Protected Area Management

Actions directed at saving the remaining natural resources, be it forests, biodiversity, or
whole ecosystems should be expected to increase as levels of environmental degradation increase. This expectation is consistent with the comment of Dudley et al(1999) that there is an excellent outlook for protected area increases; and with information indicating that since 1962 protection of public areas has increased tenfold(Molnar 2005). For example, most countries have already protected or are planning to protect a percentage of their resource base, and pressures from NGOs seeking maximum protection are right now strong. Conservation International reports that in 2005 it has projects in 40 countries(Seligmann 2005). Also, the conflict between social goals and preservation goals should be expected to increase as the levels of natural resources available for traditional social uses decrease. For example, as environmental stakeholders press for more resource protection, social stakeholders will press for their right to exploit their available resources, especially, sustainably. This should not be a surprise as the conflict between conservation and the people or communities affected by it is known(Wright1996; Stolton and Dudley 1999) and it is now more widely recognized(Molnar 2005).

The critically endangered mountain gorilla, Gorilla beringei beringei, found in only three countries, Uganda, Democratic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda is inextricably linked to tourism. Governments in these countries work tirelessly ensuring protection of these great apes so that future generations would also get a chance to benefit from their conservation. The study investigated how local residents living close to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) perceives the impact of mountain gorilla tourism in order to establish the overall value of the attraction. To achieve this, a quantitative research approach was adopted. Data was collected through a survey instrument (n=394) with mostly close-ended questions. The results show that gorilla tourism has contributed positively to their area through the creation of job opportunities as well as unlocking several entrepreneurial opportunities. The study also revealed that residents of the Butogota Town Council have gained from this niche tou...

To maximise the potential of protected areas, we need to understand the strengths and weaknesses in their management and the threats and stresses that they face. There is increasing pressure on governments and other bodies responsible for protected areas to monitor their effectiveness. The reasons for assessing management effectiveness include the desire by managers to adapt and improve their management strategies, improve planning and priority setting and the increasing demands for reporting and accountability being placed on managers, both nationally and internationally. Despite these differing purposes for assessment, some common themes and information needs can be identi®ed, allowing assessment systems to meet multiple uses. Protected-area management evaluation has a relatively short history. Over the past 20 years a number of systems have been proposed but few have been adopted by management agencies. In response to a recognition of the need for a globally applicable approach to this issue, the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas developed a framework for assessing management effectiveness of both protected areas and protected area systems. This framework was launched at the World Conservation Congress in Jordan in 2000. The framework provides guidance to managers to develop locally relevant assessment systems while helping to harmonise assessment approaches around the world. The framework is strongly linked to the protected area management process and is adaptable to different types and circumstances of protected areas around the world. Examples from Fraser Island in Australia and the Congo Basin illustrate the use of the framework.

Climate change will pose increasingly significant challenges to managers of parks and other forms of protected areas around the world. Over the past two decades, numerous scientific publications have identified potential adaptations, but their suitability from legal, policy, financial, internal capacity, and other management perspectives has not been evaluated for any protected area agency or organization. In this study, a panel of protected area experts applied a Policy Delphi methodology to identify and evaluate climate change adaptation options across the primary management areas of a protected area agency in Canada. The panel identified and evaluated one hundred and sixty five (165) adaptation options for their perceived desirability and feasibility. While the results revealed a high level of agreement with respect to the desirability of adaptation options and a moderate level of capacity pertaining to policy formulation and management direction, a perception of low capacity for implementation in most other program areas was identified. A separate panel of senior park agency decision-makers used a multiple criterion decision-facilitation matrix to further evaluate the institutional feasibility of the 56 most desirable adaptation options identified by the initial expert panel and to prioritize them for consideration in a climate change action plan. Critically, only two of the 56 adaptation options evaluated by senior decision-makers were deemed definitely implementable, due largely to fiscal and internal capacity limitations. These challenges are common to protected area agencies in developed countries and pervade those in developing countries, revealing that limited adaptive capacity represents a substantive barrier to biodiversity conservation and other protected area management objectives in an era of rapid climate change.

