Protected Areas

4.1 - Minimum standards

Goal 4.1: To develop and adopt minimum standards and best practices for national and regional protected area systems

Target:

By 2008, standards, criteria, and best practices for planning, selecting, establishing, managing and governance of national and regional systems of protected areas are developed and adopted.


Suggested activities of the Parties

  • 4.1.1 Collaborate with other Parties and relevant organizations, particularly IUCN, on the development, testing, review and promotion of voluntary protected areas standards and best practices on planning and management, governance and participation.

  • 4.1.2 Develop and implement an efficient, long-term monitoring system of the outcomes being achieved through protected area systems in relation to the goals and targets of this work programme.

  • 4.1.3 Draw upon monitoring results to adapt and improve protected area management based on the ecosystem approach.

Suggested supporting activities of the Executive Secretary

  • 4.1.4 In collaboration with the key partners and based upon the best practices promote available guidance for parties minimum standards for planning, selecting, establishing, managing and governance of protected area sites and systems.

  • 4.1.5 Compile information on best practices and case-studies on effective management of protected areas and disseminate it through clearing-house mechanism and facilitate exchange of information.

Key activities include:

  • Collaborate with relevant stakeholders on the development, testing and review of voluntary standards and best practices
  • Monitor the PoWPA outcomes achieved
  • Use monitoring results to adapt and improved protected area management

What are voluntary minimum standards and best practices?

Protected are minimum standard and best practices include the suite of practices associated with protected area design, planning, management and evaluation that are considered to be exemplary of accepted guidelines and principles. These guidelines and principles can help guide protected area staff.

What topics do minimum standards typically cover?

Minimum standards can cover a range of topics and issues, including, for example, the extent of coverage, the type of protected area objectives, the existence and quality of a management plan, staff qualifications, the use of science in planning, and processes for engaging with communities. Minimum standards help protected area agencies by creating consistent expectations for protected area planning, establishment, management and monitoring across an entire system.

What does it mean to monitor the outcomes of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas?

The Programme of Work on Protected Areas is very ambitious – 92 specific actions, many with specific deadlines. However, not all of these actions require specific monitoring. Protected area agencies should focus on a smaller subset of indicators that help them know how they are progressing. These should include indicators that measure whether or not key assessments have been conducted (e.g., an ecological gap assessment, a sustainable finance assessment, a management effectiveness assessment assessment), and that measure what key actions have taken place (e.g., new protected areas created, innovative finance mechanisms developed, management practices improved). The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity has developed a streamlined reporting format to assist countries in monitoring and reporting on progress in implementing the Programme of Work on Protected Areas.



External forum

Protected areas and management

For those interested in protected area management and management planning.

E-learning module

Module 13: Minimum standard

This module covers aspects related to minimum standards for protected areas (PoWPA Goal 4.1).

