defining protected areas – implication of revising the iucn categories to protected areas in the...
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Defining protected areas – implication of revising the IUCN categories to protected areas in the United Kingdom
IUCN undertook a long period of consultation to agree revised guidance to its protected area definition and categories
The new edition of the IUCN guidance on protected area categories was published just over a year ago at the World Conservation Congress in Barcelona
• A clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values
IUCN definition
One key change: a new definition
IUCN categories
Categories remain broadly the same but with different interpretations
In particular, Category IV is no longer defined by being a protected area maintained by active management
intervention to a protected area for habitats and species
Canadian Council on Ecological Areas – October 2006
For example, many small, un-managed protected areas have a place in the WDPA, whereas before they did not
Strict nature reserve: strictly protected areas set aside to protect biodiversity and also possibly geological/geomorphological features
Ia
Wilderness area: usually large unmodified or slightly modified areas, retaining their natural character and influence
Ib
National parks: large natural or near natural areas set aside to protect large-scale ecological processes … which also provide … spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational and visitor opportunities
II
Natural monument or feature: set aside to protect a specific natural monument
III
Habitat/species management area: aim to protect particular species or habitats and management reflects this priority
IV
Protected landscape/seascape: area where the interaction of people and nature over time has produced an area of distinct character with significant ecological, biological, cultural and scenic value:
V
Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources: conserve ecosystems and habitats, together with associated cultural values and traditional natural resource management systems
VI
IUCN categories
Governance type
A. Protected areas managed by the government
B. Co-managed protected areas
C. Private protected areas D. Community conserved areas
IUCN category (management objective)
Fed
eral or n
ation
al min
istry or ag
ency in
charg
e
Lo
cal min
istry or ag
ency in
charg
e
Man
agem
ent d
elegated
by th
e go
vernm
ent (e.g
. To
an
NG
O)
Tran
sbo
un
dary p
rotected
area
Co
llabo
rative man
agem
ent (vario
us p
luralist in
fluen
ces)
Co
llabo
rative man
agem
ent (p
luralist m
anag
emen
t bo
ard
Declared
and
run
by p
rivate ind
ividu
al
Declared
and
run
by n
on
-pro
fit org
anisatio
ns
Declared
and
run
by fo
r-pro
fit ind
ividu
als
Declared
and
run
byin
dig
eno
us p
eop
les
Declared
and
run
by lo
cal com
mu
nities
I – Strict nature reserve or wilderness areas
II – Ecosystem protection and recreation
III – Natural monument
IV – Protection of habitats and species
V – Protection of landscapes or seascapes
VI – Protection and sustainable resource use
IUCN sees protected areas being defined by both management objectives (category) and governance type
Information on protected areas, including their category, is loaded onto the World Database on Protected Areas, based at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre in Cambridge
Two questions
Should the UK engage with the new categories and if so how?
What are the implications of the new definition and the revised categories for protected areas in the UK?
Categories
Formal request from Nik Lopoukhine, the chair of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas
Key component of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Programme of Work on Protected Areas
Definition
Questions about the UK’s definition of protected areas were at the heart of the categories debate
Different parts of the government define protected areas in different ways
Rethinking protected area categories and the new paradigm
Management objective Ia Ib II III IV V VI
Scientific research 1 3 2 2 2 2 3
Wilderness protection 2 1 2 3 3 - 2
Preservation of species and genetic diversity 1 2 1 1 1 2 1
Protection of specific natural / cultural features - - 2 1 3 1 3
Tourism and recreation - 2 1 1 3 1 3
Education - - 2 2 2 2 3
Sustainable use of resources from natural ecosystems - 3 3 - 2 2 1
Maintenance of cultural / traditional attributes - - - - - 1 2
Key: 1 Primary objective
2 Secondary objective
3 Potentially applicable objective
- Not applicable
Table: Matrix of management objectives and IUCN protected area management categories
The 1994 guidelines to the IUCN categories were quite specific…
The new definition and principles have switched this around…
Principles….
“For IUCN, only those areas where the main objective is conserving nature can be considered protected areas; this can include many areas with other goals as well, at the same level, but in the case of conflict, nature conservation will be the priority”