PROTECTED AREAS According to IUCN Protected area is

PROTECTED AREAS

According to IUCN: “Protected area is a clearly defined geographical space, recognized, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values. “ Protected areas (Pas) have been widely used as a conservation (on-site/in situ) tool in order to maintain a representative sample of unaltered species and eco-systems for the future, and to limit the potential for environmental degradation through human mismanagement of resources. Protected areas are essential for biodiversity conservation, often providing habitat and protection from hunting for threatened and endangered species. Protection helps maintain ecological processes that cannot survive in most intensely managed landscapes and seascapes. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has a key role in promoting the establishment of protected areas throughout the world. Since 1948, IUCN has developed standards and guidelines for PA management. Protected areas have been established following the categories defined by the IUCN.

IUCN Protected Area Management Categories: Category Ia — Strict Nature Reserve Category Ib — Wilderness Area Category II — National Park Category III — Natural Monument or Feature Category IV — Habitat/Species Management Area Category V — Protected Landscape/Seascape Category VI – Protected Area with sustainable use of natural resources (It should be noted that strict protection categories (categories I – III) have mostly been applied in the developing countries, whereas categories V and VI are the most commonly used in the developed world).

Category Ia — Strict Nature Reserve • An area which is protected from all but light human use in order to preserve the geological and geomorphical features of the region and its biodiversity. These areas are often home to dense native ecosystems that are restricted from all human disturbance outside of scientific study, environmental monitoring and education. Because these areas are so strictly protected, they provide ideal pristine environments by which external human influence can be measured. • In some cases strict nature reserves are of spiritual significance for surrounding communities, and the areas are also protected for this reason. The people engaged in the practice of their faith within the region have the right to continue to do so, providing it aligns with the area's conservation and management objectives. • Human impacts on strict nature reserves are increasingly difficult to guard against as climate and air pollution and newly emerging diseases threaten to penetrate the boundaries of protected areas. If perpetual intervention is required to maintain these strict guidelines, the area will often fall into category IV or V. Category Ib — Wilderness Area A wilderness area (IUCN Category Ib) is similar to a strict nature reserve, but generally larger and protected in a slightly less stringent manner. Human visitation is limited to a minimum, often allowing only those who are willing to travel of their own devices (by foot, by ski, or by boat), but this offers a unique opportunity to experience wilderness that has not been interfered with. Wilderness areas can be classified as such only if they are devoid of modern infrastructure, though they allow human activity to the level of sustaining indigenous groups and their cultural and spiritual values within their wilderness-based lifestyles.

Category II — National Park A national park (IUCN Category II) is similar to a wilderness area in its size and its main objective of protecting functioning ecosystems. However, national parks tend to be morelenient with human visitation and its supporting infrastructure. National parks are managed in a way that may contribute to local economies through promoting educational and recreational tourism on a scale that will not reduce the effectiveness of conservation efforts. The surrounding areas of a national park may be for consumptive or non-consumptive use but should nevertheless act as a barrier for the defense of the protected area's native species and communities to enable them to sustain themselves in the long term. Category III — Natural Monument or Feature A natural monument or feature (IUCN Category III) is a comparatively smaller area that is specifically allocated to protect a natural monument and its surrounding habitats. These monuments can be natural in the wholest sense or include elements that have been influenced or introduced by humans. The latter should hold biodiversity associations or could otherwise be classified as a historical or spiritual site, though this distinction can be quite difficult to ascertain. To be categorised as a natural monument or feature by IUCN's guidelines, the protected area could include natural geological or geomorphological features, culturally-influenced natural features, natural cultural sites, or cultural sites with associated ecology. The classification then falls into two subcategories: those in which the biodiversity is uniquely related to the conditions of the natural feature and those in which the current levels of biodiversity are dependent on the presence of the sacred sites that have created an essentially modified ecosystem. Natural monuments or features often play a smaller but key ecological role in the operations of broader conservation objectives. They have a high cultural or spiritual value that can be utilised to gain support of conservation challenges by allowing higher visitation or recreational rights, therefore offering an incentive for the preservation of the site.

Category IV — Habitat/Species Management Area A habitat or species management area (IUCN Category IV) is similar to a natural monument or feature, but focuses on more specific areas of conservation (though size is not necessarily a distinguishing feature), like an identifiable species or habitat that requires continuous protection rather than that of a natural feature. These protected areas will be sufficiently controlled to ensure the maintenance, conservation, and restoration of particular species and habitats – possibly through traditional means – and public education of such areas is widely encouraged as part of the management objectives. Habitat or species management areas may exist as a fraction of a wider ecosystem or protected area and may require varying levels of active protection. Management measures may include (but are not limited to) the prevention of poaching, creation of artificial habitats, halting natural succession, and supplementary feeding practices. Category V — Protected Landscape/Seascape A protected landscape or protected seascape (IUCN Category V) covers an entire body of land or ocean with an explicit natural conservation plan, but usually also accommodates a range of for-profit activities. The main objective is to safeguard regions that have built up a distinct and valuable ecological, biological, cultural, or scenic character. In contrast with previous categories, Category V permits surrounding communities to interact more with the area, contributing to the area's sustainable management and engaging with its natural and cultural heritage. Landscapes and seascapes that fall into this category should represent an integral balance between people and nature and can sustain activities such as traditional agricultural and forestry systems on conditions that ensure the continued protection or ecological restoration of the area. Category V is one of the more flexible classifications of protected areas. As a result, protected landscapes and seascapes may be able to accommodate contemporary developments, such as ecotourism, at the same time as maintaining the historical management practices that may procure the sustainability of agrobiodiversity and aquatic biodiversity.

