Evaluating Management Effectiveness Maintaining Protected Areas for Now

Evaluating Management Effectiveness: Maintaining Protected Areas for Now and the Future Workshop Plenary

Format of Proceedings 1. 2. 3. 4. Workshop report Panel response Plenary Discussion Contributions from the workshop to WPC outputs: • Durban accord • Message to CBD • Recommendations 18 & 19 5. Close

Workshop Report Geoff Vincent Parks Victoria, Australia

Overview • 13 workshops in 20 sessions • Nearly 1200 participants • Comprehensive examination of contemporary work on MEE • Demonstration of widespread development and application of MEE globally

Workshop Themes 1. Evaluation systems and processes 2. Indicators 3. Threats 4. Work in Progress

Key Messages Theme: Evaluation systems and processes • Evaluations being conducted widely • Ecological integrity emerging as necessary concept for MEE • Monitoring and reporting, indicator development, public awareness under-emphasized • Capacity issues

Key messages Theme: Indicators • Plethora of frameworks • Need to improve information sharing and monitoring for management actions • Perspectives of indigenous and local communities • Challenges in developing social, cultural and ecological indicators

Key Messages Theme: Threats • Increasingly complex (e. g. climate change, invasives, unsustainable harvesting) • Need to raise public awareness • Ecosystem Approach and science basis for actions • Local and traditional knowledge • Need for minimum standards • Capacity issues

Key Messages Theme: Work in Progress • Amalgamation of frameworks (e. g. simplification) • Need for common language • Generate public support and ownership • Incorporate new science • WCPA to investigate options for verification of Pas • Integration of resilience options into PA management plans, assessment and restoration (eg climate change)

Common Threads • Establish clear goals, objectives and purposes for MEE at all levels • Vertical integration of MEE in planning and business processes • Strong alignment between systems and synergy with management cycles • Use and apply best practice principles • Seek out and employ simple, easily measured and understood indicators

Common Threads • Optimise utility of evaluation data through standardised collection, storage and management • Optimise benefits of investment to date by making best use of existing Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) systems • Engage local and indigenous communities in MEE • Build capacity by applying current knowledge – don’t wait for the perfect system

Major and Emerging Issues • Threats are becoming more complex • Improve use of science in the management of protected areas • Local community needs and perspectives need to be integrated in goals and objectives • Assessments need to be more rigorous • Communities, stakeholders and local staff need to be involved in design, conduct and communication of results

Major and Emerging Issues • Ensuring that differences between NGO and Government agency agendas doesn’t lead to a fracturing of approaches • Raise awareness of the utility of new tools such as Ecological integrity evaluations for management effectiveness • Move from development of methodologies to implementation at sites • Transparent reporting

Key Workshop Outcomes • Widespread recognition of MEE as an essential component of effective PA management • Strong commitment to action from all sectors to move from systems development to implementation • Commitment to work together to harmonise and move forward rather than compete • Recognition of the benefits of a diversity of methods • Results used to improve management actions

Where to from here?

Panel • Mavuso Msimang CEO South African National Parks • Marija Zupancic-Vicar, Senior Advisor -, WCPA • Leonardo Lacerda, WWF International • Nik Lopoukhine, Director General, National Parks Directorate. Parks Canada • Pedro Rosabal, Protected Areas Program, IUCN • Geoff Vincent, Deputy CEO Parks Victoria, Australia