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.