Towards effective Protected Area Systems. An action guide to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity Programme of Work on Protected Areas.

Abstract

The overall purpose of the Programme of Work on protected areas is to support the establishment and maintenance by 2010 for terrestrial and by 2012 for marine areas of comprehensive, effectively managed, and ecologically representative national and regional systems of protected areas that collectively, inter alia through a global network contribute to achieving the three objectives of the Convention and the 2010 target to significantly reduce the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional, national and sub-national levels and contribute to poverty reduction and the pursuit of sustainable development, thereby supporting the objectives of the Strategic Plan of the Convention, the World Summit on Sustainable Development Plan of Implementation and the Millennium Development Goals. The Programme of Work identifies four programme elements, 16 goals (each with a more specific target) and 92 activities for the Parties, many of which have specific timetables. The Programme of Work on Protected Areas is one of the most ambitious global conservation programmes ever agreed. It may appear daunting to many governments. Many activities are linked and some overlap. While some actions need to be taken by every government, others can be addressed only once and the results shared. Countries will usually not start from zero: there is already a huge amount of relevant progress, along with experience, tools and data to draw from.