INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE

SETTING MANAGEMENT

OBJECTIVES

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Objectives and categories

• Management

objectives can help

inform which IUCN

management

category can be

assigned

• A review of the IUCN

management

categories can also

help develop or

revise national

systems of protected

areas

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A word of caution

• The categories are not a methodology for

developing management objectives and should

not be used to replace the planning process

• If management objectives are missing, unclear

or inadequate, there is a need to develop or

improve the management plan for the site

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IUCN categories

Management actions

National protected

area categories

Management objectives

The relationships between management

objectives and categories

International reporting and system planning

National legislation and system planning

Site level planning and management

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• Management

objectives –

overview of long

term aims

• Management

actions – day to

day interpretation

• Categories – a

description of

management

objective

6

• Management objectives seek to maintain key

values in the face of identified threats

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Management objectives

• Clear statements of management intent

• Capable of being turned into targets and management

actions

• Measurable so you know if you are succeeding

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Setting objectives

Objectives are determined by at least three issues:

1. The context of the protected area and its surrounding

area

2. The values of the protected area

3. The threats to the protected area

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1. National Context

• Social, economic, political, administrative, historical and legal

context

• National laws, policies and plans and international commitments

(e.g. the Convention on Biological Diversity)

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2. Biodiversity and other natural values

• Ecological Communities: globally threatened vegetation

associations

• Important species: threatened and endangered species or species

of special concern; species’ assemblages with similar conservation

needs

• Agro-biodiversity: important crop wild relatives, traditional crops or

rare breeds of farm animals

• Landscape values

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Cultural, spiritual, economic, educational and

social values

• Protection of water catchments and water quality

• Economic benefits to local communities from tourism and other

employment

• Spiritual, cultural, historical or archeologically important sites in the

area

• Social attributes including intangible aspects such as pride in place

• Important sites for field studies and educational visits

• Sustainable resource uses such as medicinal herbs or fisheries

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3. Threats

• The threat faced by the site can have a major impact on

management planning priorities and actions

• Threats can create more than one impact, management activities

can be prioritized according to the causes responsible for the

gravest and most numerous impacts