Putting nature on the map : a report and recommendations on the use of the IUCN system of protected area categorisation in the UK

The aim of this publication has been to use Guidelines for Applying Protected Area Management Categories (Dudley, 2008) to identify all the places in the UK that meet the IUCN definition of a protected area, and to assign to them one of the six IUCN protected area management categories and four protected area governance types. This report also identifies ten detailed recommendations for applying the Putting Nature on the Map (PNOTM) approach. Then, based on the results from PNOTM, the report reflects on the wider significance of this work, particularly addressing the need for a new emphasis on the role of protected areas in the UK. This leads to one final recommendation addressed to IUCN NCUK for a Programme of Work on UK Protected Areas, to follow on from its support for PNOTM, and build on its results. The other hope is for this report to offer a much richer picture of protected nature in the UK and to inspire and guide similar projects to implement the 2008 Guidelines in other countries.