Improving Protected Area Management

WWF's Rapid Assessment and Prioritisation Methodology

Forests for Life

Protect, Manage, Restore

Acronyms: IUCN World Conservation Union NGO Non-Governmental Organisation NTFP Non-Timber Forest Product PA Protected Area TNC The Nature Conservancy WCPA World Commission on Protected Areas WWF World Wide Fund for Nature

This summary document was written for WWF by Jamison Ervin of Hardscrabble Associates, September 2001.

WWF, in collaboration with its partners and affiliates has developed the Rapid Assessment and Prioritisation Methodology. This methodology has been extensively peer reviewed, field tested in several countries and is currently being utilised in China, Russia and South Africa. For more information about the Rapid Assessment and Prioritisation Methodology, please visit: www.panda.org/forests4life/parkassessment

Contents

Introduction Process and description of the methodology Relation to other assessment methodologies Analysis 1: Protected area management planning, inputs and practices Analysis 2: Pressures and threats Analysis 3: Biological and socio-economic priorities Analysis 4: Trends and outlook Lessons from utilisation and field-testing Conclusions Questionnaire

1 2 3 4

5 6 6 7 8 10

Introduction

There are more than 44,000 protected areas worldwide (Phillips, 2000) covering over 10% of the earths forests (WCMC, 2001). These protected areas fulfil an array of ecological and social functions. Yet many of these areas are under threat. A WWF/World Bank survey of ten countries in 1999 found that only 1% of forest protected areas are considered secure, and a quarter are suffering serious degradation (Stolton & Dudley, 1999). Similarly, a study of 93 protected areas throughout the tropics found that at least 20% had experienced some degree of land clearing (Bruner et al, 2001). In Chinas Wolong Nature Reserve a study found the loss, degradation and fragmentation of giant panda habitat actually accelerated after the creation of the reserve, in some instances even faster than surrounding areas (Liu et al, 2001). Clearly protected areas worldwide face an uncertain future. These studies underscore the urgent need to assess and monitor protected areas in order to ensure that they fulfil the objectives for which they were established. The World Wide Fund for Natures Forests for Life Programme has developed the Rapid Assessment and Prioritisation Methodology to promote improved management of protected areas. This methodology is a powerful tool that can assist protected area managers and policy makers in gauging the effectiveness of their protected area systems. By providing data about the threats, security, status and management practices of each area, the Rapid Assessment and Prioritisation Methodology can provide a snapshot of the overall effectiveness of an entire protected area system. It can also perform several other functions: it can highlight the strengths and weaknesses of a protected area system; identify weak and ineffective policies; uncover the scope and severity of a variety of threats; gauge the degree of degradation; and help to determine priorities according to the importance, vulnerability and urgency of each protected area.

Improving Protected Area Management 1

Process and description of the methodology

A set of guidelines and recommendations have been developed for implementing the Rapid Assessment and Prioritisation Methodology. The first of these is that the objectives of implementing the methodology should be clear from the outset; the use and distribution of information, the participants, available resources, timeframe and follow-up steps should all be determined in advance. Secondly, the methodology is best suited to certain conditions, including a climate of trust and cooperation between park managers and administrators; and a system of protected areas with clear and similar objectives. Finally, WWF strongly recommends that the methodology be implemented using one or more participatory workshops with park managers, policy makers and stakeholders. Multiple perspectives can help ensure more accurate data, and can contribute to a deeper understanding of the conditions and threats of a protected area. The methodology involves five steps. The first step is to identify the range of protected areas to be included in the assessment. This step will depend on the objectives of the assessment. The KwaZulu Natal Wildlife Service of South Africa, for example, is assessing all protected areas within the province in order to gain a province-wide perspective. In the forests of the Upper Yangtze River, WWF is focusing on protected areas sharing a common objective the protection of giant panda habitat. In Russia, The World Conservation Union (IUCN) and WWF are teaming up to assess all federal level protected areas nation-wide. The second step is to assess existing data, including satellite images, needs assessments, annual reviews and scientific studies. Such data can be used to supplement and/or validate questionnaire responses. The third step is to administer the Questionnaire. In order to ensure consistent interpretation of questions and to foster discussion and analysis, WWF strongly recommends that the questionnaire be administered as part of a participatory workshop, unless cultural norms dictate otherwise. The fourth step is to analyse the data, both for each protected area as well as a comparative analysis across the system. Some analyses include the vulnerability, biological and social urgency, and overall management effectiveness. The final step is to identify next steps and prioritise actions based on the findings.

