What do the new IUCN Protected Areas Category Guidelines mean for the UK?

1. What do the new IUCN Protected Areas Category Guidelines mean for the UK? Adrian Phillips

2. The task before us – today and later • To understand the significance of the protected area categories (Nik, Nigel, Charles, background papers) • To understand the new guidelines (Nigel) • To agree how to go about applying the guidelines in the UK (this talk) • To review potential protected areas against the guidelines • To assign categories to those places recognised as protected areas • To report this information to UNEP/WCMC and IUCN • And then to use the resulting information intelligently, here and internationally

3. Where we are now • Major review of protected area category guidelines 2002-2008 • New guidelines published 2008 (no change to 1994 categories but new definitions and greater clarity re application of system) • WCPA chair invites countries to consider implications (“UK lags behind .. in quality of protected areas reporting”) • IUCN/UK Committee agrees to lead exercise

4. Why UK should do it* * quite apart from Nik Lopoukhine’s request! • Can give a platform for UK leadership • More comprehensive data re protected areas • Raise profile of protected areas • Demonstrate variety of protected area types and governance systems in the UK • Reveal potential for connectivity • Introduce UK/IUCN Cttee. (and IUCN) to new audiences • Improve UK reporting (e.g. CBD, Natura 2000) • Better dialogue between all concerned • Better integration of nature and landscape • Better public understanding re protected areas

5. What we have now on WDPA ...* * If you can find it! • Category IV: NNRs, MNRs

6. What we have now on the WDPA (cont.) • Category V: National Parks, AONBs, National Scenic Areas plus others

7. What we do not have on the WDPA* *unless they are NNRs or MNRs. Many though occur within Category V protected areas • SSSIs • ASSIs • Natura 2000 sites (SACs and SPAs) • Ramsar, Ospar, World Heritage natural or mixed sites • Local nature reserves • Geological sites • NGO reserves – RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, WWT, Woodland Trust, John Muir, Plantlife etc. • NT inalienable land • Other designations (e.g. Biosphere Reserves) • And no doubt others Warning – these will not all be IUCN protected areas

8. Also we may not be using the categories properly For example: • Have we no strict nature reserves? (Category Ia) • Or places that meet Category II criteria? (possibly Rhum?) • What about Category III? (possibly Jurassic Coast WH site?) • Or Category VI? (perhaps some marine sites?)

9. Some questions • What status should SSSIs and ASSIs, and Natura 2000 sites, have as protected areas in IUCN terms (if any)? • What about Category V – do they pass the protected areas the IUCN test? Can they be made to do so? Should they? • Are sites on privately/NGO owned land protected areas – and if so in what category? • What do we do about the range of designations? Are they all potential protected areas (e.g. geological sites)? • How do we deal with overlapping designations • Should we make more use of ‘neglected’ categories? • What about the marine environment?

10. What we hope to do today is to agree how to answer those questions • Agree the need for an assignment review • Secure general commitment to support review • Agree the main features of the review: • Partners • Management • Major phases • Timetable • Outline budget • Next steps

11. Suggested review process phases • Planning (today) • Launch event at Edinburgh, IUCN conference 18-20 April • Capacity building – materials, training etc. • Consultation with all interested parties and initial assignment (includes workshops) • Analysis of data leading to draft assignment • Checking • Sign-off

12. Possible workshop on biodiversity sites • Some issues: • SSSIs and ASSIs • Natura 2000 sites • NGO & private conservation sites • Marine sites

13. Possible workshop on Category V • Some issues: • The IUCN “test” • NP & AONB purposes • Strengthening b/d conservation role • Cultural v. natural values

14. Managing the review process - suggestions • A task force to steer (appointed by IUCN/UK but with wider-than-IUCN membership) • An ‘independent’ chair • Logistical support from IUCN UK Committee Secretariat • Project co-ordinator • 12 month (or more?) timetable • A budget (c.£30K)

15. The outcome and its significance The assignment exercise should result in: • An accurate record of all the UK’s protected area conservation efforts, for use at national and international levels • In effect, for the first time, a “UK system of protected areas” • The value of this system is not as a static record but how it can be used, e.g. in: • Conserving and restoring biodiversity within protected areas and on a landscape scale • Mitigating the effects of, and adapting, to climate change • Valuing and protecting ecosystem services • Realising the health and social welfare benefits of landscape, countryside and greenspace • Making links with aspects of the historic landscape • Relating to green infrastructure in urban development.