Record 1 to 24 of 24
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External forum
For those interested in protected area management and management planning.
Themes:3.3 Appropriate technology,3.5 Education and awareness,1.4 Management planning and climate change adaptation,4.1 Minimum standards and best practices,1.5 Protected area threats and restoration,4.2 Management effectiveness assessments,4.3 Monitoring,4.4 Research
5/8/2010
Case study
A case study about Conserving Ecological Processes in the Eastern Himalayas. (5 pages).
Themes:4.1 Minimum standards and best practices
Topics:Conservation planning,Best practices
4/16/2010264 Kb
Report
It's a report about principles and practices for sustainable management of private property. (59 pages).
Themes:4.1 Minimum standards and best practices
Topics:Private protected areas,Sustainable use,Best practices
4/16/20101024 Kb
Comprehensive guide
Guidelines on the Aims, Function and Management of State-Onwed Protected Areas. (51 pages).
Themes:1.4 Management planning and climate change adaptation,4.1 Minimum standards and best practices
Topics:Management planning
4/15/20101024 Kb
Comprehensive guide
This publication is about Key principles for decision-making. (83 pages).
Themes:4.1 Minimum standards and best practices
Topics:Best practices
4/15/20101024 Kb
Short guide
It's a brochure park guards in the conservation of protected areas. (12 pages).
Themes:4.1 Minimum standards and best practices,3.2 Protected area capacity
Topics:Best practices
4/15/20109216 Kb
It's a report about the European network of site management organisations. (124 pages).
Themes:4.1 Minimum standards and best practices
Topics:Best practices
4/14/2010639 Kb
It's a practical guide for non governement organisations. (46 pages). TNC.
Themes:3.1 Enabling policy and legal environment,4.1 Minimum standards and best practices
Topics:Best practices
4/14/2010184 Kb
It's a report on open standards for the practice of conservation
Themes:4.1 Minimum standards and best practices
Topics:Best practices,Conservation planning
4/13/20103072 Kb
Report
It's a report about sustaining ecosystems & livelihoods through integrated fire management. (36 pages).
Themes:1.5 Protected area threats and restoration,1.4 Management planning and climate change adaptation,2.1 Equity and benefit sharing,4.1 Minimum standards and best practices
Topics:Fire,Best practices
4/12/20102048 Kb
It's an article about perspectives on ecosystem-based approaches to the management of marine resources. (35 pages).
Themes:4.1 Minimum standards and best practices
Topics:Marine,Best practices,Sustainable use
4/1/2010244 Kb
Report
This publication is a report of the seminar which took place in Northern Lapland. (78 pages). Published by Metsahallitus.
Themes:1.4 Management planning and climate change adaptation,4.1 Minimum standards and best practices
Topics:Best practices
3/26/20101024 Kb
Report
This publication is about marine protected areas. (55 pages).
Themes:4.1 Minimum standards and best practices
Topics:Marine
3/23/2010413 Kb
Report
Handbook on managing conflicts in protected areas. Published by IUCN.
Themes:2.2 Participation of indigenous and local communities,3.1 Enabling policy and legal environment,4.1 Minimum standards and best practices
Topics:Best practices
3/18/2010272 Kb
Report
It's a report about guidelines for cave and karst protection. (65 pages). Published by IUCN.
Themes:4.1 Minimum standards and best practices
Topics:Best practices
3/18/201010240 Kb
Comprehensive guide
A comprehensive guide on managing sacred natural sites and protected areas. 148 pp. IUCN Best Practices Series.
Themes:4.1 Minimum standards and best practices,3.1 Enabling policy and legal environment
Topics:Best practices,Benefits and values
3/16/201020480 Kb
Comprehensive guide
A comprehensive guide on managing marine protected areas in the Western Indian Ocean. Published by IUCN, 172 pages. 2004.
Themes:4.1 Minimum standards and best practices
Topics:Marine,Management planning,Best practices
2/4/20104096 Kb
Report
it's a report about European models (Italy, Spain, Poland, and Austria). 35 pages.
Themes:4.1 Minimum standards and best practices
Topics:Best practices
9/28/20093072 Kb
Comprehensive guide
A comprehensive 173-page guide to best practices for managing introduced marine pests. Prepared by the Global Invasive species Programme. Hilliard, 2004.
Themes:1.5 Protected area threats and restoration,4.1 Minimum standards and best practices
Topics:Invasive species,Marine
8/2/20092048 Kb
Comprehensive guide
A comprehsensive 240-page guide on invasive alien species, providing a toolkit of best prevention and management practices. Wittenberg and Cock. 2001
Themes:1.5 Protected area threats and restoration,4.1 Minimum standards and best practices
Topics:Invasive species
8/2/20091024 Kb
Comprehensive guide
A guide to best practices in protected area management planning. By ANZECC. 51 pages
Themes:4.1 Minimum standards and best practices,1.4 Management planning and climate change adaptation
Topics:Management planning,Best practices
10/29/2008172 Kb
Short guide
A summary of best management practices for wildlife corridors. Beier et al. 14 pp.
Themes:4.1 Minimum standards and best practices,1.2 Protected area policy and landscape integration
Topics:Connectivity,Other threats
9/27/200880 Kb
Article
A guide on managing buffer zones in developing countries. Author Ebregt, 64 pp
Themes:1.2 Protected area policy and landscape integration,4.1 Minimum standards and best practices
Topics:Connectivity,Landscape conservation
9/27/2008443 Kb