Relation to other assessment methodologies

Numerous organisations have developed their own methodologies for assessing protected area effectiveness; Hockings (2000) reviewed 26 of these. These vary tremendously in their breadth, depth and focus. In general, however, they fall into two types adaptive management assessments, and broad, comparative assessments. The former is a detailed, field-based approach that tracks improvements over time and provides managers with the in-depth analyses they need to adapt their management practices. The latter is a broader approach that compares many protected areas, and provides policy makers with the ability to track system-wide trends, and to develop and prioritise appropriate policies and programmes. In order to provide a consistent approach to assessing protected area management effectiveness worldwide, the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) has developed an overall assessment framework (Hockings et al, 2000). WWFs Rapid Assessment and Prioritisation Methodology is one of several ongoing efforts to develop assessment tools that are consistent with WCPAs framework. The WCPA framework includes six main assessment elements: context, planning, inputs, processes, outputs and outcomes. The Rapid Assessment and Prioritisation Methodology contains all six assessment elements, as illustrated in Figure 1.

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Figure 1: Assessment Elements in the Rapid Assessment and Prioritisation Methodology Context Biological, social and economic importance Site conditions Threats PA policies Policy environment PA Design and Planning Objectives PA site design PA system design Legal status Inputs PA funding Staff Equipment Transportation Facilities Management Processes Information and communication Data management Management planning Monitoring and research Financial management Management Outputs Enforcement Boundary demarcation Fulfilment of work plan Education Restoration Prevention Outcomes Degree of degradation Trends over time

WWFs Rapid Assessment and Prioritisation Methodology is designed to be a broad, comparative assessment of the effectiveness of a protected area system. It can answer questions such as: What are the threats facing a number of protected areas and how serious are these threats? How do protected areas compare with one another in terms of infrastructure and management capacity? What is the urgency for taking action in each protected area? What is the overall level of integrity and degradation of each protected area? How well do national and local policies support the effective management of protected areas? It also provides data for each protected area in a system, and can be used as a baseline for future monitoring and evaluation. The Rapid Assessment and Prioritisation Methodology can complement more detailed, sitelevel assessments by serving as a trip-wire for identifying individual areas that may warrant further study. It can also help in identifying broad programme areas, such as training or law enforcement that may require detailed, site-level data. Figure 2 shows how two assessment methodologies could be used in tandem.
Figure 2: The Nature Conservancys Measures of Success Methodology and WWFs Rapid Assessment Methodology: Two Complementary Approaches to Assessing Protected Areas

Both The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and WWF have developed methodologies for assessing protected areas. Both consider activities that have had a harmful impact on biological resources. Both focus on strategies to mitigate future threats. These two assessment systems can be used in tandem. A broad and rapid assessment can help identify vulnarable, degraded and high priority sites; a site-level assessment can help identify specific steps to prevent and mitigate stress to the area, and measure progress over time. WWFs Rapid Assessment and Prioritisation Methodology PA system-wide level Analysis focused on threats, pressures and policy interventions

Develops system-wide strategies Assesses current and future threats in relation to management objectives Considers influences on protected areas Focuses on management effectiveness Focuses on policy-level intervention Considers pressures (stresses) and sources of stress Measures specific stress to ecosystems Focuses on biodiversity health Develops site-level abatement strategies for sources of stress Emphasises restoration and management measures