Extractive capitalism has long been the driving force of settler colonialism in Canada, and continues to threaten the sovereignty, lands and waters of Indigenous nations across the country. While ostensibly counterposed to extractivism, state-led conservation has similarly served to alienate Indigenous peoples from their territories, often for capitalist gain. Recognizing the inadequacy of the colonial-capitalist conservation paradigm to redress the biodiversity crisis, scholars in political ecology increasingly call for radical, convivial alternatives rooted in equity and justice. Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) are one such alternative, representing a paradigm shift from colonial to Indigenous-led conservation that reinvigorates Indigenous knowledge and governance systems. Since the Indigenous Circle of Experts finalized a report in 2018 on how IPCAs could contribute to Canada's conservation targets and reconciliation efforts, an increasing number of Indigenou...

Protected areas have become popular tourism destinations; yet these areas are often plagued by poor governance systems, particularly in developing countries. Adaptive co-management (ACM) has been advocated as one approach to improve the governance of protected areas, yet empirical evidence from developing countries is lacking. This study investigates the application of the ACM approach in two protected areas in Bangladesh which are also important nature-based tourism destinations. Using Lawachara National Park and Sundarbans East Wildlife Sanctuary as cases, this qualitative study explored the extent to which an ACM approach was able to support the achievement of key govern-ance principles such as participation, accountability, transparency, power, rule of law, and social learning. It was found that the approach was successful in facilitating the increased participation of a broader range of stakeholder groups, and the collaboration between them. Importantly though, it was the adaptive element of ACM which was found to have made the greatest contribution to improved governance with the approach providing new opportunities for stakeholders to engage in iterative learning. This aspect was found to be of particular importance for the sustainability of the protected areas with stakehold-ers reporting changes attitudes and behaviour towards protected area conservation. ARTICLE HISTORY

... Carleigh Randall a & Rick B. Rollins b pages 357-374. ... View all references), values (Parker & Avant, 200042. Parker, JD and Avant, B. 2000. In Their own words: Wilderness values of outfitter guides , Edited by: McCool, SF, Cole, DN, Borrie, WT and J., O'Loughlin (comps). ...

Lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) is the largest herbivore in the Neotropics and, in Argentina, it inhabits a variety of habitats from 100 to 2100 m asl. Lowland tapirs importantly influence their habitat structure because they are selective browsers, seed predators and long-distance seed dispersers. However, increased knowledge of tapir ecology is necessary to support the conservation and management of the species in natural and human-modified environments. Between Jun 2002 and Dec 2008 we assessed the tapir’s diet in El Rey National Park, Salta, northwestern Argentina. We collected fresh feces and recorded browsing signs, and we recorded direct observations of tapirs while they were feeding. We analyzed 88 feces samples that had been dried and subsequently weighed. Feces were dominated by fibers and leaves (84.09%), while fruit parts represented a small proportion of the weight (15.91%). During the dry months, a greater percentage of seeds were found in the feces, mainly due to the availability of 3 species of Fabaceae fruits. We recorded a total of 57 plant species from 26 families. Tapirs are adapted to extreme habitats, switching their diet from frugivory to herbivory when fruits are scarce. Considering this, forest remnants and even secondary growth fields should be protected from deforestation.

Mountains occupy 24% of the global land surface area and are home to 12% of the world's population. They have ecological, aesthetic, and socioeconomic significance, not only for people living in mountain areas, but for those living beyond. Mountains need specific attention for their contribution to global goods and services, especially by developing and implementing mountain specific policies. Conservation policies have evolved from the protection of charismatic species, to habitat and ecosystem/landscape conservation, and, finally, to people-oriented conservation approaches. This paper, with particular reference to paradigm shifts in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region, discusses the evolution of conservation policies, developments in conservation practices, the status of protected area management, wetland conservation initiatives and the landscape approach, community-based conservation initiatives, and the convergence of policies and practices. In the HKH region, conservation efforts now adopt participatory approaches, implement policies of decentralised governance for biodiversity management, and empower local communities in biodiversity management. The paradigm shift in the policies and practices related to conservation has been gradual and has included the acceptance of communities as an integral part of national level conservation initiatives, together with the integration of many global conventions. There are many successful pilots in the HKH region that deserve upscaling by the countries from the region. Realising the importance of mountains as hotspots of biodiversity, and due to their role as providers of global goods and services, the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the Programme of Work on Mountain Biodiversity. Such a decision specific to mountains provides enormous opportunities for both conservation and development. Recent challenges posed by climate change need to be integrated into overall biodiversity conservation and management agendas, especially in mountain areas. The HKH region has been identified as a blank spot for data by the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change, indicating the need to develop regional database and sharing mechanisms. This is a tall task, but one that holds enormous opportunity for the HKH countries and institutions with regional mandates to address the emerging challenges of climate change on biodiversity conservation by reducing scientific uncertainty.

