauna, and human communities that depend on it (see STW website). They are dynamic coastal systems that support biodiversity, sustain local economies, and shape the cultural identity of coastal communities. Protecting them means protecting not only waves, but also the people, livelihoods, and ecosystems that depend on them.

Over the past year, members of the project have had the privilege of participating in several gatherings that reflect how this movement is evolving across different scales and contexts. What stood out in each of them was the same underlying reality: surf ecosystem conservation is no longer happening in isolation. Across regions, practitioners, communities, researchers, and decision-makers are increasingly connecting their efforts, exchanging lessons, and building a shared agenda for protecting surf ecosystems.

In October 2025, the Save The Waves Coalition Summit in California brought together practitioners and surf conservation leaders from across the world. The gathering created a rare opportunity for people working in different regions to share their experiences, reflect on challenges, and collectively shape strategies for protecting surf ecosystems. Just as importantly, it served as a moment of inspiration, reminding everyone involved that they are part of a growing community working toward a shared goal.

At a more local and regional level, the IV Regenerative Surf Congress held in Peru in November 2025 offered a different perspective on the role surfing can play in society. The event connected surf conservation with initiatives such as surf therapy, coastal regeneration, and community-based projects. It highlighted how surfing can empower local leaders, increase community well-being, strengthen local economies, and inspire increased ocean stewardship.

Then, in February 2026, the World Surf Conservation Congress in Australia provided an international-level platform where leaders, researchers, authorities, and conservation organizations shared their experiences and explored emerging strategies. The discussions reflected an important shift: surf ecosystem conservation is increasingly being integrated into broader conversations around coastal governance, biodiversity protection, and sustainable ocean economies.

Taken together, these spaces reveal something powerful. Around the world, people are joining the movement and experimenting with new ways to protect surf ecosystems—from legal frameworks and marine spatial planning to community stewardship and innovative financing mechanisms. As these efforts expand, the need to exchange knowledge and learn from one another becomes increasingly important.

This is precisely the motivation behind the Guidelines and Best Practices for Surf Ecosystem Conservation, developed through the GEF-funded project Expanding Blue Economy Benefits and Conservation of Critical Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services through Surf Ecosystem Management.

The guide compiles lessons, strategies, and case studies from surf ecosystem conservation initiatives around the world. Rather than presenting a single model, it offers a diverse set of approaches that practitioners, governments, and communities can adapt to their own contexts, from mapping surf ecosystems and identifying threats to strengthening legal protection, engaging stakeholders, and supporting sustainable coastal economies.

In many ways, the guide reflects the conversations happening across the surf conservation community. The exchanges taking place in conferences, workshops, and day-to-day collaborations highlight both the growing interest in surf ecosystem protection and the importance of having practical tools to support it.

As the movement grows, one thing becomes increasingly clear: protecting surf ecosystems requires collaboration across regions, disciplines, and sectors. By sharing knowledge and practical tools, initiatives like the Best Practices guide help transform individual experiences into collective action—strengthening the global effort to safeguard waves, ecosystems, and the coastal communities that depend on them.

The project aims to demonstrate the critical role that the effective management of marine and coastal ecosystems surrounding the surf breaks can play in protecting biodiversity and ecosystem function, and in generating blue economy benefits that will motivate further ecosystem conservation. The project will collaborate with government and communities to develop the tools and capacity to effectively manage surf ecosystems, support blue economy activities and benefits linked to surf ecosystem management, and share best-practice guidelines and effective approaches for the protection and management of surf ecosystems and building a blue economy. The project is being implemented in Costa Rica, Panama and Peru. 

For more information about the project, please contact Christian Lavoie: clavoie@conservation.org and/or cbutrich@spda.org.pe and visit https://ecosistemasdesurf.net/

Words by Carolina Butrich.