WPC / WCPA Steering Committee WCPA Information Management Task Force Durban, South Africa October 28 – November 1, 2002

Agenda The WDPA Consortium process: Background and status WDPA core database architecture A vision for the World Database on Protected Areas Present state of the WDPA The WDPA Review process by WCPA members The WCPA Collaboration Portal

WDPA Review and Users Need Assessment, August 2001

Recommendation # 2 This review recommends that the existing Project Steering Group be maintained and expanded, and that a meeting be held to progress planning as early in 2002 as funding can be found. [p.28]

MEMORANDUM To:Stuart Chape, Head, Protected Areas Program, WCMC/UNEP, Cambridge From:Kenton Miller, Chair, WCPA Date:June 25, 2002 Cc:David Sheppard, Pedro Rosabal, Ishwaran Natarajan, Achim Steiner Subject:Building the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) On behalf of the members of IUCN and WCPA listed below I would like to share with you the results of our meeting at WRI on June 18 th. Attached please find a draft brief from that session. It goes without saying that the purpose of our meeting, as with previous such gatherings of this group, is to further organize our goals and means for cooperating with WCMC to build the WDPA. We would like to work together as a consortium, the principles for which are outlined in the attached. The process we propose is based on a decentralized, bottom-up model for data gathering, evaluation, and quality control. [snip]

Current Partners in the WDPA Consortium Birdlife International (BI) Conservation International (CI) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (endorsement) The Nature Conservancy (TNC) UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre World Commission on Protected Areas World Resources Institute WWF

To: Members of the Consortium for the World Database of Protected Areas 8 October 2002 Dear Colleagues World Database on Protected Areas I am greatly encouraged by the progress that we have made together over the past months to consolidate the development of the World Database on Protected Areas as a consortium-led activity. The Centre’s staff and UNEP itself are fully committed to taking forward the WDPA consortium – as you know we have the full support of the Executive Director, Klaus Töpfer, and his interactions with the IUCN Director General, Achim Steiner, have been most positive. The Centre is fully committed to the consortium principles, including the placing of data in the public domain. As custodians of the WDPA core database, we carry important responsibilities and a duty of care towards both data providers and data users. We will seek to maximise accessibility while at the same time ensuring that the rights of data providers are fully understood and protected, and that the integrity of database versions is maintained. I am sure that the consortium can build on the excellent progress made so far to address goals common to our various institutions. Let us look towards jointly delivering to the world community the best possible information resource on protected areas whilst continuing to create improvements and wider ownership of the information content and process. I very much hope that the visit by technical staff from the Centre to Washington later this week will prove another constructive stage in the process, and I should like to thank you all for your support in establishing this opportunity. With kind regards Yours sincerely Mark Collins MA MBA PhD Director UNEP-WCMC

“DATA FEST 2002” Protected Areas Data Collectivization October At CABS GIS Laboratory Conservation International 1919 M St. NW, Suite 600, Washington DC (202)

Recommendation #1 Adoption and application of the proposed Vision, Goals, Objectives, Working Principles, and the information system architecture described and illustrated in: A Survey of Protected Area Information Needs with Recommendations for Future Development (presented to the WCPA Steering Committee in December, 2001) [SEE BELOW] [“Recommendation 1-This review recommends that the proposed Vision, Goals, Objectives, Working Principles, and the information system architecture described and illustrated on pp above for the World Database on Protected Areas and Protected Areas Network be accepted by UNEP-WCMC and WCPA.” p.28]

Vision A widely available, accurate and up-to- date World Database on Protected Areas that is accepted as a world standard by all stakeholders, providing the essential link to information from multiple sources on protected areas.

Goals Readily available information on protected areas to support assessment, decision-making and development of policy at national and international levels. A core database on protected areas that is internationally recognized, complete, current and managed to acceptable international standards. Improved access to information on protected areas that is already available on the Internet, and gradual increase in the information available. Improved use of information and sharing of experience by protected area professionals, resulting inter alia from increased use of the Internet.

Objectives To provide, as a global resource, the World Database on Protected Areas, which is: an accepted world standard, comprising a defined core dataset of known quality (accuracy and currency), with data from identified sources; publicly accessible, in formats useful to a wide range of potential users; and developed collaboratively with protected area agencies and other appropriate organisations.

