Protected areas

Protected areas have proven themselves to be an effective tool for the conservation of biodiversity in situ. However, conserving biodiversity, even in protected areas, is a challenging assignment for most countries around the world where governments and local communities are often in competition for access to and use of resources. On top of these challenges, the world is facing changes in climate and sea level, increasing numbers of invasive species, and fragmentation of forests.

This new series of publications on the values of Protected Landscapes and Seascapes is intended to document and spell out the various environmental, economic, social and cultural values that Category V protected areas can provide. The first volume addresses the topic of agrobiodiversity. Since they are lived-in, working landscapes, Category V protected areas would appear to provide a potential mechanism for conserving agrobiodiversity.

The Delos Initiative focuses on the sacred natural sites in developed countries throughout the world (such as Australia, Canada, the European countries, Japan, New Zealand and the United States of America). Its main purpose is to help in maintaining both the sanctity and the biodiversity of these sites, through the understanding of the complex relationship between spiritual/cultural and natural values.

Bringing together the diverse experiences of park agencies and managers, conservation NGOs and international agencies, this book examines the role of tourism in protected area management. Using case studies from around the world it provides examples of successful partnerships between community, public and private sectors. It also explores how tourism can be used as a management tool for financing protected areas.

In the Mediterranean region alone, there are more than 4400 protected areas, of which 67% have been assigned an IUCN category. This publication analyses the use and interpretation of the different protected areas categories in the Mediterranean, gathers the ideas and proposals of agencies and other key stakeholders in the Mediterranean region, and includes the results of the IUCN International Summit in Almeria.

Important Bird Areas and Important Plant Areas have already been identified in more than 170 countries. The Key Biodiversity Areas approach builds on the work done to date, in order to provide practical guidance to governments in identifying those sites which must be protected to ensure the future of both biodiversity and humanity.

Este documento recoge el esfuerzo conjunto de organizaciones e investigadores provenientes de los cinco países andino-tropicales (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú y Venezuela)sobre la relación entre áreas protegidas y gobernanza ambiental.