TNCs Site Conservation Planning/Measures of Success Methodology Site-level Analysis focused on impacts to biodiversity and their causes Actions aimed at improving biodiversity health

Improving Protected Area Management 3

Some Analyses
Analysis 1: Protected Area Management Planning, Inputs and Practices This analysis covers three aspects of protected area management: planning, inputs and practices. Planning includes questions on protected area objectives, legal status and security, and PA site design and planning. Inputs asks questions on communications and information systems, equipment, transportation and facilities. Practices include questions on management practices, research, and monitoring and evaluation. The resulting analysis, as depicted in these graphs, is a broad picture of the overall management effectiveness of a protected area.
Planning
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Ave

Inputs

6 5 4 3 2 1 0

10a 10b 10c 10d 10e Ave

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Ave

Practices

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13a 13b 13c 13d 13e Ave

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Ave

Combining the data sets of many protected areas enables broad comparisons of management effectiveness and identifies trends and patterns across an entire protected area system. The graph below depicts the results of management effectiveness for ten separate protected areas.
Comparison of inputs, Practices and Policies for 10 Protected Areas
40 35
7 7 7 14 6 9 13 14 7 5 8 6 14 7 9 4

30 25 20 15 10 5 0

3 13

14

15

14

2 3 7

15

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12

PA 1

PA 2 Planning

PA 3

PA 4 Inputs

PA 5 Practices

PA 6

PA 7

PA 8

PA 9

PA 10

4 Improving Protected Area Management

Analysis 2: Pressures and Threats Pressures are forces or events that have already had a detrimental impact on the integrity of the protected area. Threats are potential pressures which are likely to occur or continue in the future. Pressures and threats, which may include legal and illegal activities, should be determined in relation to the objectives of each protected area. The graphs below depict the degree of pressures and threats for a single protected area, which can be expressed by a numerical index.
Degree of Pressure 12-16 Magnitude 6-9 3-4 1-2 Short term 1
4 Tourism

Degree of Threat 12-16 Magnitude

8 Poaching

6-9 3-4 1-2

6 Poaching 8 Tourism

Medium Long term term 3 2 Permanence

Permanent 4

Short term 1

Medium Long term term 3 2 Permanence

Permanent 4

Analysing the degree of an array of threats and pressures from many protected areas enables a general understanding of their severity and persistence system-wide. The two graphs below depict all threats and pressures for a number of protected areas. The percentage indicates the occurrence of each pressure and threat across the entire system.

Pressures System-wide 12-16 Magnitude 6-9 3-4 1-2 Magnitude

85% Poaching 22% 15% Agriculture Tourism 65% Grazing 4% Mining

Threats System-wide 12-16 6-9 3-4 1-2

15% Agriculture 55% Grazing 70% Poaching 60% Tourism 10% Mining

Short term 1

Medium Long term term 3 2 Permanence

Permanent 4

Short term 1

Medium Long term term 3 2 Permanence

Permanent 4

Improving Protected Area Management 5

Analysis 3: Biological and Socio-economic Priorities This analysis looks at the biological and socio-economic urgency of each protected area, as determined by its degree of threat and its biological and socio-economic importance. The graphs below depict the biological and socio-economic urgency for a single protected area.
Biological Priority 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Socio-economic Priority

Overall Degree of Threat

PA 1

Overall Degree of Threat

PA 1

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Biological Importance

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Socio-economic Importance

By comparing the data from multiple sites, policy makers can assess which areas might receive highest priority. In the graphs below, areas 1, 2, 12 and 8 would likely have the highest biological priority, while areas 1 and 2 would likely have the highest socio-economic priority.
Biological Priority 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Socio-economic Priority

