ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT OF THE GALAPAGOS PROTECTED AREAS THROUGH THE EVALUATION OF THE MANAGEMENT PLAN EMPLOYING C and I METHOD

Protected areas are under increasing threat from a range of external and internal pressures on biodiversity. With a primary mandate being the conservation of biodiversity, monitoring is an essential component of measuring the performance of protected areas. Here we present a framework for guiding the structure and development of a Biodiversity Monitoring System (BMS) for South African National Parks (SANParks). Monitoring activities in the organisation are currently unevenly distributed across parks, taxa and key concerns: they do not address the full array of biodiversity objectives, and have largely evolved in the absence of a coherent, overarching framework. The requirement for biodiversity monitoring in national parks is clearly specified in national legislation and international policy, as well as by SANParks’ own adaptive management philosophy. Several approaches available for categorising the multitude of monitoring requirements were considered in the development of the BMS, and 10 Biodiversity Monitoring Programmes (BMPs) were selected that provide broad coverage of higher-level biodiversity objectives of parks. A set of principles was adopted to guide the development of BMPs (currently underway), and data management, resource and capacity needs will be considered during their development. It is envisaged that the BMS will provide strategic direction for future investment in this core component of biodiversity conservation and management in SANParks. Conservation implications: Monitoring biodiversity in protected areas is essential to assessing their performance. Here we provide a coordinated framework for biodiversity monitoring in South African National Parks. The proposed biodiversity monitoring system addresses the broad range of park management plan derived biodiversity objectives.

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ANALYZING TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL TRENDS IN MANAGEMENT PLANS OF FEDERAL PROTECTED AREAS IN BRAZIL

Oecologia Australis ◽

10.4257/oeco.2021.2504.05 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 25 (04) ◽

pp. 846-854

Author(s):

Alessandro Ribeiro Morais ◽

◽

Mariana Nascimento Siqueira ◽

Roniel Freitas-Oliveira ◽

Daniel Brito ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Protected Area ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

Management Plan ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Effective Management ◽

Management Plans ◽

Group A ◽

The Creation ◽

Group B

Protected areas are the most frequently used tool for the mitigation of threats to biodiversity. However, without effective management, the creation of new protected areas may be ineffective. In Brazil, protected areas must have both a governing body (consultative or deliberative council) and an official management plan. Here, we analyzed general trends and patterns in the approval of the management plans for Brazilian federal protected areas. We considered all federal protected areas, and compiled data on (i) the year the area was created, (ii) the type of protected area (integral protection vs. sustainable use), (iii) year its management plan was approved, (iv) year in which the management plan was revised after its approval, (v) total area (in hectares), and (vi) the biome in which the area is located. We stablished three groups of protected area: 1) Group A: protected areas created prior to 1979, 2) Group B: protected areas created between 1979 and 1999, and 3) Group C: protected areas created between 2000 to the present time. Finally, we tested whether time for the approval of the management plan suffered a simultaneous effect of the type of biome and type of categories of protected area (strictly protected vs. sustainable use areas). We found 211 (63.17% of the 334) protected areas with management plan. On average, the time taken for the creation and approval of a management plan far exceeds the deadlines (5 yrs.) defined under current Brazilian law. All Brazilian biomes are poorly covered by protected areas with effective management plans, with the highest and lowest value observed in the Pantanal (100%) and Caatinga (46.42%), respectively. Our results suggest that the effectiveness of many federal protected areas in Brazil can be reduced considerably by the lack of a management plan, with deleterious consequences for the country’s principal conservation strategies.

