1. Stefán Helgi Valsson1 Nature protection 1. Historical perspective 2. Planning and controlling protected areas 3. National parks and reserves

2. Stefán Helgi Valsson2 Historical evolution Agricultural revolution – conflict with nature begins Struggle against non-crop vegitation and animals. nature had to be conquered Reform, enlightentment, technical improvements – Man is superior to nature Land and nature protection needs to be intellectually argued instead of following strange whims Land and nature protection has to be supported by law

3. Stefán Helgi Valsson3 The idea of a NP

4. Stefán Helgi Valsson4 Central Park in New York

5. Stefán Helgi Valsson5 The first protected areas

6. Stefán Helgi Valsson6 Conceptual differences? Europe – “Old world” America – “New world” Iceland – Old world or new world?

7. Stefán Helgi Valsson7 Iceland Industrial revolution around 1900 Sigríður Tómasdóttir (Gullfoss Waterfall) Þingvellir NP, est. 1928 Technological revolution during the WWII Nature protection laws 1956

8. Stefán Helgi Valsson8 Policy and planning World Yellowstone NP, 1872 IUCN – France 1948 (now called the World Conservation Union but retains the acronym). The US Wilderness Act, 1964 Alaska Conservation Act, 1980 Iceland Þingvellir NP, 1928 Nature protection laws 1956 UNESCO 1995 (1972) Ministry of Environment, policy document 2002-2020.

9. Stefán Helgi Valsson9 Iceland is a signitory to: Conservation on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) Conservation on Biological Diversity (Rio) Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (UNESCO´s World Heritage). Þingvellir NP is currently applying to become a World Heritage Site.

10. Stefán Helgi Valsson10 Protection categories in Iceland Icelandic Þjóðgarður Friðland Önnur friðuð svæði Náttúruvætti Fólkvangur Náttúruminjar English National park Nature reserve Other protected areas Natural monument Country park Sites of special interest

11. Sigrún Helgadóttir11 IUCN´s Reach Present in 78 nations (Iceland since 1973) 112 government agencies 735 non-governmental agencies (NGO’s) 35 organisations unoficial members 10.000 scientists and specialists from 181 countries. Headquarters in Switzerland, 1000 staff working in 42 places

12. Stefán Helgi Valsson12 IUCN´s Mission “To influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrety and diversity of nature and to ensure the natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.” Http://www.iucn.org

13. Stefán Helgi Valsson13 IUCN´s Protection Categories 1. a. Nature reserve, b. wilderness (set aside for research, or uninhabited land) 2. National park (eco-protection and recr.) 3. National monument (natural heritage) 4. Eco-systems (active intervention) 5. Land protection for recreation 6. Resource protection (Sustainable use of eco-systems)

14. Stefán Helgi Valsson14 Yellowstone NP Yellowstone National park was the first NP in the world, established in 1872. The park is reserved for the public use for eternety by the State The “greatest idea of the American people.”

15. Stefán Helgi Valsson15 Yellowstone´s attractions Lookout Point

16. Stefán Helgi Valsson16 Yellowstone´s attractions The Old “Faithful” Geyser was named so by the Washburn Expedition in 1870 because its regular eruptions It erupts every 45-110 minutes to 30-55 meters.

17. Stefán Helgi Valsson17 Yellowstone´s attractions Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces: heat, water, limestone, and a rock fracture. Today's geothermal activity is linked to a 600.000 year old volcanic explosion supplying the heat.

18. Stefán Helgi Valsson18 Yellowstone´s attractions Hyden Valley provides some of the best habitat for grizzly bears, bison, elk, and other wildlife species.

19. Stefán Helgi Valsson19 Beware of the Grizzlies! A way to educate children of the danger of wild animals? Or a marketing ploy capitalising on the popular Yogi Bear catroon?

20. Stefán Helgi Valsson20 Areas protected by US law USA – 4.6% a lot of land, but more than half of it is in Alaska. In 1964, America was a country that “was now rich enough, educated enough and sufficiently at leasure who wanted to enjoy the public land than to make money off it.” Jon Margolis in The Last Innocent Year: America in 1964.

21. Stefán Helgi Valsson21 Worldwide conservation areas Number aproximately 30.000 Total area: 10% of the land surface Total area: 1% of the oceans