Overall Degree of Threat

Overall Degree of Threat

PA 4

PA 1 PA 2 PA 5

PA 8

PA 4

PA 1 PA 2

PA 12

PA 5 PA 10 PA 6 PA 7 PA 9 PA 8 PA 3

PA 3 PA 6 PA 7 PA 9 PA 10 PA 11

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Biological Importance

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Socio-economic Importance

Analysis 4: Trends and Outlook Threats and pressures occur in a historical context. By understanding trends over time, certain patterns can emerge that may help in mitigating and preventing pressures across the protected area system. This analysis considers the changes in pressures over the last ten years, the current level of pressures, and the outlook for threats over the next ten years. The figure below depicts the general trend in the past (the left arrow), as well as the expected outlook for the future (the right arrow) for a range of pressures and threats of a single protected area.

Tourism

NTFPs

Poaching

Overall outlook

6 Improving Protected Area Management

Comparing the overall trends and outlook for multiple protected areas can help in identifying which protected areas may be most vulnerable, as well as provide a system-wide analysis of various policy issues. The figure below depicts the overall outlook for eight protected areas. The information could also be presented according to individual pressures and threats system-wide.

Protected area 1

Protected area 2

Protected area 3

Protected area 4

Protected area 5

Protected area 6

Protected area 7

Protected area 8

Lessons from utilisation and field-testing

South Africa KwaZulu Natal Wildlife Service of South Africa is undertaking an assessment of 115 protected areas in the province in order to prioritise future funding allocations. The results from the assessment will help the organisation identify the most vulnerable protected areas. They will also improve public awareness of the problems facing protected areas, and bolster efforts to increase governmental spending on protected area management. The assessment, which includes both forested and grassland savannah areas, has so far revealed a number of threats across the region. Some of these include the spread of diseases from domestic cattle, the unsustainable collection of non-timber forest products, and the invasion of alien plant species. China WWF completed an assessment of 21 interconnected protected areas, located on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. These areas, which range in size from 7,600 hectares to 200,000 hectares, all provide habitat for the giant panda, the tarkin and the golden monkey. The results of the assessment revealed some serious threats, including ineffective reserve design and management, conflicts with local communities, and encroachment on critical panda habitat. In addition, the assessment highlighted a systematic lack of policy support for conservation. Because cultural traditions prevent open criticism of protected area management in a workshop setting, WWF staff are seeking ways to triangulate data, through a series of direct questionnaires, personal interviews and secondary information sources. WWF plans to use the methodology more broadly to assess protected areas within the forests of the Upper Yangtze - one of WWFs Global 200 Ecoregions.

Improving Protected Area Management 7

Russia WWF and IUCN's Temperate and Boreal Forest Programme are collaborating on a project to implement the Rapid Assessment and Prioritisation Methodology across all federal-level protected areas throughout Russia. The assessment process will include a series of regional workshops and meetings with protected area officials and local stakeholders. The project is also aimed at increasing civic capacity and involvement in protected area management. Threats highlighted during preliminary workshops included recreation, hunting, mining and logging. One of the unintended benefits of the workshops has been improved communication and understanding between the Ministry of Natural Resources, protected area managers, researchers and NGO representatives. Algeria There is a strong oral tradition within the country. Data gathering techniques were modified to allow individual, informal meetings. Results demonstrated a systemic gap in research, monitoring and conservation capacity. Traditional and indigenous practices contribute to the conservation of the protected area, but are under-recognised. The main threats to protected areas include grazing and logging. Mexico An assessment of ten protected areas in Mexico highlighted the need to consider social and cultural issues more carefully, to broaden participation to stakeholders, and to provide clear instructions for the methodologys use. Cameroon and Gabon Most threats in the areas assessed are beyond the control of protected area administrators. Effective management will require national and international intervention. Most large-scale threats are the result of pressures caused by European and Asian logging companies. The remoteness of the area, and the inadequate communication infrastructure, meant that far more time was spent collecting information than planned.

