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

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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”