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Management of Antarctic Specially Protected Areas: permitting, visitation and information exchange practices

Antarctic Science ◽

10.1017/s0954102012001204 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 553-564 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

L.R. Pertierra ◽

K.A. Hughes

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Information Exchange ◽

Management Practices ◽

Management Plan ◽

Full Disclosure ◽

Environmental Management Practices ◽

Previous Season ◽

Antarctic Treaty ◽

The Antarctic ◽

Specially Protected Areas

AbstractAntarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) represent the highest level of area protection within the Antarctic Treaty area. To reduce environmental impacts, ASPA visitors must comply with the Area's management plan and receive an entry permit from an appropriate national authority. Parties to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty are obliged to exchange information on: i) the number of permits allocated for the forthcoming season, and ii) the number of visits to ASPAs during the previous season. We assessed the effectiveness of current permitting and information exchange practices by examining ASPA visitation data supplied to the Antarctic Treaty System's Electronic Information Exchange System during 2008/09–2010/11. We found that Parties have interpreted and implemented the protected area legislation inconsistently. Furthermore, some Parties did not fulfil their obligations under the Protocol by failing to provide full information on ASPA visitation. Estimations suggested that the level of ASPA visitation varied with ASPA location and the main value being protected. However, without full disclosure by Parties, ASPA visitation data is of limited use for informing general and ASPA-specific environmental management practices. Improved provision and formal interpretation of ASPA visitation data are recommended to enable more co-ordinated and effective management of activities within ASPAs.

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Hitchhikers’ guide to the legal context of protected area management plans in South Africa

Bothalia ◽

10.4102/abc.v49i1.2399 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Magda Goosen ◽

Andrew C. Blackmore

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Protected Area ◽

Management Plan ◽

Protected Area Management ◽

World Heritage Convention ◽

Legal Context ◽

The World ◽

Management Plans ◽

National Environmental ◽

Area Management

Background: Although formal protected areas in South Africa date back to the turn of the 19th century, requirements for protected area management plans only became mandatory a century later. Prior to the promulgation of the World Heritage Convention Act 49 in 1999, and subsequently the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 in 2003, requirements for management plans were voluntary, and guidance to the plan’s content was fragmented across an array of international, national and provincial policy instruments.Objectives: As there has been little academic debate on the relevance and content of protected area management plans, an improved understanding of these plans, and the role they play in biodiversity conservation, is required.Method: This article explores the evolution of the management plan, revisiting its historical and current legal context at international and national scales.Results: Despite being the principal legislative framework for management plans, the World Heritage Convention Act and the National Environmental Management Protected Area Act did not consolidate the plethora of management plan requirements, and hence did not bring clarity when these conflicted or were ambiguous.Conclusion: Legal provisions for management plans are highly fragmented. This risks plans not being complete, falling short of the requirement to ensure that protected areas fulfil the purpose for which they were established. A consolidation of relevant provisions, as well as emerging best practices is recommended. This may require the revision of South Africa’s environmental law, to provide greater clarity on the contemporary understanding of the contribution of protected areas to conservation and the well-being of people (viz. the ‘purpose’).

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Scientific research in Neotropical protected areas: themes and gaps

10.7287/peerj.preprints.27086v1 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Elizabeth C Teixeira ◽

Jayne S Santos ◽

Maxwell R G Silva ◽

Ana CM Malhado ◽

Richard J Ladle ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Latin American ◽

Scientific Research ◽

Scientific Productivity ◽

Management Plan ◽

Caribbean Region ◽

Local Conservation ◽

Research Topics ◽

Natural Processes

Protected areas are often used by scientists to observe natural processes and organisms in habitats that have been minimally influenced by human actions. In contrast to many PA objectives, their effectiveness for promoting and supporting scientific research can be easily quantified in terms of quantity and quality of scientific products (primarily peer-reviewed articles) that are based on research within a PA’s boundaries. In addition to their contribution to global scientific knowledge, these research products may support local conservation efforts and contribute to park management, monitoring and governance. Here, we investigate the effectiveness of Neotropical PAs at supporting scientific research based on data from the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA). Specifically, we randomly selected 102 PAs from each designation from the Latin American and Caribbean region, to give a total of 612 PAs. A total of 444 PAS did not return any results and only 30 were associated with more than 10 publications. Research topics varied widely in the PAs in our dedicated sample, but we found an evident trend to research related to geosciences and paleontology. Conservation and biodiversity were secondary subjects. there seems to be a lack of influence of PAs type and presence of management plan on scientific productivity. On the other hand, we have seen that most areas do not present a management plan, the absence of which makes it more difficult to assess the effectiveness of these areas.

