Protected areas

About this project

Background 

Protected areas (PAs) are an essential tool for conservation, and are the cornerstone of national and international conservation strategies.

More than 14% of the Earth’s surface currently lies within PAs. Yet the financial and political sustainability of these areas is in doubt. Many of the most valuable PAs in terms of biodiversity and environmental services are in developing countries with high poverty levels. A growing number of studies point to a widespread problem of the rural poor shouldering a disproportionate burden of the cost of conservation.

At the World Parks Congress in 2003, a recommendation was passed that areas protected for biodiversity conservation should under no circumstances exacerbate poverty, and wherever possible should contribute to wider poverty reduction efforts. Building on this recommendation, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted a new Programme of Work on PAs with a focus on governance, participation, equity and benefit sharing.

Aims 

IIED is working with partners on a number or initiatives to support the implementation of the Programme of Work on PAs and to better understand the social aspects of protected area management. Current initiatives include testing tools and methodologies for assessing the social impacts of protected areas; research on the integration of biodiversity issues in national poverty reduction strategy papers and support to a new taskforce on Protected Areas, Equity and Livelihoods under the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas

Partners 

UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Care International and Theme on Indigenous and Local Communities Equity and Protected Areas

Many other partners are involved at regional and international levels in these initiatives.

Contact 

Dilys Roe dilys.roe@iied.org

Funded by 

Funds to date have been provided by The Ford Foundation, Irish Aid, DFID and Norad. Significant funds to carry this work forward are currently being sought.