Objectives (cont.) To facilitate integrated access to all information on individual protected areas and protected area systems on the Internet, through: provision of a core dataset to which all other information can be linked; development and testing of web-based tools that allow linking of other information to the core dataset; development and testing of tools and products that facilitate access to the core database and linked information; and promotion of the World Database on Protected Areas and the benefits that will accrue from using it as a world standard.

Objectives (cont.) To promote the use of the Internet to increase access to information on protected areas, by: encouraging protected area managers and system managers to make information available on the Internet; fostering a coordinated approach to delivery of information services that naturally leads to a distributed information system on the worlds protected area systems.

Working Principles 1. The core dataset to be a publicly and freely available resource, managed in accordance with defined quality control and metadata standards. 2. Further datasets linked to the core database to remain the property of those who have developed them (and who remain responsible for quality control and metadata provision). 3. To work towards the avoidance of duplication, ensuring synergy, and ensuring reduced pressure on national governments and others to provide information.

Working Principles (cont.) 4. Moves to be made towards a distributed approach to data management, through development of incentives and guidelines for contributors, and appropriate recognition of sources. 5. All new approaches to database development and delivery to be pilot tested with collaborators before full implementation to ensure feasibility and that the result meets user requirements. 6. A monitoring and evaluation program to be implemented, incorporating indicators of usage and success, and the solicitation of feedback.

Working Principles (cont.) 7. The development and delivery of the World Database on Protected Areas and the associated information services to be integrated with the WCPA strategic plan, the associated work of the IUCN Program on Protected Areas, and the work of other international agreements, programmes and organizations that relate to protected areas. 8. The database should be designed to deal with conflicting information so as to indicate the most credible source. For an objective analysis, an Oversight Technical Committee, comprising key members of WCPA and other key partners institutions, should be instituted to provide quality control.

Working Principles (cont.) 9. The planning and development of an upgraded World Database on Protected Areas should be an inclusive process that can promote new partnerships with key institutions dealing with PA issues. This should also include partnerships with other IUCN Commissions and Programmes, giving particular attention to develop linkages with the SSC Species Information System initiative. 10.The World Database on Protected Areas should be promoted as the authoritative standard for global conventions, particularly CBD, WHC, CMS, and Ramsar. This should be promoted as one of the targets to achieve during the World Parks Congress.

Recommendation # 2 This review recommends that the existing Project Steering Group be maintained and expanded, and that a meeting be held to progress planning as early in 2002 as funding can be found. [p.28]

Recommendation #3 This review recommends that possibilities for the development of related modules be explored with potential partners prior to any future meeting of the Project Steering Group. [p.28]

Recommendation #4 This review recommends that WCPA utilize the World Parks Congress in 2003 as an opportunity to promote and develop the new protected area information system. [p.29]

Recommendation #5 Practical proposals for increasing the involvement of WCPA members need to be discussed by WCPA Steering Committee and included in any future project proposal for increased funding for the World Database on Protected Areas. [p.29]

Recommendation #6 An interactive capability should be added to the WCPA website well prior to the World Parks Congress as a mechanism to get WCPA members input to the Congress. It could be used to stimulate contributions of protected area information to the updated World Database on Protected Areas, which could be “unveiled” at the Congress. [p.29]

WDPA core database architecture

National protected areas sites and systems Internationally recognized and designated sites Other designated areas CORE DATASET Protected areas

CORE DATASET: Country / Site Country  Protected area designations  Protected area agencies  Contact details for agencies Site  Country (and/or other geopolitical unit)  National designation  IUCN Management Category  Area (hectares)  Area which is marine (hectares)  Year established  Geographic location (latitude/longitude)  Boundary file (at 1:1 million)  Relationship with other sites From Hegerl, et al. p.23

CORE DATASET: “International site” Country (and/or other geopolitical unit) Convention or programme Criteria (as appropriate) Area (hectares) Area which is marine (hectares) Year established Geographic location (latitude/longitude) Relationship to other sites Boundary file (at 1:1 million) From Hegerl, et al. p.23

CORE DATASET: Historic data A forward provision to record change in key information, in particular: Designation IUCN management category Area Linked to information on source (see following) From Hegerl, et al. p.24

CORE DATASET: Log All changes to any field should be logged. Recording: who made the change, when the change was made what the value was before and after the change was made. From Hegerl, et al. p.24

CORE DATASET: Metadata A complete description of the dataset and its components: Available for incorporation into any other meta-databases Based on an international standard From Hegerl, et al. p.24

