Dr. V. B. MathurDean, Faculty of Wildlife Sciences, Wildlife Institute of IndiaChandrabani, Dehradun (Uttarakhand). INDIAEmail: vbm@wii.gov.inManagement Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of Protected Areas in India

Background

Disappearance of tiger in Sariska PMOs directive to C&AGPMOs directive to MoEF

Audit, Evaluation, Assessment or What?The terminological confusion???Need to reduce ambivalence and ambiguity and evolve a common understanding and vocabulary

An independent, objective assurance activity designed to add value and improve an organization's operations. It helps an organization accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to assess and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes.Note: a distinction is made between regularity (financial) auditing, which focuses on compliance with applicable statutes and regulations; and performance auditing, which is concerned with relevance, economy, efficiency and effectiveness. Internal auditing provides an assessment of internal controls undertaken by a unit reporting to management while external auditing is conducted by an independent organization.Audit

Obligation to demonstrate that work has been conducted in compliance with agreed rules and standards or to report fairly and accurately on performance results vis-a-vis mandated roles and/or plans. This may require a careful, even legally defensible, demonstration that the work, is consistent with the contract terms.Note: Accountability in development may refer to the obligations of partners to act according to clearly defined responsibilities, roles and performance expectations, often with respect to the prudent use of resources. For evaluators, it connotes the responsibility to provide accurate, fair and .credible monitoring reports and performance assessment. For public sector managers and policy-makers, accountability is to taxpayers/citizensAccountability

An evaluation carried out by entities and persons free of the control of those responsible for the design and implementation of the development intervention.Note: The credibility of an evaluation depends in part on how independently it has been carried out. Independence implies freedom from political influence and organizational pressure. It is characterized by full access to information and by full autonomy in carrying out investigations and reporting findings.Independent evaluation

..the assessment of how well a protected area is being managed primarily the extent to which it is protecting values and achieving goals and objectives WCPA Guidelines (2006) It includes consideration of:design issuesthe adequacy and appropriateness of management systems and processesand the delivery of protected area objectives including conservation of valuesWhat is management effectiveness evaluation?

..the assessment of how well a protected area is being managed primarily the extent to which it is protecting values and achieving goals and objectives WCPA Guidelines (2006) It includes consideration of:design issuesthe adequacy and appropriateness of management systems and processesand the delivery of protected area objectives including conservation of valuesWhat is management effectiveness evaluation?

Protected areas are critical for in-situ conservationMost protected areas are subject to multiple serious threats and many are degraded1992 review of protected areas found that three of the five most common threats were management deficiencies rather than direct impacts on resourcesWhy is management effectiveness an issue?more

Management is not easy Conflicting management objectives Systems of governanceAdequate and appropriate resourcesImplementation of some of the management prescriptions difficult.

by recording, observing and talking about the changes we see in the environment and looking for their causesby encouraging a culture where we look and reflect on our managementby helping us to learn from our mistakes and our successes1.Evaluation can help us manage betterWhy should we bother?more

by signalling global and local changes and threatsby showcasing management techniques for broader landscape management1.Evaluation can help us manage betterWhy should we bother?

It identifies priorities for actionsHelps to show real resource needs3.Evaluation promotes accountability and transparency The society can see how their parks and forests are managedBaselines can be established for partnerships, agreements, trusteeships and contracts2.Evaluation assists in effective resource allocation Why should we bother?

Involving traditional owners, community members and scientists gives us more credibility and helps build good relationshipsIncreasing public action to support parks: Showing the community the need for better resourcing of the parks system and alerting them to threats 4. Evaluation can help involve the community, build constituency and promote protected area values

PA Management agencies at Central and State levelsManagers of individual protected areasElected representatives Local communities in and around PAs and general public Funding agencies: GEF, The World BankCivil Society representativesConventions: UNESCO World Heritage, CBDWho wants to know about protected area effectiveness?