Tamayo, D., Ulloa, R.  & Martínez, C. 2012.  Plan de manejo Yunguilla.  Conservación Internacional,  Corporación Microempresarial Yunguilla, Secretaría de Ambiente del Distrito Metropolitano de Quito, EcoFondo.  Quito, Ecuador.

La Declaratoria de Yunguilla como la segunda área protegida municipal, (ubicada en el noroccidente, a 45 Km de Quito) es el resultado del interés y compromiso de sus habitantes de preservar los remanentes de vegetación natural y de utilizar los recursos naturales de forma sostenible. Esta declaratoria permitirá, conformar en el largo plazo un corredor ecológico que conserve la flora y la fauna de la zona (es el caso del oso de anteojos en peligro crítico o amenazado).

En el marco de un proyecto financiado por The Nature Conservancy para definir prioridades de conservación de la biodiversidad en la fachada Atlántica de Venezuela, se proponen medidas de reglamentación, de modificación de límites para los parques nacionales Turuépano y Península de Paria, en el estado Sucre, Venezuela. Además se propone un corredor de conectividad entre ambos.

Este documento es una base de consulta y para la capacitación para personal de que trabaja en tareas de control y vigilancia en las áreas naturales protegidas. Recopila la experiencia del autor al apoyar la elaboración de planes y programas de control y vigilancia durante varios años y está en continua mejora, gracias a los programas de capacitación que se han desarrollado en Ecuador

Ecotourism is expected, by the tourism industry and academics, to grow rapidly over the next 20 years. Much has been written about ecotourism, often with missionary zeal, but there is little consensus about its definition. It is argued here that conservationists and protected area managers should adopt a definition of ecotourism which contributes to the maintenance of biodiversity and an appropriate definition is suggested. Ecotourism is not merely an alternative to mass tourism, nor is it the only alternative. The literature on nature tourism and the environmental impacts of the industry dates back to the late 1970s. Tourism is now the world's largest industry and it has an increasing impact on protected areas. Our understanding of these mechanisms, their ecological impacts and our capacity to manage tourism in protected areas lags behind the growth of tourism to protected areas. A rapid growth in nature tourism and tourism to protected areas has coincided with a shift in protected area management strategies towards integrated development. Tourism is one means available to protected area managers seeking to increase the economic value of a protected area and to offer sustainable opportunities for economic development to local people. This paper argues that potentially conflicting commercial, protected area and development interests all contribute to the emergence of ecotourism and have been doing so for many years. Ecotourism needs to be tightly defined if it is to benefit conservation. Protected area managers should consider how they can take control of nature tourism to the parks they manage and convert it into ecotourism for the benefit of conservation and the livelihoods of local people.

The objectives of the conference were (i) Sharing regional experience and knowledge in protected area (PA) management with prescriptions for effective management, (ii) Learning from best practices in PA management in the region, and (iii) Strengthening PA network in the region. The thematic areas of the conference were (i) Ecosystem Management, (ii) Governance in PA Management, and (iii) Economic Tools for Biodiversity Conservation. The outcomes of this conference is aimed at contributing to policy formulation, effective management of PAs in the region, good practices for replication of PA management models and enhancing better network and partnership in the region.

Systematic conservation planning is essential in the justification and design of protected areas, especially in an era where every piece of land or water is at a high premium. We used satellite tracking data and regular monitoring of Greater flamingos into the spatial prioritization planning tool Marxan to identify the most important zones for the conservation of the greater flamingo and many other species of waterbirds and marine habitats in one of the economically important areas in the coastal zone of Abu Dhabi. Locations from 11 satellite tracked flamingos and monthly count data since 2009 in the Bul Syayeef area showed a predominant use of a relatively small area which when integrated in Marxan provided optimum boundary with minimum cost. Marxan identified 1, 5, 10 and 15 ha planning units and provided the best solution with 15 ha. The reduced total area of 145 km2 is nearly 40% of the originally proposed area for protection, is more pragmatic and easy to establish, given the high importance of the area for economic development. Using approximately the same boundary, the proposed area was declared a Ramsar site in September 2016 and was subsequently declared a protected area through a government decree in September 2017.

