Parks - IUCN Protected Area Categories
The definition of a protected area adopted by The World Conservation
Union (IUCN) is:
- An area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection
and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated
cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means
Although all protected areas meet the general purposes contained in this
definition, in practice the precise purposes for which protected areas
are managed differ greatly. The following are the main purposes of
management:
- Scientific research
- Wilderness protection
- Preservation of species and genetic diversity
- Maintenance of environmental services
- Protection of specific natural and cultural features
- Tourism and recreation
- Education
- Sustainable use of resources from natural ecosystems
- Maintenance of cultural and traditional attributes
Categories of Protected Area
IUCN has defined a series of protected area management categories based
on management objective. Definitions of these categories, and examples
of each, are provided in Guidelines for Protected Area Management
Categories (IUCN, 1994). The six categories are:
CATEGORY Ia: Strict Nature Reserve: protected area managed
mainly for science
Definition: Area of land and/or sea possessing some
outstanding or representative ecosystems, geological or physiological
features and/or species, available primarily for scientific research
and/or environmental monitoring.
CATEGORY Ib : Wilderness Area: protected area managed mainly
for wilderness protection
Definition:Large area of unmodified or slightly modified
land, and/or sea, retaining its natural character and influence,
without permanent or significant habitation, which is protected and
managed so as to preserve its natural condition.
CATEGORY II : National Park: protected area managed mainly
for ecosystem protection and recreation
Definition:Natural area of land and/or sea, designated
to (a) protect the ecological integrity of one or more ecosystems
for present and future generations, (b) exclude exploitation or
occupation inimical to the purposes of designation of the area
and (c) provide a foundation for spiritual, scientific, educational,
recreational and visitor opportunities, all of which must be
environmentally and culturally compatible.
CATEGORY III : Natural Monument: protected area managed mainly
for conservation of specific natural features
Definition: Area containing one, or more, specific
natural or natural/cultural feature which is of outstanding or unique
value because of its inherent rarity, representative or aesthetic
qualities or cultural significance.
CATEGORY IV : Habitat/Species Management Area: protected
area managed mainly for conservation through management intervention
Definition:Area of land and/or sea subject to active
intervention for management purposes so as to ensure the maintenance
of habitats and/or to meet the requirements of specific species.
CATEGORY V : Protected Landscape/Seascape: protected
area managed mainly for landscape/seascape conservation and recreation
Definition: Area of land, with coast and sea as
appropriate, where the interaction of people and nature over time has
produced an area of distinct character with significant aesthetic,
ecological and/or cultural value, and often with high biological
diversity. Safeguarding the integrity of this traditional interaction
is vital to the protection, maintenance and evolution of such an area.
CATEGORY VI : Managed Resource Protected Area: protected area
managed mainly for the sustainable use of natural ecosystems
Definition: Area containing predominantly unmodified natural
systems, managed to ensure long term protection and maintenance of
biological diversity, while providing at the same time a sustainable
flow of natural products and services to meet community needs.
Where the site does not meet the internationally recognised
definition of a protected area, application of a management category
is not appropriate. This is indicated as category unassigned
(UA) in WCMC protected area lists.
National protected area systems
At the national level, a variety of designations is used, and will
continue to be used. Because of this, it is inevitable that the same
designation may mean different things in different countries; and
different designations in different countries may be used to describe
the same category of protected area. This is one of the key reasons
for defining and using at the international level a system of categories
identified by management objectives in a system which does not depend
on titles. This category system is intended to operate in the same way
in all countries so as to facilitate the collection and handling of
comparable data, and to improve communication between countries.
Regional Variation
The conditions for the establishment and management of protected areas
vary greatly from region to region, and from country to country. For
example, regions like Europe with long-settled, long-managed landscapes
in multiple ownership are not, on the whole, as suited to the
establishment of Category II areas - but on the other hand, their
circumstances are more conducive to the establishment of Category IV
and V areas. IUCN does not favour different standards being used in
the application of these categories in different parts of the world,
as this would counter the value of having a defined standard.
However, the flexibility which is inherent in these guidelines should
help in their application to the conditions in different regions and
countries
Size of Protected Areas
The size of an area should reflect the extent of land or water needed
to accomplish the purposes of management. For example, for a Category
I area, the size should be that needed to ensure the integrity of the
area to accomplish the management objective of strict protection,
either as a baseline area or research site, or for wilderness
protection. For a Category II area, the boundaries should be drawn
sufficiently widely that they contain one, or more, entire ecosystems
which are not subject to material modification by human exploitation
or occupation.
Zoning within Protected Areas
Though the primary purposes of management will determine the category
to which an area is assigned, management plans will often contain
management zones for a variety of purposes which take account of local
conditions. However, in order to establish the appropriate category,
at least three-quarters and preferably more of the area must be
managed for the primary purpose; and the management of the remaining
area must not be in conflict with that primary purpose. Cases where
parts of a single management unit are classified by law as having
different management objectives are discussed under the heading of
multiple classifications.
Multiple Classifications
Protected areas of different categories are often contiguous;
sometimes one category 'nests' within another. Thus many Category V
areas contain within them Category I and IV areas; some will adjoin
Category II areas. Again, some Category II areas contain Category Ia
and Ib areas. This is entirely consistent with the application of the
system, providing such areas are identified separately for accounting
and reporting purposes. Although there are obvious benefits in
having the entire area within the responsibility of one management
authority, this may not always be appropriate; in such cases, close
cooperation between authorities will be essential.
Management Responsibility
Governments have a fundamental responsibility for the existence and
well being of national systems of protected areas. They should
regard such areas as important components of national strategies for
conservation and sustainable development. However, the actual
responsibility for management of individual protected areas may rest
with central, regional or local government, non governmental
organisations, the private sector or the local community. The test
is whether the designated authority is capable of achieving the
management objectives. In practice, protected area Categories I-III
will usually be the responsibility of some form of governmental body,
while responsibility for categories IV and V may rest with local
administrations, albeit usually working within the framework of
national legislation.
Ownership of Land
As with the question of the managing authority, the key test is
whether the type of ownership is compatible with the achievement
of the management objectives. In many countries ownership by some
form of public body (whether nationally or locally based), or an
appropriately constituted non-governmental body with conservation
objectives, facilitates management and is therefore to be favoured
in Categories I-III in particular. However, this is not universally
true, and - in the remaining categories - private ownership will
be much more common, often being the predominant form of land
ownership.
Local communities
Whatever the ownership, experience shows that the success of management
depends greatly on the good will and support of local communities.
In such cases, the managing authority will need to have good
consultative and communications systems, and effective mechanisms
which may include incentives, to secure compliance with management
objectives.
Areas around Protected Areas
Protected areas are not isolated units. Ecologically, economically,
politically and culturally, they are linked to the areas around them.
For that reason, the planning and management of protected areas must
be incorporated within regional planning, and supported by the policies
adopted for wider areas. For the purposes of the application of the
categories system, however, where one area is used to 'buffer' or
surround another, both their categories should be separately identified
and recorded.
The information given above is extracted from:
IUCN (1994). Guidelines for Protected Areas Management Categories.
IUCN, Cambridge, UK and Gland, Switzerland. 261pp.
On-line source:
WCMC Protected Areas Virtual Library
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