Protected areas inCentral and SE Europe

International categories

Pierre GallandConsultantJune 2004

Protected areas International categories

IUCN categoriesUNESCO World Heritage sitesUNESCO Biosphere ReservesRAMSAR SitesWWF – PAN ParksEuropean DiplomaNatura 2000

… and others !

World Park CongressEvery 10 years - 1993: Caracas 2003: Durban

Trends:80’s – 90’s: Increase coverage of PAsSince mid-90s: management efficiency – certification

– training of staffPublic participation & integration in regional context

Outputs of the WPC:Durban accord + action planRecommendationsEmerging issuesMessage to the CBD

UNEP/CBD: Protected Areas Programme of Work

IUCN Programme IUCN Programme on Protected Areason Protected Areas

At the heart of the Global Protected Area movementSmall team at the world headquartersA number of specialists in Regional Offices

The World Commission on The World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA)Protected Areas (WCPA)

The world's leading global network of protected area specialists

More than 1000 expertsFrom over 140 countries

The World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA)

The WCPA mission is:"To promote the establishment and effective management of a world-wide representative network of terrestrial and marine protected areas, as an integral contribution to the IUCN mission."

WCPA EuropeParks for Life: Actions for Protected Areas in Europe (IUCN –WCPA, 1994)Implementation:Park for Life coordination, Slovenia

IUCN Management Categories

CategoriesI: Strict Nature Reserve /

Wilderness AreaII: National ParkIII: Natural MonumentIV: Habitat / Species managementV: Protected Landscape / SeascapeVI: Managed Resource Protected Area

IUCN System

Unified system applied worldwideCategorisation by primary management objective Independant from names; national names may varyCan be used everywhere; countries adapt the system and use their own namesConsiders the management objectives, but NOT the actual management effectivenessAll categories are important – specific role, but imply gradation of human intervention

Category I: Strict Nature Reserve

Ia: Scientific reserve

Protected area managed mainly for science

Preservation of undisturbed habitats, ecosystems and speciesMaintain genetic resources and natural ecological processesLimit public access

Category I: Strict Nature Reserve Ib: Wilderness Area

Managed mainly for wilderness protection

Ensure maintenance of undisturbed areas for future generationsProvide public access at level that maintain the wilderness qualities

Category II: National Parks

Managed mainly for ecosystem protection and recreation

Protect natural and scenic areas of national and international significance

Category III: Natural Monuments

Conservation of specific natural features

Protect or preserve in perpetuity specific outstanding features because of their natural significance, unique quality and / or spiritual connotation

Category IV:Habitat/Species Management

PA managed mainly for conservation through management intervention

Area subject to active intervention for management to ensure habitat and species maintenanceFacilitate scientific research and monitoring

Category V: Protected Landscape/Seascape

Area where the interaction of people and nature over time has produced an area of distinct character with ecological / cultural value and high biological diversityMaintain harmonious interaction of nature and culture Support lifestyle in harmony with natureMaintain landscape and species diversityProvide opportunities for recreation and tourismBring benefits to local communities

Category VI: Managed Resource PA

Area managed to ensure long term protection of natural ecosystems while providing sustainable flow of natural products and services

Promote sound management practices for sustainable production purposesProtect biological diversity and other natural values in the long termProtect the natural resources base; contribute to regional development

Internat. Categories in SEE

1899Turkey

12111Slovenia

54141Ser & Mn

1172173Romania

411Macedonia

1110162Greece

84161Croatia

3102916Bulgaria

21B i H

1121Albania

E DiplNat P.RamsarNat WHSWHSBR

International CategoriesCentral Europe

*: Cross border1*52Slovakia

-124Rep. CZ

1*114Poland

---Moldovia

1*75Hungary

1*22Belarus

Nat WHSWHSBR

UNESCO Biosphere ReservesProgramme Man and Biosphere (MaB)

It is a combination of several categories of PA (zoning)usually not included in national legislations

Requirement: • Zoning• Management Plan• One management body only

UNESCO Wold Heritage Site(World Heritage Convention)

2 categories:

Natural SitesCultural Sites

… or mixed sites !

Working together for Preserving our Natural Hertitage

IUCN’s Programme on Protected Areasand

The World Heritage Convention

One of PPA’s key projectsA key role for IUCN in the protection of the world’s most exceptional protected areas

The World Heritage Conventionis one of the oldest international conventions (1972);

It identifies sites of «outstanding universal value» to be placed on the World Heritage List

Today:… 175 State Parties are signatories to the Convention … 740 sites are inscribed on the World Heritage List in 125

countries : 563 cultural sites144 natural sites23 mixed sites

(natural and cultural)

UNESCO Wold Heritage Site(World Heritage Convention)

In Central Europe (6 countries):

35 W. H. Sites

2 natural sites (cross-border)

In SEE (10 countries):

54 W. H. Sites

6 natural sites

5 mixed sites

UNESCO Wold Heritage Site(World Heritage Convention)

Natural SitesSrebarna, Pirin (Bulgaria)Plitvice (Croatia)Danube Delta (Romania)Durmitor (Montenegro)Skocjan caves (Slovenia)Bialowieza (Belarus & Poland)Aggtelek / Slovak karst (Hungary & Slovakia)

Mixed sitesMount Athos, Meteora (Greece)Ohrid (Makedonia)Göreme-Cappadocia, Pamukkale (Turkey)

Ramsar sitesConvention on Wetlands of International Importance

The government has the responsibilty for the control of the sites.

There are problems of responsibility for the management (different land owners, contradiction between different laws)

General trend: increase of the size to better integrate the sites into their regional context; switch from strict protection to sustainable use.

European Diploma for protected areas – Council of Europe

Established by the Council of Europe in the 1960s as a mean of granting recognition to protected areas for their standard of protectionDiploma is subject to periodical renewal following expert visitsManagers must submit yearly reportsDiploma may be withdrawn when the integrity of the area is at riskNetwork of managers – managers meet on a regular basis to exchange info and experiences

Diploma areas are expected to be a model for

conservation

PAN Parks Initiative WWF European Forest Programme

The aim is to create economic tools for nature conservation

Idea: bring together nature conservation organizations, travel agencies, business community and local partners.

A well managed PAN Park has to control tourism and other activities for the long-term integrity of the Park.

Natura 2000 – European Union

Implementation of EU directivesBird directiveHabitats directive

The countries have to submit a list of sites and to ensure their protection

Build a coherent European network of protected areas

Further initiativesImportant Bird Areas (IBA – realized in most countries), and Important Plant Areas (IPA –just started in some countries). Will be included in the Natura 2000 – Emerald networks.

Conclusions

In general, nature protection and protected areas are seen as an obstacle to regional development, rather than as an opportunity.Some reasons:

Poor communicationToo much emphasis on norms / regulations instead of

benefitsNo use of the PAs for promotion of the area, products

and services (label)Centralized decision making with little public participationLack of innovative ideas and initiatives at local level