1. Defining protected areas – implication of revising the IUCN categories to protected areas in the United Kingdom

2. IUCN undertook a long period of consultation to agree revised guidance to its protected area definition and categories

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Governance type A. Protected areas managed by the government B. Co-managed protected areas C. Private protected areasD. Community conserved areas IUCN category (management objective) Federal or nationalministry or agency inchargeLocal ministry or agencyin chargeManagement delegatedby the government (e.g.To an NGO)Transboundaryprotected areaCollaborativemanagement (variouspluralist influences)Collaborativemanagement (pluralistmanagement boardDeclared and run byprivate individualDeclared and run bynon-profit organisationsDeclared and run by for-profit individualsDeclared and runbyindigenous peoplesDeclared and run bylocal communities 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

10. 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

11. 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?

12. 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

14. 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

15. Management objectiveIaIbIIIIIIVVVI Scientific research1322223 Wilderness protection21233-2 Preservation of species and genetic diversity1211121 Protection of specific natural / cultural features--21313 Tourism and recreation-211313 Education--22223 Sustainable use of resources from natural ecosystems-33-221 Maintenance of cultural / traditional attributes-----12 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 …

16. 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”