What do the new IUCN Protected Areas
Category Guidelines mean for the UK?
Adrian Phillips
The task before us – today and later
• To understand the significance of the protected area
categories (Nik, Nigel, Charles, background papers)
• To understand the new guidelines (Nigel)
• To agree how to go about applying the guidelines in the
UK (this talk)
• To review potential protected areas against the guidelines
• To assign categories to those places recognised as
protected areas
• To report this information to UNEP/WCMC and IUCN
• And then to use the resulting information intelligently,
here and internationally
Where we are now
• Major review of protected area category
guidelines 2002-2008
• New guidelines published 2008 (no change to
1994 categories but new definitions and
greater clarity re application of system)
• WCPA chair invites countries to consider
implications (“UK lags behind .. in quality of
protected areas reporting”)
• IUCN/UK Committee agrees to lead exercise
Why UK should do it*
* quite apart from Nik Lopoukhine’s request!
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Can give a platform for UK leadership
More comprehensive data re protected areas
Raise profile of protected areas
Demonstrate variety of protected area types and
governance systems in the UK
Reveal potential for connectivity
Introduce UK/IUCN Cttee. (and IUCN) to new audiences
Improve UK reporting (e.g. CBD, Natura 2000)
Better dialogue between all concerned
Better integration of nature and landscape
Better public understanding re protected areas
What we have now on WDPA ...*
* If you can find it!
• Category IV: NNRs, MNRs
What we have now on the WDPA (cont.)
• Category V: National Parks, AONBs, National
Scenic Areas plus others
What we do not have on the WDPA*
*unless they are NNRs or MNRs. Many though
occur within Category V protected areas
• SSSIs
•
• ASSIs
• Natura 2000 sites (SACs
and SPAs)
•
• Ramsar, Ospar, World
•
Heritage natural or
mixed sites
• Local nature reserves
•
• Geological sites
NGO reserves – RSPB,
Wildlife Trusts, WWT,
Woodland Trust, John
Muir, Plantlife etc.
NT inalienable land
Other designations
(e.g. Biosphere
Reserves)
And no doubt others
Also we may not be using the
categories properly
For example:
• Have we no strict nature reserves? (Category
Ia)
• Or places that meet Category II criteria?
(possibly Rhum?)
• What about Category III? (possibly Jurassic
Coast WH site?)
• Or Category VI? (perhaps some marine sites?)
Some questions
• What status should SSSIs and ASSIs, and Natura 2000
sites, have as protected areas in IUCN terms (if any)?
• What about Category V – do they pass the protected
areas the IUCN test? Can they be made to do so? Should
they?
• Are sites on privately/NGO owned land protected areas –
and if so in what category?
• What do we do about the range of designations? Are
they all potential protected areas (e.g. geological sites)?
• How do we deal with overlapping designations
• Should we make more use of ‘neglected’ categories?
• What about the marine environment?
What we hope to do today is to agree how
to answer those questions
• Agree the need for an assignment review
• Secure general commitment to support review
• Agree the main features of the review:
–
–
–
–
–
Partners
Management
Major phases
Timetable
Outline budget
• Next steps
Suggested review process phases
1. Planning (today)
2. Launch event at Edinburgh, IUCN conference 1820 April
3. Capacity building – materials, training etc.
4. Consultation with all interested parties and
initial assignment (includes workshops)
5. Analysis of data leading to draft assignment
6. Checking
7. Sign-off
Possible workshop on biodiversity sites
Some issues:
•SSSIs and ASSIs
•Natura 2000 sites
•NGO & private
conservation sites
•Marine sites
Possible workshop on Category V
Some issues:
•The IUCN “test”
•NP & AONB purposes
•Strengthening b/d
conservation role
•Cultural v. natural
values
Managing the review process suggestions
• A task force to steer (appointed by IUCN/UK
but with wider-than-IUCN membership)
• An ‘independent’ chair
• Logistical support from IUCN UK Committee
Secretariat
• Project co-ordinator
• 12 month (or more?) timetable
• A budget (c.£30K)
The outcome and its significance
The assignment exercise should result in:
- An accurate record of all the UK’s protected area conservation
efforts, for use at national and international levels
- In effect, for the first time, a “UK system of protected areas”
- The value of this system is not as a static record but how it can be
used, e.g. in:
– Conserving and restoring biodiversity within protected areas and on a
landscape scale
– Mitigating the effects of, and adapting, to climate change
– Valuing and protecting ecosystem services
– Realising the health and social welfare benefits of landscape, countryside
and greenspace
– Making links with aspects of the historic landscape
– Relating to green infrastructure in urban development.