Dinamica nivelurilor medii lunare ale cursului Dunării, la patru ani de la amenajare Nivelurile medii anuale au înregistrat o creştere rapidă între anii 1970-1971, după care s-au stabilizat în jurul unor cote cu 2,5-19,7 mai ridicate faţă de nivelurile medii din perioada precedentă.

Em décadas recentes, uma nova temática vem adquirindo uma visibilidade crescente em fóruns mundiais sobre políticas de conservação da natureza – os sítios naturais sagrados (SNS). Reconhecidos em diversas partes do planeta, esses lugares encantados expressam valores espirituais ancestrais e a visão de sacralidade da natureza de vários grupos sociais, sendo considerados elos entre a diversidade biológica e cultural. O conhecimento sobre esse tema no Brasil, entretanto, é ainda limitado e as iniciativas de salvaguarda de SNS em políticas públicas nacionais são incipientes, especialmente considerando a expressiva riqueza natural, cultural e religiosa do país. Também são raras as referências ao contexto brasileiro na literatura especializada sobre o tema. Esse quadro instigou a formulação desta tese, delineada com o objetivo de compreender como os SNS e seus valores culturais e espirituais podem contribuir para inspirar a reconexão entre sociedade e natureza e o papel das áreas protegidas em contribuir nessa direção. Inserida no campo das Ciências Sociais e delineada como uma pesquisa qualitativa e exploratória, a investigação foi conduzida a partir da compilação e análise de um vasto referencial bibliográfico - impulsionada por uma estratégia de rede colaborativa de conhecimento - e da interpretação da percepção de interlocutores da gestão pública sobre o tema, complementada, ainda, por observação direta em eventos acadêmicos, vivências de campo e no exercício profissional da autora. Pautada em um referencial teórico interdisciplinar ancorado nos pressupostos da Psicossociologia e na Ecologia Social, a tese se baseia na noção de reencantamento do mundo para lançar um olhar sobre os SNS como elementos centrais para a construção de um novo paradigma de conservação da natureza. Ao longo dos capítulos, percorre-se um caminho que parte do panorama internacional de debate sobre o tema, passa por um levantamento exploratório dos SNS no Brasil e chega até a discussão das perspectivas de reconhecimento dessas áreas no contexto das políticas públicas nacionais e na gestão das áreas protegidas. Os resultados revelam que a recorrência desse fenômeno no território nacional e sua relevância social contrastam com a invisibilidade da problemática na gestão pública. Dentre as razões para esse quadro estão a visão positivista, cientificista e fragmentada da realidade que predomina na modernidade – que separa a razão da emoção, a cultura da natureza e a ciência da espiritualidade – e a colonialidade do pensamento estatal. Comprometida com uma abordagem crítica, ética e politicamente engajada, a tese busca compreender os conflitos socioambientais nas áreas protegidas como oportunidades para a emergência de novas estratégias de gestão criativas, integradoras e transformadoras, a partir da promoção da espiritualidade ecológica e de uma conservação com coração. Defende-se que nos significados ancestrais dos SNS podem estar as chaves para uma renovação de alianças que levem à implementação de políticas capazes de inspirar a reconexão entre sociedade e natureza, trilhando caminhos mais justos, belos e – por que não? – mais mágicos.

The inclusion of buffer zones in the establishment of protected areas has become a common practice in conservation. However, little is known about the efficiency of these buffer zones around national parks in Liberia and most parts of Africa. Sapo National Park (SNP) is the only national park in Liberia and contains the second-largest area of primary rainforest in West Africa. This study assessed the role of the buffer zone in the conservation of birds of SNP. Birds were surveyed using Distance Sampling with line transects. A total of 183 bird species belonging to 55 families were recorded. Sixteen species of global conservation concern were recorded in both SNP and the buffer zone including the ‘Endangered’ Gola Malimbe Malimbus ballmanni and ‘Vulnerable’ Yellowbearded Greenbul Criniger Olivaceous. The overall mean density of species and Pielou’s evenness index were significantly higher in the Park than the buffer zone, while species richness and diversity were higher in the buffer zone compared to the Park. The high density and evenness of birds in the Park may be attributed to the intactness and homogeneity of the forest inside the Park. On the other hand, the high species richness and slightly higher diversity in the buffer could be attributed to the heterogeneity in the buffer habitats and the observed availability of food resources (several fruiting trees and farmlands) in the buffer zone as compared to the Park during the time of this study. The presence of 16 bird species of global conservation concern and other birds in both SNP and its buffer zone suggests the conservation importance of not only the Park but also the buffer zone in the conservation of these species. Thus, to effectively conserve biodiversity in SNP, conservation planning and active management efforts should explicitly include a well-defined buffer zone around the Park.