Category V — Protected Landscape/Seascape A protected landscape or protected seascape (IUCN Category V) covers an entire body of land or ocean with an explicit natural conservation plan, but usually also accommodates a range of for-profit activities. The main objective is to safeguard regions that have built up a distinct and valuable ecological, biological, cultural, or scenic character. In contrast with previous categories, Category V permits surrounding communities to interact more with the area, contributing to the area's sustainable management and engaging with its natural and cultural heritage. Landscapes and seascapes that fall into this category should represent an integral balance between people and nature and can sustain activities such as traditional agricultural and forestry systems on conditions that ensure the continued protection or ecological restoration of the area. Category V is one of the more flexible classifications of protected areas. As a result, protected landscapes and seascapes may be able to accommodate contemporary developments, such as ecotourism, at the same time as maintaining the historical management practices that may procure the sustainability of agrobiodiversity and aquatic biodiversity. Category VI – Protected Area with sustainable use of natural resources IUCN category VI Protected Area with sustainable use of natural resources — a generally more encompassing classification that is focused on the mutually beneficial correlation between nature conservation and sustainable management of natural resources in correspondence the livelihoods of those who are dependent on both. A wide range of socio-economic factors are taken into consideration in creating local, regional, and national approaches to using natural resources as a tactic to assist sustainable development rather than hinder it. Though human involvement is a large factor in the management of these protected areas, developments are not intended to allow for widescale industrial production. The IUCN recommends that a proportion of the land mass remains in its natural condition – a decision to be made on a national level, usually with specificity to each protected area. Governance has to be developed to adapt the diverse – and possibly growing – range of interests that arise from the production of sustainable natural resources.

Categorization of Protected Areas Mechanisms for creation: • Government action • Land purchase by private individuals and NGOs • Established customs of native peoples • Development of biological field stations Steps involved, questions to answer • Which species and biological communities are the highest priority for conservation? • Which areas of the world should be protected to meet conservation priorities? • How can new conservation areas be linked to existing conservation networks?

Criteria for identifying regions to conserve Distinctiveness Is the biological community distinctive, e. g. , composed of many rare endemic species, unusual genotypes? Endangerment Are the species to be protected in unusual danger of extinction or decline? Utility Do the species to be protected have potential value to humans?

Prioritization systems Species approaches Focus on preserving focal, indicator, flagship species Hope that preserving habitat for focal species also preserves entire communities and ecosystems Biological diversity indicator approaches Focus on preserving areas of high biological diversity Subset of species groups used to identify such areas Community and ecosystem approaches Preserve functioning ecosystem services Identify a series of representative sites Threat-based approaches Identify regions of high threat Identify regions with high potential impact of protection Practical approaches Identify regions that happen to be reasonably pristine Identify regions with few competing interests available for preservation

Criteria for Determining Boundaries for a Protected Area Naturalness The extent to which the area has been protected from, or has not been subject to human induced change Bigeographic importance Contains either rare biogeographic qualities or is representative of a biogeographic "type" or types. Contains unique or unusual geological features. Ecological importance Contributes to maintenance of essential ecological processes or life-support systems, e. g. source for larvae for downstream areas. Integrity : The degree to which the area either by itself or in association with other protected areas, encompasses a complete ecosystem Contains a variety of habitats. Contains habitat for rare or endangered species. Contains nursery or juvenile areas. Contains feeding, breeding or rest areas. Contains rare or unique habitat for any species. Preserves genetic diversity i. e. is diverse or abundant in species terms.

Economic importance Existing or potential contribution to economic value by virtue of its protection e. g. protection of an area for recreation, subsistence, use by traditional inhabitants, appreciation by tourists and other or as a refuge nursery area or source of supply for economically important species. Social importance Existing or potential value to the local, national or international communities because of its heritage, historical, cultural, traditional aesthetic, educational or recreational qualities. Scientific importance Value for research and monitoring. International or National significance It is or has the potential to be listed on the World or a national Heritage List or declared as a Biosphere Reserve or included on a list of areas of international or national importance or is the subject of an international or national conservation agreement.