Conclusions

Protected areas vary substantially from region to region and from country to country. Their management effectiveness, degree of degradation, vulnerability, and biological and social urgency differ considerably. The analyses presented in this methodology can enable policy makers to sort through large amounts of complex, multi-variable information, and to answer key questions such as: Which protected areas are most at risk? Which protected areas should receive priority? Which protected areas have strong capacity, and which are weak? Which protected areas warrant more detailed, in-depth assessments? Which protected areas are the most strategic conservation investments? What are the overall strengths and weaknesses in the protected area system? What policy interventions might be needed?

The Rapid Assessment and Prioritisation Methodology is simply a tool for asking these questions in a systematic way. The follow-up steps that may develop as a result of implementing this methodology are the most important outcome of the assessment exercise.

8 Improving Protected Area Management

References
Bruner, A., R. Gullison. R. Rice & G. da Fonseca. 2001. Effectiveness of parks in protecting tropical biodiversity. Science. Vol. 291. Pp. 125-128. Dudley, N. and S. Stolton, 2000. Assessing Management Effectiveness in Protected Areas, WWF; IUCN and the World Bank, Gland and Washington DC Hockings, M. 2000. Evaluating protected area management: A review of systems for assessing management effectiveness of protected areas. The University of Queensland, School of Natural and Rural Systems Management, Occasional Paper 7 (3). Hockings, M., S. Stolton, and N. Dudley, 2000. Evaluating effectiveness: A framework for assessing management of protected areas. IUCN Cardiff University Best Practice Series, IUCN Cambridge and Gland. Liu, J., M. Linderman, Z. Ouyang, L. An, J. Yang & H. Zhang. 2001. Ecological degradation in protected areas: The case of Wolong Nature Reserve for giant pandas. Science. Vol 292, pp. 98-101. Phillips, A., 2000. Caring for the assets The effectiveness of protected areas management. In Rana and Edelman (eds.), pp 189 -205 Rana, D and E. Edelman, (eds.) 2000. The Design and Management of Forest Protected Areas, Papers presented at the Beyond the Trees Conference. World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC), http://www.unep-wcmc.org

Improving Protected Area Management 9

Rapid Assessment and Prioritisation Questionnaire

A. 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) BACKGROUND Name of protected area Location of protected area Date established Size of protected area Name of respondent Date questionnaire completed Budget A 8) Specific PA Objectives

1. OBJECTIVES y m/y m/n n O O O O O O O O O O O O

NOTES u O O O a) The PA objectives provide for the protection and maintenance of biological diversity and associated resources. b) The objectives of the PA are clearly stated in the management plan. c) The management policies (e.g. management plan, annual work plan) are consistent with the management objectives of the protected area. d) PA employees and administrators clearly understand the management objectives, practices and policies of the PA. e) Local communities support the overall objectives of the PA.

O O

O O

O O

O O

O O

2. LEGAL STATUS AND SECURITY y m/y m/n n u a) The protected area has long-term legally-binding protection. b) There are no unsettled disputes regarding land tenure or use rights. c) Boundary demarcation is adequate to meet the PA objectives. d) There is effective enforcement of all laws within the PA. e) There is adequate funding to conduct all critical management activities. 3. PA SITE DESIGN AND PLANNING y m/y m/n n u a) The layout and configuration of the PA optimizes the conservation of biodiversity (see Box 4). b) The land use in the surrounding landscape enables effective PA management (e.g. the PA is surrounded by either a buffer zone of undeveloped area, or by a designated lowimpact land use zone). c) The siting of the PA is consistent with the objectives. d) The size is sufficient to meet the PA objectives (e.g. large enough to support minimum viable populations of umbrella species). e) The protected area is linked, either via a protected corridor or by direct proximity, to another area of conserved and/or protected land.

