Protected areas

The special significance and characteristics of mountains often require that major portions of them be afforded extra care or protection. Many have received legislative recognition by designation as parks or reserves of various kinds, and there are some 430 mountain protected areas worldwide. The guidelines are intended for planners and managers of this estate. They are offered as a sharing experience by 40 scientists and managers in over 30 countries.

The special significance and characteristics of mountains often require that major portions of them be afforded extra care or protection. Many have received legislative recognition by designation as parks or reserves of various kinds, and there are some 430 mountain protected areas worldwide. The guidelines are intended for planners and managers of this estate. They are offered as a sharing experience by 40 scientists and managers in over 30 countries.

The special significance and characteristics of mountains often require that major portions of them be afforded extra care or protection. Many have received legislative recognition by designation as parks or reserves of various kinds, and there are some 430 mountain protected areas worldwide. The guidelines are intended for planners and managers of this estate. They are offered as a sharing experience by 40 scientists and managers in over 30 countries.

The Protected Planet Report is a new initiative that tracks global progress towards Target 11 of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) Aichi Biodiversity Targets. The Protected Planet Report 2012 underlines the successes of countries, communities and nongovernmental organisations with respect to protected areas.

This publication provides guidance for terrestrial, marine, and freshwater protected area managers at both system and site levels on the restoration of natural and associated values of protected areas.

The purpose of these guidelines is to update and expand the original guidelines on protected areas legislation published in 1980 and to reflect new developments and emerging issues. These developments include significant advances in international environmental law, and an improved scientific understanding of the role of protected areas in nature conservation, including conserving biodiversity, maintaining ecosystem functions and supporting sustainable development.

Toutefois, le nombre d'aires marines protégées (AMPs) étant bien inférieur à celui des aires protégées terrestres, le manque d'expérience complexifie le processus d'application des catégories aux AMP. L'application des catégories aux AMP a souvent été inexacte et contradictoire.

Sin embargo, con el menor número de áreas protegidas marinas (AMPs) en comparación con las áreas protegidas terrestres, hay menos experiencia y comprensión de la aplicación de las categorías a las AMPs. La aplicación de las categorías a las AMPs ha sido a menudo imprecisa e inconsistente.

With the smaller number of marine protected areas (MPAs) compared with terrestrial protected areas, there is less experience and understanding of applying the categories to MPAs. Application of the categories to MPAs has often been inaccurate and inconsistent.

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. Protected areas also serve as natural buffers against climate impacts and other disasters, providing space for floodwaters to disperse, stabilizing soil against landslides and blocking storm surges.