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Ecotourism impact assessment on environment in protected areas of Serbia: A case study of Gornje Podunavlje Special nature Reserve

Geographica Pannonica ◽

10.5937/gp25-32288 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 157-167

Author(s):

Vladimir Stojanović ◽

Maja Mijatov ◽

Jelena Dunjić ◽

Lazar Lazić ◽

Aleksandra Dragin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Impact Assessment ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Nature Reserve ◽

Management Plan ◽

The Other ◽

Nature Protection ◽

Visitor Management ◽

General Projection ◽

Educational Paths

Ecotourism is a nature-based type of tourism, especially represented within protected areas. No matter the fact, just like the other selective types of this sector, ecotourism might affect the environment. In a process of writing the Visitor Management Plan in the Gornje Podunavlje Special Nature Reserve (SNR) in 2019, one part of the study was related to general projection of the ecotourism development impact on eco-educational paths within this SNR. The research was conducted throughout November 2019, in the form of interviews. The sample obtained 12 experts for nature protection, who stated their attitudes on three important topics: tourism in protected areas in general, tourism in the Gornje Podunavlje SNR and ecotourism within three concrete sites: Karapandža, Štrbac and Bestrement.

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What happens on the beach stays on the beach: a speculative legal analysis of nudism in South African protected areas

Law Democracy & Development ◽

10.17159/2077-4907/2020/ldd.v24.13 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 ◽

Author(s):

Andrew Blackmore

Keyword(s):

Environmental Management ◽

Protected Areas ◽

South African ◽

Protected Area ◽

Management Plan ◽

Legal Analysis ◽

Sexual Offences ◽

The Public ◽

Physical Risk ◽

National Environmental

ABSTRACT The Hibiscus Coast Municipality assumed it had the authority to issue or amend bylaws to formalise an existing nudist friendly beach within the Mpenjati Nature Reserve. Following a complaint, the Public Protector concluded the same when she investigated the legality of the Municipality's actions. Two immediate questions arise. The first, whether the Municipality and the Public Protector were correct in their view that the Municipality has the authority over the beach irrespective of the presence of a protected area, and the second, whether nudism is a legal activity therein. Both the Municipality and the Public Protector overlooked the relevance of the nudist friendly beach being located within a protected area and the power of the management authority to determine the nature of the tourism that takes place therein. Nudism within a protected area appears not to be in conflict with the Sexual Offences Act 23 of 1969 and hence may be a legitimate activity within such area. The National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003 and the Regulations thereunder appear not to contain provisions that prohibit nudism or other niche nature based tourism activities. Provided that the activity conforms to the purpose of the Act and proteced area management plan and zonation and does not pose a significant physical risk to the integrity of the protected area, the conservation agency may be hard-pressed to refuse a request for a niche nature based tourism activity, such as nudism, to be included in the zonation - should one be received.1 Key words: Municipality, National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, nature based tourism, nudist friendly beach, protected area, Public Protector, Sexual Offences Act, zonation.

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An evolving protocol to identify key stakeholder-influenced indicators of coastal change: the case of Marine Protected Areas

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsn183 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 66 (1) ◽

pp. 203-213 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Prassede Vella ◽

Robert E. Bowen ◽

Anamarija Frankic

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Marine Protected Areas ◽

Marine Protected Area ◽

Early Stage ◽

Integrated Management ◽

Community Support ◽

Management Plan ◽

Coastal Change ◽

Management Effectiveness ◽

Stakeholder Input

Abstract Vella, P., Bowen, R. E., and Frankic, A. 2009. An evolving protocol to identify key stakeholder-influenced indicators of coastal change: the case of Marine Protected Areas. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 203–213. In recent years, there has been a growing realization of the need to protect and conserve degrading environments. This can only be achieved through integrated management of environmental protection and the rational use of living and non-living resources. However, no management plan that aims at sustainable development can be successful unless the human factor is included. The concept of ecosystem-based management considers socio-economic issues in evaluating management effectiveness. In this paper, we present a method for selecting and prioritizing socio-economic indicators, using a bottom-up approach involving stakeholder input. This technique is developed further to measure the effectiveness of integrated coastal management, using a Marine Protected Area (MPA) as an example. Stakeholder input is essential at an early stage to ensure MPA management success, providing the opportunity to include public participation and ensure community support. This paper presents a transparent and adaptable indicator ranking protocol and evaluative rules, ensuring that an ecosystem-based approach can be more effectively implemented.