NOTES

NOTES

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4. BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE y m/y m/n n u O O O O O a) The PA contains a globally threatened ecosystem. O O O O O b) The PA contains globally rare, threatened or endangered species. O O O O O c) The PA contains regionally or locally rare, threatened or endangered species. O O O O O d) The PA has high levels of biological diversity. O O O O O e) The PA has a high number of endemic species. O O O O O f) The PA provides a critical landscape function. O O O O O g) The PA is large enough to support minimum viable populations of umbrella species, or is relatively large for the region. O O O O O h) The PA contains exemplary and intact ecosystems. O O O O O i) The PA significantly contributes to the overall representativeness of the PA system. j) The PA contains important, high quality habitat types for key species. 5. SOCIAL IMPORTANCE y m/y m/n n u 0 0 0

NOTES

NOTES a) The PA provides economic opportunities for individuals within or near the PA. b) The PA demonstrates opportunities for sustainable development, consistent with the PA objectives. c) The PA has a high level of subsistence and/or traditional use by local communities. d) The PA has religious or spiritual significance. e) The PA has unusual features of aesthetic importance (e.g. hot springs, scenic vistas, geoheritage areas). f) The PA contains species of high social or economic value (e.g. medicinal value, food prototypes). g) The PA has high value for education and or scientific research. h) The PA has high recreation value. i) The functions of the ecosystems within the protected area contribute significant social or economic benefits (e.g. water recharge area). j) The local community or economy is highly dependent, either directly or indirectly, upon the resources in the protected area.

00

6. PRESSURES Pressure: a. Over the past 10 years, this activity has: Increased sharply Increased slightly Remained constant Decreased slightly Decreased sharply The impact of this pressure over the past 10 years has been: b. Range c. Impact d. Permanence Throughout (>50%) Severe impact Permanent (>500 years) Widespread (15-50%) High impact Long term (100-500 years) Scattered (5-15%) Moderate impact Medium term (10-100 years) Localized (<5%) Mild impact Short term (<10 years)

NOTES

Improving Protected Area Management 11

6. PRESSURES Pressure: a. Over the past 10 years, this activity has: Increased sharply Increased slightly Remained constant Decreased slightly Decreased sharply The impact of this pressure over the past 10 years has been: b. Range c. Impact d. Permanence Throughout (>50%) Severe impact Permanent (>500 years) Widespread (15-50%) High impact Long term (100-500 years) Scattered (5-15%) Moderate impact Medium term (10-100 years) Localized (<5%) Mild impact Short term (<10 years)

NOTES

6. PRESSURES Pressure: a. Over the past 10 years, this activity has: Increased sharply Increased slightly Remained constant Decreased slightly Decreased sharply The impact of this pressure over the past 10 years has been: b. Range c. Impact d. Permanence Throughout (>50%) Severe impact Permanent (>500 years) Widespread (15-50%) High impact Long term (100-500 years) Scattered (5-15%) Moderate impact Medium term (10-100 years) Localized (<5%) Mild impact Short term (<10 years)

NOTES

7. THREATS Threat: a. The likelihood of this The impact of this threat over the next 10 years will be: b. Range c. Impact d. Permanence activity occurring or Throughout (>50%) Severe impact Permanent (>500 years) increasing in the next 10 years is: Widespread (15-50%) High impact Long term (100-500 years) Very likely Scattered (5-15%) Moderate impact Medium term (10-100 years) Somewhat likely Localized (<5%) Mild impact Short term (<10 years) Somewhat unlikely Possible but unlikely

NOTES

7. THREATS Threat: a. The likelihood of this The impact of this threat over the next 10 years will be: b. Range c. Impact d. Permanence activity occurring or Throughout (>50%) Severe impact Permanent (>500 years) increasing in the next 10 years is: Widespread (15-50%) High impact Long term (100-500 years) Very likely Scattered (5-15%) Moderate impact Medium term (10-100 years) Somewhat likely Localized (<5%) Mild impact Short term (<10 years) Somewhat unlikely Possible but unlikely