Practicality/Feasibility Degree of isolation from external destructive influences. Social and political acceptability, degree of community support. Accessibility for education, tourism, recreation. Compatibility with existing uses, particularly by locals. Ease of management, compatibility with existing management regimes. ECOLOGICAL FACTORS These are very important particularly because of their implications for the DESIGN of the protected areas, an aspect which needs to be studied as part of the identification process. Among the more important factors to be considered are the following: Size of the Area This factor is part of the reason why, from an ecological and genetic point of view, the area needs to be of a certain size so that its processes and functions can be self regulating; since, in general, the larger the protected area, the more it will be able to meet its conservation objectives. In the case of tropical rain forests, it is estimated that the area's size should consist of approximately 50, 000 hectares (50 Km 2) of the richest habitat occurring in a natural area.

Isolation Directly relates to the dimension of the area, due to its function as "biogeographical islands". The more isolated an area from natural or semi-natural environments, the larger it should be so as to ensure its self-sufficiency, and the more intense its management and protection system should be. Protected areas located in a zone that has not been significantly modified are generally more capable of limiting external impacts and also facilitating ecological and genetic exchange and functioning. Configuration This is another basic aspect of design, since the more easily managed areas are those that have as compact a shape as possible, with regular boundaries such as physical features (rivers, watersheds, coastal areas, etc. ). International experience shows that more serious management problems are linked to zones with irregular, boundaries that are difficult to distinguish or locate on land; or when the protected area has narrow or discontinuous strips of highly modified areas. Accessibility Inaccessible areas, offers intrinsic possibilities for conservation. However, management of resources contained in these areas is often more costly (control of forest fires, patrolling, rescue of visitors, research, etc. ).

Social and Administrative Factors The importance of these factors are generally underestimated when identifying protected areas, and very often this seriously impedes effective protection and management. Social and administrative factors are critical to effective planning and management of protected areas. The main factors to be considered are the following: Land Ownership Countries in which state owned land prevails are potentially more favourable than those where other government lands have to be bought or transferred. However, this not a determining factor, but Governments should lobby for national policies that will encourage and facilitate the integration of private communities (both, inside of and outside the protected area) into programmes fostering sustainable use of the areas natural resources benefiting local populations. Land ownership or clear evidence of a title by either public or private entities is an essential factor for sustainable management of protected areas.

Ancestral Rights In the case of areas which constitute the patrimony of tribal communities and indigenous populations, these zones must be conserved when establishing protected areas. The population and its customs must be respected and maintained, and assistance offered, wherever possible, towards their well-being. Population Density It is not always viable to establish highly protected areas in places that have a high population density. This factor is very important when identifying new national parks, bearing in mind that community pressure is fundamental for the management of these types of areas in the region. Governments should encourage the involvement of local citizens in the planning and management of protected areas. All over the region, but especially in island countries, it might be difficult to identify highly natural areas located far from local populations, and for that reason the Governments should promote and encourage national environmental education policies which will seek to involve citizens in conservation activities and the sustainable use of resources.

Environmental Impacts National and physical development plans must be revised in order to evaluate the impact of specific projects on existing or proposed protected areas. This is especially important in the case of agricultural expansion, urbanization ' industrial development or intensive tourism projects to be located close to natural areas. Governments should encourage preparation of environmental impact assessments of proposed development activities potentially affecting protected areas in accordance with Article 13 of the Protocol. The findings of these assessments should be brought to the attention of local communities and form an important input to the planning process. Governments should consider potential protected areas in zones that are not involved, as possible, in approved development projects, especially those that are not compatible with its conservation objectives. In the opposite case of areas that are involved in approved development projects, efforts should be made in order to make compatible or integrate development and conservation actions on a sustainable basis.

Protected Areas of Pakistan �These are types of protected areas in Pakistan. �National Parks : 29 �Wildlife Sanctuaries : 99 �Game Reserves : 102 �Community Controlled Hunting Areas : 76

Summary of protected areas in Pakistan Province/ Territory National Parks Wildlife Sanctuary Game Reserve CCHA Total AJK 8 0 12 0 19 Balochistan 2 15 8 2 27 KPK 6 8 38 52 104 Punjab 4 36 20 3 63 Sindh 1 35 14 0 50 Federal Territory 1 1 1 0 3 GB 5 3 9 19 36 Total 29 99 102 76 306

NATIONAL PARKS : Following are the major national parks of Paksiatan: �Central Karakoram national park �Deosai national park �Kirthar national park �Lal Suhanra national park �Hingol national park �Hazarganji-Chiltan national park �Margalla Hills national park �Ayubia national park �Machiara national park �Chitral Gol national park �Khunjerab national park GAME RESERVE: are large areas of land where wild animals live safely or are hunted in a controlled way for sport. Head Qadirabad Game reserve �Machiara Game reserve Wildlife sanctuary: A Wildlife sanctuary is an area set aside as an undisturbed breeding ground where public access restricted or regulated beyong national parks and game reserves. Following are the major wildlife sanctuaries of Pakistan: �Astore �Baltistan �Bajwat �Cholistan wildlife sanctuary �Chashma and Taunsa Barrage Dolphin sanctuary �Chumbi surla �Hab dam �Lehri nature park �Naltar �Nara desert � Runn of kutch

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