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Scientific research in Neotropical protected areas: themes and gaps

10.7287/peerj.preprints.27086 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Elizabeth C Teixeira ◽

Jayne S Santos ◽

Maxwell R G Silva ◽

Ana CM Malhado ◽

Richard J Ladle ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Latin American ◽

Scientific Research ◽

Scientific Productivity ◽

Management Plan ◽

Caribbean Region ◽

Local Conservation ◽

Research Topics ◽

Natural Processes

Protected areas are often used by scientists to observe natural processes and organisms in habitats that have been minimally influenced by human actions. In contrast to many PA objectives, their effectiveness for promoting and supporting scientific research can be easily quantified in terms of quantity and quality of scientific products (primarily peer-reviewed articles) that are based on research within a PA’s boundaries. In addition to their contribution to global scientific knowledge, these research products may support local conservation efforts and contribute to park management, monitoring and governance. Here, we investigate the effectiveness of Neotropical PAs at supporting scientific research based on data from the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA). Specifically, we randomly selected 102 PAs from each designation from the Latin American and Caribbean region, to give a total of 612 PAs. A total of 444 PAS did not return any results and only 30 were associated with more than 10 publications. Research topics varied widely in the PAs in our dedicated sample, but we found an evident trend to research related to geosciences and paleontology. Conservation and biodiversity were secondary subjects. there seems to be a lack of influence of PAs type and presence of management plan on scientific productivity. On the other hand, we have seen that most areas do not present a management plan, the absence of which makes it more difficult to assess the effectiveness of these areas.

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UNIDADES DE CONSERVAÇÃO CARIOCAS: HISTÓRICO E CENÁRIO ATUAL

Oecologia Australis ◽

10.4257/oeco.2020.2404.12 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (04) ◽

pp. 890-902

Author(s):

Bruna Lobo de Mattos Bezerra ◽

◽

Paula Koeler Lira

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Biodiversity Conservation ◽

Rio De Janeiro ◽

Forest Cover ◽

Management Plan ◽

Management Tool ◽

Conservation Units ◽

Management Plans ◽

Management Responsibility ◽

The City

Protected areas are the main strategy for biodiversity conservation. The Atlantic Forest is a biodiversity hotspot therefore a priority site for establishing protected areas. This work describes the history and current scenario of the Conservation Units (UCs – Unidades de Conservação in Portuguese) – as protected areas are called in Brazil – in Rio de Janeiro municipality. Therefore, this study reports the process of UCs creation in Rio de Janeiro, analyzes how they are distributed among the different categories of the Brazilian National Protected Areas System and spatially throughout the city and, finally, verifies if UCs have a management plan and how they were elaborated. The process of UCs establishment in Rio de Janeiro seems to reflect the world growing concern about environmental issues which resulted in changes in the Brazilian environmental policies. Currently, 24% of the city area is covered by forests and 67% of this forest cover is inside its 60 UCs. This scenario is not as positive as it sounds: (1) half of Rio de Janeiro UCs belongs to a category which might be of little efficiency in conserving biodiversity, (2) the existence of these UCs does not guarantee biodiversity conservation as many seem to be “paper parks” and only 25% of the UCs have its most relevant management tool and (3) most UCs overlap among each other which can lead to uncertainties regarding the management responsibility of the areas that they share. Considering that the city has forest cover below the minimum quantity to maintain biodiversity integrity, the effectiveness of its UCs have to be maximized. This requires that Rio de Janeiro UCs have their limits revised to eliminate their overlaps and have an appropriate management guided through well-designed and frequently updated management plans.

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