NOTES

7. THREATS Threat: a. The likelihood of this The impact of this threat over the next 10 years will be: b. Range c. Impact d. Permanence activity occurring or Throughout (>50%) Severe impact Permanent (>500 years) increasing in the next 10 years is: Widespread (15-50%) High impact Long term (100-500 years) Very likely Scattered (5-15%) Moderate impact Medium term (10-100 years) Somewhat likely Localized (<5%) Mild impact Short term (<10 years) Somewhat unlikely Possible but unlikely

NOTES

12 Improving Protected Area Management

8. LOCAL CONTRIBUTING FACTORS y m/y m/n n u a) The area is difficult to monitor, either because of too few staff, large size of the area, or remoteness. b) The protected area management is under pressure to unduly exploit the natural resources of the protected area (e.g. is expected to generate sufficient revenue to pay expenses, or is under pressure by special interest groups). c) Bribery and corruption is common throughout the region. d) The area is experiencing civil unrest. e) Cultural practices, beliefs and traditional uses conflict with the objectives of the protected area. f) The resource value of the protected area is high (e.g. the protected area has stands of high quality timber, rich mineral resources, high potential for hydropower development, grazing capacity). g) The area is easily accessible (e.g. near major roads, airstrips and/or waterways). h) There is a strong demand for and trade in, products from the protected area (e.g. desirable timber species, endangered plant and animal species). i) The area surrounding the protected area is experiencing sharp economic and/or population pressures (e.g. land shortages, widespread poverty, food shortages, high growth). j) Recruitment and retention of employees is difficult (e.g. large scale disease, emigration). 9. REGIONAL AND LOCAL INFLUENCES y m/y m/n n u a) The area is susceptible to, and has a diminished capacity to prevent, natural catastrophes (e.g. flood, fire, insect outbreaks) because of widescale over-exploitation of natural resources and/or suppression of natural processes. b) The area is susceptible to climate induced changes, including a) protected areas with ecosystems at the limits of the latitudinal extent of their range; b) protected areas with high elevation forests; c) protected areas with low-altitude, shoreline mangrove forests; and/or d) protected areas that are subject to storms of increasing frequency and intensity. c) The area is susceptible to air pollution and acidification (e.g. prevailing wind patterns transport air pollution, and/or the ecosystems within the protected area are sensitive to the effects of acidification.) d) The area is susceptible to invasive, exotic species. e) The integrity of the hydrology of the PA is dependent upon adjacent and/or regional land use (i.e. the area is susceptible to water pollution, desertification, and/or salinization of the water table)

NOTES

NOTES

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10. STAFF y m/y m/n

NOTES n u a) The number of staffing is sufficient to effectively manage the area. b) Staff members have adequate skills to conduct management activities. c) There is clear internal organization (e.g. job descriptions). d) Staff support (e.g. training, supervision, monitoring) is appropriate to the needs of the staff. e) Staff employment conditions (e.g. salaries, benefits, working environment) are sufficient to retain staff.

11. COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION y m/y m/n n u a) There is effective communication between all PA staff and administration. b) There are adequate means of communication between field and office staff (.e.g. telephones, two-way radios, internet access, fax machines). c) There are adequate systems for processing information and data (e.g. computers, software, filing systems). d) Data about the PA is available and relatively recent (e.g. satellite imagery, aerial photos, field study reports). e) There is effective communication with local communities regarding all aspects of PA management. 12. TRANSPORTATION AND FACILITIES y m/y m/n n u a) Transportation means are adequate to enable effective monitoring and other critical management activities. b) Equipment for field-level data collection is adequate (e.g. field glasses, back country gear, GPS monitors). c) Staff facilities are adequate (e.g. staff offices, research stations, field offices). d) Maintenance and care of equipment is adequate to ensure long-term use. e) Visitor facilities (e.g. trails, signs, camping areas) are appropriate to the level of visitor use. 13. MANAGEMENT PLANNING y m/y m/n n u a) There is a comprehensive, relatively recent written management plan. b) There is an up-to-date natural resources inventory, including maps of the area. c) There is an analysis of, and strategy for addressing, PA threats and pressures. d) Specific goals and targets are identified for achieving management objectives within a clear timeframe. e) Management planning continually incorporates and adapts to new learning.
14 Improving Protected Area Management