CORE DATASET: Sources All information should be sourced. 3 types of source information are particularly important: Information on the general source of the information on the site (for ex. the P.A. management agency) Information on how the decision was taken on the IUCN Management Category, and what, if any, review took place. Information on the source of boundary files. From Hegerl, et al. p.24

Other designated areas Not all areas designated by national authorities meet the internationally accepted definition of a protected area. There are three parts to the core dataset, information on protected area systems within countries, information on individual protected areas, and information on those sites that are designated or recognized by international conventions and programs From Hegerl, et al. p.23

A vision for the WDPA

Biodiversity Information Commons Core World Database on Protected Areas Web WDPA becomes essential authority dictionary in the commons structure WDPA: part of a larger strategy for sharing conservation information

Linked to other spatial data layers on the web Core World Database on Protected Areas Web NASA R/S images WWF Ecoregions CI Hotspots FAO Soils etc. Can access and use any GIS & R/S dataset available on the web

Linking to other Conservation Information Systems Core World Database on Protected Areas Web IUCN/SSC Species Information System Links PA to species data allowing new analysis: gap, conservation effectiveness,…

Direct link to Global Stakeholders Information Systems Core World Database on Protected Areas Web CBD World Heritage Center MAB Biosphere Reserves RAMSAR Climate Change The Law of the Sea other UN conventions other global stakeholders: WTO, mining, … etc. All use same core set, but manage their own data / information (some of it public)

Linked data and information from research efforts by wide range of organizations Core World Database on Protected Areas Web Climate Change studies People and PAs Fires and PAs Monitoring data etc. Any research data can be attached to the core set

Linked to WCPA Collaboration Portal and activities Core World Database on Protected Areas Web On-going GAP analysis and priority setting Support to regional networks Members PA assessments PA monitoring Etc. Information captured in the portal directly relates to core set

Park managers, conservationists, students, decision makers, users… Core World Database on Protected Areas Web The Learning Network: sharing knowledge across countries, across cultures…

This vision is possible now! The technology is ready The impact on conservation would be incredible Let’s make it happen!

Where are we today? The State of the WDPA

WDPA on Line: support for review process

% of PAs with spatial data per country

Original scale of PA data per country

WDPA: Integration of existing datasets

Review process: comparison of 2 datasets

3Q 2002 Data integration, validation by consortium Regional chairs, national focal points 1Q 2003 Review process: work at national levels, regional preparatory meetings Submission of UN List Mandate to UNEP Governing Council 2Q st draft UN List, State of World Parks 3Q 2003 Integration of new WDPA, Launch & presentation at WPC, final draft of State of World Parks Launch IUCN-UNEP partnership at WPC 2004 Long term WDPA system and processes in place

WDPA Consortium UN List 2003 State of the World’s Parks WDPA Data Standardization, Input, Integration, Verification Updated & reviewed data Expert Evaluation of data Interactive support where appropriate National Governments (includes Federal, State / Provincial) WCPA Regional Vice Chairs Data Update and Verification Requests IUCN CI, TNC, WWF… UNEP ARCBC, EEA, SPREP

Organizations / agencies acting as regional support nodes Liaise with and support national agencies and WCPA Regional Vice Chairs in updating PA data. Provide up-to-date information where applicable (WDPA Consortium contributors). Verify final data with sources.

The WDPA 2003: WCPA Members Review Process

Review Process Objective: analyze available data and provide feedback to improve database Based on the use of the WDPA on-line and the WCPA portal Nov & Dec 2002: work with regional chairs in defining regional strategy and national leaders Jan 1 st, 2003: review process starts Through regional chairs, national focal points and regional WPC preparatory meetings

Review questions Is the dataset complete? Missing any type of areas? Are all existing areas included? Quality and Accuracy of the data? Both spatial and attribute data, metadata Any additional sources of data or expertise?

The WCPA Collaboration Portal

September 2002: agreements on members access to portal October 28, 2002: tutorial sent to all members November 9: upload of membership, sent to all members

Agreements Portal: members and friends only Portal introduction screen directs all users to the WCPA website In order to enter the portal you MUST log in with your name and password Membership to the portal Centralized, managed by Delwyn Dupuis Support to members: Delwyn, Carola Borja

Portal Membership Need to allow a larger membership to portal Members WCPA members Associates (determined by each member) Guests (determined by SC members)