Chape, Stuart

Using Geographic Information System (GIS) analyses and literature review, this study examines the current List of Natural and Mixed WH Sites from the perspective of natural values related to biogeography, habitats and biodiversity. The review addresses Criteria (ix) and (x) under the draft revised Operational Guidelines (OGs) ([ii] and [iv] under the current OGs) - Criteria (vii) and (viii) are not addressed.

Extensively illustrated with maps, color photographs, and graphics, this state-of-the-art reference offers a comprehensive and authoritative status report on the world's 100,000 parks, nature reserves, and other land and marine areas currently designated as protected areas. Now covering over 12 percent of the Earth's land surface, protected areas are the great strongholds of biodiversity and landscape conservation.

This UN List is the thirteenth produced since 1962 and the first version to attempt a comprehensive presentation of all the world’s known protected areas. The introductory text presents an analysis and the accompanying CD lists more than 102,000 sites covering 18.8 million sq. km. Significant progress has been made in conserving representative areas of the world’s terrestrial biomes, although some, including Lake Systems and Temperate Grasslands, remain under-represented.

This publication gives an account of the challenges currently being faced by Lao PDR - an oasis of biodiversity richness nestled amid a group of countries whose biodiversity assets have been severly depleted as a result of economic and/or population pressures - as it struggles with the options between trying to ensure the equitable economic and social development of its peoples, while using its resources sustainably and ensuring that exploitation of its resources by neighbouring countries does not deplete these same resources further.