Transcript PROTECTED AREAS WORKSHOP: WHAT PROTECTED AREAS

PROTECTED AREAS WORKSHOP:
WHAT PROTECTED AREAS DO FOR
YOU?
Edinburgh 20th April 2010
Workshop Leader Roger Crofts IUCN
WCPA Emeritus
TWO COMPONENTS
1. Communicating
the
value
and
benefits of protected areas to the
wider world: 1 hour
2. Promoting use in the UK of the IUCN
Guidelines for Applying Protected
Areas Management Categories: 45
minutes
Communicating the value and
benefits of protected areas to the
wider world
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Values
Benefits
Challenges
Winning the argument
Your thoughts
VALUES
Iconic
Aesthetic
Moral & ethical
Spiritual
Nature & natural systems
BENEFITS
 Poverty reduction: water supply, disease
resistance
 Water supply: soil & habitat management
 New food sources: crop wild relatives
 Hazard mitigation: landscape stability &
absorption
 Human health: exercise & refreshment,
traditional medicines & medicinal plants
 Climate change: mitigation sequestration &
adaptation ecosystem function
 Spiritual & sacred link with nature
CHALLENGES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Economic development main driver
Climate change agenda key motivator
Low on political & public agendas
Public resources are limited & shrinking
Continuing urbanisation
HOW TO WIN THE ARGUMENT?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Broader basis: aesthetic, moral, cultural etc?
Better arguments: financial angles etc?
Targeting different audiences?
New language?
Using trained communicators?
Communicating the value and benefits of
protected areas to the wider world
What is your action plan for
IUCN and WCPA in the UK?
APPLYING THE IUCN
MANAGEMENT
CATEGORIES TO THE
UK’S PROTECTED
AREAS FOR
INCLUSION IN THE
WORLD DATA BASE ON
PROTECTED AREAS
Guidelines for
Applying
Protected
Area
Management
Categories
Edited by Nigel
Dudley
THE CATEGORIES
Ia Strict Nature Reserve
Ib Wilderness Area
II National Park
III Natural Monument or Feature
IV Habitat/species Management Area
V Protected landscape or seascape
VI Protected area with sustainable use of
natural resources
WHY APPLY GUIDELINES?
1. WCPA Chair invites all countries to do so
2. WCPA Chair considers UK lags behind in
quality of protected areas reporting
3. Only few UK protected areas types
included: Category IV NNRs & MNRs,
Category V NPs, AONBs, & NSAs
4. No Category Ia, II, III or VI in the UK
5. SSSIs/ASSSIs, Natura sites, WHSs,
LNRs, NGO reserves etc not included
THE BENEFITS
More comprehensive data
Demonstrate the variety of types &
governance systems
Improve reporting to CBD and EU
Reveal potential for connectivity
Raise profile of protected areas
Introduce IUCN & WCPA to new
audiences
THE TASKS
1. Review potential protected areas against
IUCN guidelines
2. Assign IUCN Category to those places
recognised as protected areas
3. Report information to UNEP/WCMC &
IUCN
4. Use the results to promote protected
areas
REVIEW PROCESS
Task Force: volunteers wanted
Project Co-ordinator: offers of help needed
Twelve months duration
Funding need c£30,000: half raised to
date
YOUR ROLE?
Your personally and your organisation?
Provide data on protected areas
Undertaking pilot studies
Undertake assessments applying
guidelines criteria
Provide staff time
Provide financial resources
INTERPRETING ‘NATURE’ IN A UK
CONTEXT
“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”.
Nature always refers to biodiversity, at genetic, species
and ecosystem levels, and often also refers to
geodiversity, landform and broader natural values.
HOW DO WE INTERPRET ‘NATURE’?
Is it solely natural?
Should it include human modified habitats?
Should it include cultural landscapes and
features?
What protected areas can do for you
Effective protected areas systems, contributing benefits to
wider natural and human worlds
A perpetual activity to achieve recognition of role & benefits
of protected areas