IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA)

It is sometimes assumed that protected areas must be in conflict with the rights and traditions of indigenous and other traditional peoples on their domains. In reality, where indigenous peoples are interested in the conservation and traditional use of their lands, waters, territories and the natural and cultural resources that they contain, conflicts need not arise.

These guidelines explore financing options for protected areas and provide advice and information on sustainable financing. Both public and private financing is needed to ensure provision of the private and public goods and services which protected areas provide. A step-by-step process is given which protected area managers can use to create business and financial plans tailored to the needs and strengths of their protected area.

Over 600 protected area agencies world-wide were surveyed on their budgets and staffing levels. From the 108 countries surveyed it emerged that budgetary provision was very uneven - ranging from $24 to $12,308 per km2. There is also a positive correlation between economic development and population density. Priorities for financial assistance were identified.

Arbritary national boundaries do not define the extent of landscapes and ecosystems worthy of protection. They do, however, influence the quality of nature conservation as this is affected by differences in national legislation on different sides of the border. This study analyses the status of protected areas across various European State boundaries, lists successes and shortcomings, and gives valuable advise as to how co-operation between protected areas can be improved and enhanced

The attention given to landscape in environmental law is new and the subject raises a series of interesting problems, which were highlighted at a Colloquium. Its central theme was the draft European Landscape Convention prepared by the Council of Europe, the first of its kind. Since 1998, the draft has evolved, and has reached its almost final form; it is expected to be adopted during 2000.

Creation and effective management of marine protected areas (MPAs) have lagged behind those of protected areas on land, but they are just as important. The world urgently needs a comprehensive system of MPAs to conserve biodiversity and to help rebuild the productivity of the oceans. The aim of these guidelines is to help countries establish systems of MPAs as a key component of integrated management of coastal and marine areas and as part of their sustainable development.

The outcome of a workshop to discuss collaborative management in the Asian context, and to review the related legislative framework, strengths, weaknesses and institutional capacity. This book contains full background information on the workshop, and outline of the key conclusions, and recommendations for future action to carry forward the collaborative management agenda in the Asian region as whole