PDF: Protected Areas for the 21st Century: Lessons from UNDP/GEF's Portfolio

Citation
Ervin, J., N. Sekhran, A. Dinu. S. Gidda, M. Vergeichik & J. Mee. (2010). Protected Areas for the 21st Century: Lessons from UNDP/GEF’s Portfolio. New York: United Nations Development Programme and Montreal: Convention on Biological Diversity.

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SummaryThe following report looks at how changing 21st Century expectations about the roles and functions of protected areas are beginning to shape protected area management around the world and identifies emerging best practices for protected areas under a new paradigm that views protected areas as part of a planetary life support system.

The report is based on case studies drawn largely from the portfolio of projects financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The GEF is the world’s most significant multilateral funding source for protected areas. Since the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Programme of Work on Protected Areas was ratified in 2004, UNDP/GEF has supported work in more than 700 protected areas around the world, covering nearly every goal, target and action under the Programme of Work.

Following this introductory section, which presents background on historical and evolving concepts of protected areas and their roles, the report is organized according to eight key themes that are shaping protected areas management in the 21st Century. These themes range from enabling policy environments to management planning, governance, participation, and sustainable finance, to name but a few. For each of the eight themes, the report presents a snapshot of the current status of implementation, a set of emerging best practices, and one or more case studies that illustrate innovative and successful approaches.

Keywords
protected area management, policy, planning, assessment, monitoring, capacity, sustainable finance, transboundary