World Bank

Protected areas play a major role in reducing climate changing carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere. Fifteen percent of the world’s terrestrial carbon stock - 312 gigatonnes - are stored in protected areas around the world.

Understanding and managing the concerns of local people is essential for the success of most, if not all, conservation initiatives.

This report provides a basis for development and implementation of a global system of marine protected areas to protect and manage representative examples of the world's rich marine biodiversity.

Poverty has become the central concern for development agencies, and because many of the areas that are most important for conserving biodiversity are occupied by poor people, or have poor people living around them, the relationship between poverty and protected areas can no longer be ignored.

The tsunamis of Sunday 26 December 2004 struck without apparent warning on a clear day. Not only was there a devastating loss of life, but coastal resources and infrastructure in the Indian Ocean suffered massive destruction as well.

This report was written to provide an overview, without the use of scientific jargon, of the status of coral reefs and causes of reef decline, with recommendations for action by national authorities.

Understanding and managing the concerns of local people is essential for the success of most, if not all, conservation initiatives.

This report provides a basis for development and implementation of a global system of marine protected areas to protect and manage representative examples of the world's rich marine biodiversity.