NOTES

NOTES

NOTES

14. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES y m/y m/n n u a) Management goals, targets and prescriptions are fulfilled within a reasonable timeframe. b) There is an active restoration program, consistent with the degree of pressures. c) There is an active prevention program, consistent with the degree of threats. d) Education and outreach programs are consistent with the level of need in the area. e) Financial management practices enable efficient and effective management. 15. RESEARCH, MONITORING AND EVALUATION y m/y m/n n u a) The impact of legal and illegal uses of the PA are accurately monitored and recorded. b) Research needs are clearly identified and prioritized. c) Staff performance and progress on targets are periodically reviewed. d) The results of research and monitoring are routinely incorporated into management planning. e) Research in the PA on key ecological and social issues (e.g. species population trends, harvest of non-timber forest products) is consistent with the pressures and threats.

NOTES

NOTES

The remaining three sets of questions pertain to system-wide analyses. These questions would not be included in the questionnaire for each protected area, but would be discussed as part of the workshop.

16. PROTECTED AREA SYSTEM y m/y m/n n u a) The PA system adequately represents the full diversity of ecosystems at a landscape level throughout the region. b) The PA system adequately protects against the extinction or extirpation of any species by protecting sites of rare, threatened and endangered species and their habitats. c) The PA system consists primarily of exemplary and intact ecosystems. d) Sites of high conservation value for key species are adequately protected. e) The PA system allows for natural processes to occur at a landscape level throughout the country. f) The PA system includes the protection of transition areas between ecosystems. g) The PA system includes a diversity of successional and seral stages at the landscape level across the region. h) Sites of high biodiversity are protected. i) Sites of high endemism are protected. j) The layout and configuration of protected areas optimizes the conservation of biodiversity.

NOTES

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17. PROTECTED AREA POLICIES y m/y m/n n u a) National PA policies clearly articulate a vision, goals and objectives for the protected area system. b) There is an adequate percentage of land cover under protection, consistent with the degree of biodiversity within the region and the resources of the country. c) There is a clear and demonstrated commitment to protecting a fully viable and representative PA network at a landscape level throughout the region. d) There is a comprehensive inventory of the biological diversity throughout the region. e) There is an assessment of the historical range of variability of various ecosystem types throughout the region. f) There are clear restoration targets for underrepresented and/or degraded ecosystems throughout the region, consistent with the degree of past degradation. g) There is ongoing research on critical PA-related issues. h) The PA system is periodically reviewed for gaps and weaknesses (e.g. biodiversity gap analyses). i) There is an effective training and capacity-building program for PA managers and administrators. j) PA management, including management effectiveness, is routinely evaluated. 18. PROTECTED AREA SYSTEM DESIGN y m/y m/n n u a) Laws related to protected areas (e.g. land use planning, land tenure, forestry and agriculture) complement PA management and do not conflict with PA objectives. b) There is sufficient commitment and funding to effectively manage and administer protected areas. c) Goals of environmental protection and sustainable development are systematically incorporated into all aspects of policy development. d) There is a high degree of communication between natural resource-related departments, ministries, and agencies (e.g. parks, wildlife, tourism, recreation, forestry, agriculture). e) There is effective enforcement of PA-related laws and ordinances at local, regional and national levels. f) National policies promote widespread environmental education at all levels. g) National policies support sustainable forestry management practices throughout the public and private forestry sectors. h) National policies promote the full array of public and private mechanisms for enabling land conservation (e.g. private reserves, market-driven certification, logger training, tax incentives). i) There is adequate environmental training and education for government employees at all levels across all sectors. 0 j) National policies foster dialogue and participation with civic and environmental NGOs.
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18 Improving Protected Area Management

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