The Protected Area Programme of IUCN
- supports the work of IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas. It has the same mission and vision as WCPA.
- evaluates and monitors natural World Heritage Sites for consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre
IUCN's Protected Area Programme
IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, defines a protected area as:
"an area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means."
Objectives of the Programme
- To assist in the planning of protected areas and their integration into all sectors by providing strategic advice to policy makers;
- To strengthen capacity and effectiveness of protected area managers through the provision of guidance, tools and information, and as a vehicle for networking; and
- To increase investment in protected areas by persuading public and corporate donors, as well as governments, of their value.
- The various IUCN protected areas field project activities into a cohesive and coordinated IUCN Protected Areas Programme; and
- The protected area activities of WCPA and IUCN those of key partners (e.g. donors).
Structure and Approach
The Protected Areas Programme (PPA) comprises a small Secretariat staff in Headquarters and a small number of technical staff in IUCN regional and country offices.
PPA staff have extensive experience of all aspects of the estabishment and management of protected areas around the world.
The programme works largely with, and through, the membership of WCPA.
Activities are strongly decentralised and implemented at a geographic and issue-based level, often through Regional and Strategic Vice-Chairs of WCPA.
Particular emphasis is placed on developing linkages between WCPA Regional Vice-Chairs and IUCN Regional offices.