Source: Hockings et alThe Global MEE Framework

The MEE Framework for India

Element NameHeadline IndicatorsContext4Planning7Inputs5Process6Outputs4Outcomes4Total30

The MEE Framework for Indiamore

Element NameHeadline IndicatorsContext1.1Identification of values1.2Assessment of threats1.3Biotic interference in core area1.4Compliance of statutory requirementsPlanning2.1Tiger conservation plan2.2Safeguarding of biodiversity values2.3Stakeholder participation2.4Habitat management2.5Effective protection strategy2.6Mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts2.7Landscape conservation approach

The MEE Framework for Indiamore

Element NameHeadline IndicatorsInputs3.1Adequacy of manpower deployment3.2Adequacy of physical infrastructure3.3Adequacy of central government funding3.4Adequacy of state government funding3.5NGO resource contributionProcess4.1Adequacy of trained manpower resources4.2Frontline staff performance evaluation4.3Effectiveness of public participation4.4Process of complaint handling4.5Livelihood support to local communities4.6Village relocation planning

The MEE Framework for India

Element NameHeadline IndicatorsOutputs5.1Dissemination of information to public 5.2Management of visitor facilities5.3Evaluation of research/monitoring trends5.4Adequacy of infrastructure maintenance & fundsOutcomes6.1Population trends of tiger & other species6.2Threat abatement6.3Visitor satisfaction6.4Local community support

Approaches to assessing management effectivenessProtected areas management effectiveness evaluation has been conducted in many countries using range of methodologies/ approaches emanating from the global MEE framework. These approaches vary considerably in their scale, depth, duration and data collection methods (Ervin, J. 2006).

S.No.Type of ApproachApplication in India1Comprehensive system-wide, Peer-based assessmentProject Tiger Reserves (2005-06 & 2010-11)2In-depth, Evidence based assessment02 World Heritage Sites (2003-07)3Rapid Expert-based scorecard58 National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries (2008-09)40 National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries (2012-13)

MEE of Project Tiger Reserves in India (2005-06)

MEE of Project Tiger Reserves in IndiaResults at a Glancemore

S. No.Name of the Tiger ReserveScoreCategory1Kanha166Very Good2Dudhwa 154Very Good3Corbett 152Very Good4Sunderbans152Very Good5Pench (M.P.)144Very Good6Palamau141Very Good7Simlipal140Very Good8Melghat137Very Good9Panna135Very Good10Tadoba-Andhari134Good11Bori-Satpura128Good12Bandhavgarh 127Good13Periyar127Good14Bandipur & Rajiv Gandhi N.P. (Nagarhole)126Good

S. No.Name of the Tiger ReserveScoreCategory15Pench (Maharashtra)125Good16Buxa124Good17Dampa121Good18Bhadra117Good19Nameri 112Good20Pakke106Satisfactory 21Valmiki106Satisfactory 22Kalakad-Mundanthurai104Satisfactory 23Manas102Satisfactory 24Namdapha95Satisfactory 25Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam 91Satisfactory 26Ranthambhore89Satisfactory 27Indravati70Poor28Sariska 61Poor

MEE of Project Tiger Reserves in India (2010-11)

MEE (%age) & Rating of individual Tiger Reserves (2010-11)

Rating Number of Tiger ReservesPercentageVery Good1444Good1134Satisfactory516Poor26Total32

MEE of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Site Level: Resultsmore

MEE of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Site Level: Resultsmore

MEE of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Site Level: Resultsmore

MEE of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Site Level: Resultsmore

MEE of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Site Level: Resultsmore

MEE of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Site Level: Results

MEE of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Site Level: Resultsmore

MEE of Protected Area Network in IndiaContinue to bring in methodological and process refinements Enhance the participation of a range of relevant stakeholdersDisseminate the findings and bring in appropriate changes in policy, governance and management to enhance effectiveness of management of PAs.The Way Forward.

Thank You

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