Governments and conservation NGOs celebrated the passing of a resolution to create the world’s most ambitious marine sanctuary.

Cleverly-named “Macronesia,” the area in the northeastern Atlantic would protect 32 species of whales and dolphins, making it one of the most significant migratory routes on Earth.

The announcement followed a resolution made at the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) World Conservation Congress which took place last month. IUCN is the world’s leading international agency for the purposes of conservation—a sort of NATO or UN for protecting species and landscapes.

The resolution passed with 96.5% of all possible votes, establishing the framework for the Macaronesia Sanctuary, consisting of the waters surrounding the Azores, Cape Verde, the Can

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