Categories and Management Objectives of Protected Areas

CATEGORIES AND MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES OF PROTECTED AREAS

by Antonio C. Antonio

January 1, 2015

In order to set the parameters in monitoring protected areas all over the world, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) came up with a system of classifying them.  The IUCN is now popularly called the World Conservation Union which is the umbrella organization of conservation agencies and institutions.

In 1978, the IUCN, through the IUCN General Assembly, developed and ratified a system of categories and management objectives of protected areas which encompassed a wide range of protected/conservation areas.  These categories are as follows:

Category I: Strict Nature Reserve and Scientific Reserve – To protect nature and maintain natural processes in an undisturbed state in order to have ecologically representative examples of the natural environment available for scientific study, environmental monitoring, education, and for the maintenance of genetic resources in a dynamic and evolutionary state.

Category II: National Park – To protect outstanding natural and scenic areas of national and international significance for scientific, educational and recreational use.  These are relatively large natural areas and materially altered by human activity where extractive resource uses are not allowed.

Category III: Natural Monument and Natural Landmark – To protect and preserve nationally significant natural features because of their special interest or unique characteristics.  These are relatively small areas focused on protection of specific features.

Category IV: Managed Nature Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary – To assure the natural conditions necessary to protect nationally significant species, groups of species, biotic communities, or physical features of the environment where these may require specific human manipulation for their perpetuation.  Controlled harvesting of some resources can be permitted.

Category V: Protected Landscape and Seascapes – To maintain nationally significant natural landscapes which are characteristic of the harmonious interaction of man and land while providing opportunities for public enjoyment through recreation and tourism within the normal life cycle and economic activity of those areas.  These are mixed cultural/natural landscapes of high scenic value where traditional land uses are maintained.

Category VI: Resource Reserve – To protect the natural resources of the area for future use and prevent or contain development activities that could affect the resource pending the establishment of objectives which are based upon appropriate knowledge and planning.  This is a holding category used until a permanent classification can be determined.

Category VII: Anthropological Reserve – To allow the way of life of societies living in harmony with the environment to continue undisturbed by modern technology.  This category is appropriate where resource extraction by indigenous people is conducted in a traditional manner.

Category VIII: Multiple Use Management Area and Managed Resource Area – To provide for the sustained production of water, timber, wildlife, pasture and tourism, with the conservation of the nature primarily oriented to the support of economic activities (although specific zones may also be designated within these areas to achieve specific conservation objectives).

Category IX: Biosphere Reserve – To conserve for present and future use the diversity and integrity of the biotic communities of plants and animals within natural ecosystems, and to safeguard the genetic diversity of species on which their continuing evolution depends.  These are internationally designated sites managed for research, education and training.

Category X:  World Heritage Site – To protect the natural features for which the area is considered to be of outstanding universal significance.  This is a select list of the world’s unique natural and cultural sites nominated by countries that are party to the World Heritage Convention.

These categories are important to know so we have a good idea why specific sites are designated and declared as protected/conservation areas… these are the categories and management objectives of protected areas.

Just my little thoughts…

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