Transcript Geoff Vincent

Evaluating Management Effectiveness:
Maintaining
Protected Areas
for Now and the Future
Workshop Plenary
Format of Proceedings
1.
2.
3.
4.
Workshop report
Panel response
Plenary Discussion
Contributions from the workshop to
WPC outputs:
• Durban accord
• Message to CBD
• Recommendations 18 & 19
5. Close
Workshop Report
Geoff Vincent
Parks Victoria, Australia
Overview
•13 workshops in 20 sessions
•Nearly 1200 participants
•Comprehensive examination of
contemporary work on MEE
•Demonstration of widespread development
and application of MEE globally
Workshop Themes
1. Evaluation systems and processes
2. Indicators
3. Threats
4. Work in Progress
Key Messages
Theme: Evaluation systems and processes
• Evaluations being conducted widely
• Ecological integrity emerging as necessary
concept for MEE
• Monitoring and reporting, indicator development,
public awareness under-emphasized
• Capacity issues
Key messages
Theme: Indicators
•Plethora of frameworks
•Need to improve information sharing and
monitoring for management actions
•Perspectives of indigenous and local
communities
•Challenges in developing social, cultural and
ecological indicators
Key Messages
Theme: Threats
•Increasingly complex (e.g. climate change,
invasives, unsustainable harvesting)
•Need to raise public awareness
• Ecosystem Approach and science basis for
actions
•Local and traditional knowledge
•Need for minimum standards
•Capacity issues
Key Messages
Theme: Work in Progress
•Amalgamation of frameworks (e.g.
simplification)
•Need for common language
• Generate public support and ownership
•Incorporate new science
•WCPA to investigate options for
verification of Pas
•Integration of resilience options into PA
management plans, assessment and
restoration (eg climate change)
Common Threads
•Establish clear goals, objectives and
purposes for MEE at all levels
•Vertical integration of MEE in planning and
business processes
•Strong alignment between systems and
synergy with management cycles
•Use and apply best practice principles
•Seek out and employ simple, easily
measured and understood indicators
Common Threads
• Optimise utility of evaluation data through
standardised collection, storage and
management
• Optimise benefits of investment to date by
making best use of existing Management
Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) systems
• Engage local and indigenous
communities in MEE
• Build capacity by applying current
knowledge – don’t wait for the perfect
system
Major and Emerging Issues
•Threats are becoming more complex
•Improve use of science in the management of
protected areas
•Local community needs and perspectives need
to be integrated in goals and objectives
•Assessments need to be more rigorous
•Communities, stakeholders and local staff need
to be involved in design, conduct and
communication of results
Major and Emerging Issues
• Ensuring that differences between NGO and
Government agency agendas doesn’t lead to a
fracturing of approaches
• Raise awareness of the utility of new tools such
as Ecological integrity evaluations for
management effectiveness
• Move from development of methodologies to
implementation at sites
• Transparent reporting
Key Workshop Outcomes
• Widespread recognition of MEE as an
essential component of effective PA
management
• Strong commitment to action from all
sectors to move from systems development
to implementation
• Commitment to work together to harmonise
and move forward rather than compete
• Recognition of the benefits of a diversity of
methods
• Results used to improve management actions
Where to from here?
Panel
• Mavuso Msimang CEO South African National Parks
• Marija Zupancic-Vicar, Senior Advisor -, WCPA
• Leonardo Lacerda,
WWF International
• Nik Lopoukhine, Director General, National Parks
DirectorateParks Canada
• Pedro Rosabal, Protected Areas Program, IUCN
• Geoff Vincent, Deputy CEO Parks Victoria, Australia