In recent years, perhaps the two most prominent debates in geography on issues of biodiversity conservation have hinged upon, firstly, the positive and negative social impacts of conservation projects on human populations, and, secondly, the apparent neoliberalisation of conservation. Yet so far there have been few explicit linkages drawn between these debates. This paper moves both debates forward by presenting the first review of how the neoliberalisation of conservation has affected the kinds of impacts that conservation projects entail for local communities. It finds that, whilst there are important variegations within neoliberal conservation, processes of neoliberalisation nevertheless tend to produce certain recurring trends in their social impacts. Firstly, neoliberal conservation often involves novel forms of power, particularly those that seek to reshape local subjectivities in accordance with both conservationist and neoliberal-economic values. Secondly, it relies on greater use of use of representation and spectacle to produce commodities and access related markets, which can both create greater negative social impacts and offer new opportunities for local people to contest and reshape conservation projects. Thirdly, neoliberal conservation projects frequently widen the distribution of social impacts by interacting with pre-existing social, economic, and political inequalities. Accordingly, the paper illuminates how neoliberal approaches to conservation generate novel opportunities and constraints for struggles toward more socially and environmentally just forms of biodiversity preservation.

As pressure from a growing human population increases around the world, greater levels of conflict between people and wildlife over shrinking available land may be inevitable. The conversion of Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary to Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) in India is a conservation initiative under "Project Tiger" scheme to facilitate greater habitat connectivity across the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. We interviewed local people in the MTR landscape to determine their interest and attitude towards resettlement and tiger conservation following MTR's new status designation. We found that non-tribal Mountain Chetties generally had negative attitude towards tiger conservation, Kurumbas were positive toward the idea, and Kattunaickers, and Irula people and other minor ethnic groups were found neutral. We found that literate respondents were less likely to collect firewood and more likely to exhibit positive attitude towards tiger conservation and the establishment of MTR. Households with higher milk production, and people with generally negative attitude towards wildlife conservation , were against the declaration of MTR. People employed in private sectors and those having negative perception towards wildlife conservation were more likely to show negative attitude towards declaration of MTR. Locals desiring resettlement post MTR declaration were literate, and interested in availing better livelihood resources. However, they usually suffered relatively high livestock loss to large carnivores, and high crop damage caused by elephant (Elephas maximus). Most respondents (74.3%) were interested in resettlement provided that basic amenities were available to them. We recommend that conservation authorities facilitate "choice-based resettlement" options, which account for local people's consent before making decisions on "re-settlement". This approach will avoid possible conflicts between forest managers and local people.

Unsustainable land uses may result in poor watershed management, increased soil erosion, poorly-planned urban development, increased runoff, and sewage pollution, creating an environmental stress gradient across coastal coral reefs. This study was aimed at: 1) Evaluating water quality within and outside the Canal Luis Peña Natural Reserve (CLPNR), Culebra Island, Puerto Rico; 2) Determining if there was any significant environmental stress gradient associated to land-based non-point source pollution; and 3) Characterizing shallow-water coral reef communities across the gradient. Strong gradient impacts associated 293 to sediment-laden and nutrient-loaded runoff pulses, in combination with non-point raw sewage pulses, and sediment bedload, impacted coastal coral reefs. Water quality showed significant spatio-temporal fluctuations (p<0.0001), largely responding to heavy rainfall and subsequent runoff pulses. Benthic community structure showed significant spatial variation along the environmental stress gradient (p=0.0002). Macroalgae, dead coral surfaces, algal turf, and low coral species richness, species diversity index (H'c), and evenness (J'c) dominated benthic assemblages across reefs frequently impacted by runoff pulses and sediment bedload. The combination of fecal coliform and enterococci concentrations were correlated with variation in benthic community structure (Rho=0.668; p=0.0020). The combined variation in salinity, dissolved oxygen and enterococci concentrations explained 75% of the observed spatial variation in benthic assemblages (R 2 =0.7461; p=0.0400). Local human stressors affected coral reefs within no-take CLPNR and risk analyses suggest it may offset its ecological benefits. There is a need to design and implement integrated coastal-watershed management strategies to address multiple land use activities, including erosion-control best management practices, watershed reforestation, and sewage pollution control.

