Putting Nature on the Map

IDENTIFYING PROTECTED AREAS IN THE UK

Adrian Phillips

This short talk uses lots of boring text but it’s about

these kind of places …..

… and this kind of wildlife

*Source: UNEP/IUCN World Database on Protected Areas - October 2010

12.9% of terrestrial area protected (excluding

Antarctica) *

Protected areas*

1962 1,0002010

>160,000

Global extent of protected areas

Why do we have categories of protected areas?

There are many thousands of protected areas world wide

Managed for many different purposes, by many different bodies

National names do not informGreater clarity needed for international

understanding, standards of management, data collection, national legislation etc.

IUCN/WCPA categories guidance: 1978, 1994 and 2008

Data held at UNEP/WCMC

Ia: Strict nature reserve: mainly for science or wilderness protection Ia

Ib: Wilderness area: mainly for wilderness protection Ib

II: National park: mainly for ecosystem protection and recreation II

III: Natural monument: mainly for conservation of specific natural features III

IV: Habitat / species management area: mainly for conservation of species and habitat

IV

V: Protected landscape / seascape: mainly for landscape/seascape conservation or recreation

V

VI: Managed resource protected area: mainly for the sustainable use of natural resources

VI

IUCN’s 6 management categories (introduced 1994)

The 2008 IUCN guidelinesBasic principles upheld:

An internationally agreed definition of a 'protected area’

Protected areas categorised by management objective6 management categories as before

Added ideas:Sharper PA definition, priority for nature conservation4 Governance types (government, mixed, private,

community)More examples, more explanation

The current position in the UK

Most data collected by JNCC from country agencies using 1994 guidance

But:Data based on out-of-date guidanceNo critical review of data accuracyOnly two categories used Many potential sites excluded

So we have an incomplete and inaccurate picture of which areas meet international standards

PS – comments by John Lawton

Why it mattersEstablishing what areas meet international standards for

protection will help:

Meet our CBD, EU etc. obligations

Strengthen nature conservation nationally, in country and locally

Raise the public profile of nature and landscape protection

Provide better information for planning of all kinds

Provide good data for public engagement in conservation

Show where action is needed to improve management standards

Attract tourists seeking nature and landscape

Showcase UK expertise

Putting Nature on the Map

A project to apply the new 2008 guidance in the UKSpecifically requested by IUCN/WCPAUndertaken by the IUCN National Committee for UKWith assistance from MiddlemarchAnd support from agencies, NGOs etc. Phase 1: developing advice on how to interpret IUCN

guidance in UK contextProgress to date – consultations, stakeholder

meetings, workshopsPhase 1 is complete with publication of the Handbook

The PNOTM Handbook

Download it from:

http://www.iucn-uk.org/

The PNOTM Handbook What it does: interprets “IUCN’s international

guidelines on the definition of a protected area, and its management categories and governance types, in the UK context”

How it does it: through examples and keys; and by ‘short cuts’ developed at workshops

Where it innovates: Statements of Compliance; IUCN/WCPA UK Categories Assessment Panel

The assignment process recommended by Handbook

First identify all potential protected areas

1) Does this area meet IUCN PA definition?

no

yes

2) To which management category should it be assigned? (1 of 6 categories)

3) To which governance type should it be assigned ? (1 of 4 types)

Then ask these questions:

As it will be As it is

Protected areas data flow and verification

Agency data

providersJNCC

EEA

UNEP/WCMC :WDPA

NB: data is incomplete and unverified

Official sites national

data

Convention Secretariats etc.

Official sites

national data

International sites data

Other protected areas data

Agency data

providersreview by IUCN/WCPA Assessment

PanelJNC

CEEA

UNEP/WCMC : WDPA (Authority and Community data)

Convention Secretariats

etc.

NB: all data is complete and verified

Site data providers

Site data providers

NGO etc. data

providers

International sites data

PNOTM: Phase 2 - or what next? Phase 2 is about data collectionData providers (agencies, NGOs etc) should

review their protected areas using HandbookAnd provide Statements of Compliance, plus

updated PA data, to IUCN/WCPA Assessment Panel in first place

Aim: to have an up-to-date, accurate list at WCMC of all UK protected areas which meet IUCN standards in time for World Parks Congress 2014