Mountains occupy 24% of the global land surface area and are home to 12% of the world's population. They have ecological, aesthetic, and socioeconomic significance, not only for people living in mountain areas, but for those living beyond. Mountains need specific attention for their contribution to global goods and services, especially by developing and implementing mountain specific policies. Conservation policies have evolved from the protection of charismatic species, to habitat and ecosystem/landscape conservation, and, finally, to people-oriented conservation approaches. This paper, with particular reference to paradigm shifts in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region, discusses the evolution of conservation policies, developments in conservation practices, the status of protected area management, wetland conservation initiatives and the landscape approach, community-based conservation initiatives, and the convergence of policies and practices. In the HKH region, conservation efforts now adopt participatory approaches, implement policies of decentralised governance for biodiversity management, and empower local communities in biodiversity management. The paradigm shift in the policies and practices related to conservation has been gradual and has included the acceptance of communities as an integral part of national level conservation initiatives, together with the integration of many global conventions. There are many successful pilots in the HKH region that deserve upscaling by the countries from the region. Realising the importance of mountains as hotspots of biodiversity, and due to their role as providers of global goods and services, the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the Programme of Work on Mountain Biodiversity. Such a decision specific to mountains provides enormous opportunities for both conservation and development. Recent challenges posed by climate change need to be integrated into overall biodiversity conservation and management agendas, especially in mountain areas. The HKH region has been identified as a blank spot for data by the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change, indicating the need to develop regional database and sharing mechanisms. This is a tall task, but one that holds enormous opportunity for the HKH countries and institutions with regional mandates to address the emerging challenges of climate change on biodiversity conservation by reducing scientific uncertainty.

Integrated conservation and development projects in the recent years view local people's support for protected areas management as an important element of biodiversity conservation. Increased knowledge about the interaction between conservation of natural resources and the development needs of local people is an essential part of understanding sustainable protected areas management in Haiti. This paper investigates farmers' perceptions on the impact of the Forêt des Pins Reserve on the economic, social, and environmental status of local people using factor analysis and linear structural models. Data from 243 farmers inside the Reserve are used in the empirical analysis. The results suggest that farmers most value economic and environmental objectives, such as tourism and tree planting activities, in promoting forestry programs inside the Reserve. Respondents who believe that their farming activities would benefit from forestry programs through soil protection tended to be more positive.

We examined the influence of visitors' profile, information sources, environmental dispositions, and visit evaluation on visitors' willingness to pay (WTP) for the National Marine Park of Zakynthos. Regarding WTP amounts pledged, parameters of visit evaluation were the most significant predictors. The estimated annual revenue that could be gained could cover the operating costs of the Protected Area Management Body.

Changes in forest cover due to land tenure is a serious threat to Great Forest Park Wan Abdul Rahman. This study aimed to analyze changes in forest cover in 1994, 1997, 2000, 2014, and the activities that happen related to changes in land cover in The Great Forest Park of Wan Abdul Rahman, Bandar Lampung. Remote sensing and geographic information systems techniques were used to monitor and evaluate changes in forest cover that occurred since 1994 to 2014 and also to determine forest cover changes that occurred in each block management. Landsat satellite images in 1994, 1997, 2000, 2014 were collected and analyzed. Along with that, direct observation in the field is done for assessment of accuracy as well as the literature study to look at the chronology of events related to the change of the forest cover. The results showed forest area in 1994 was 9.090,1 hectare or 40.9% of the total area of Great Forest Park Wan Abdul Rahman. In 2000 the forest cover has been decreased at the highest, at the extent of 5.428,7 hectare or 24.4% of the total area. In 2014, the forest cover has been increased to 8.953 hectare or 40.2% of the total area.

Understanding the relationship between wilderness outings and the resulting experience has been a central theme in resource-based, outdoor recreation research for nearly 50 years. The authors provide a review and synthesis of literature that examines how people, over time, build relationships with wilderness places and express their identities as consequences of multiple, ongoing wilderness engagements (that is, continued participation). The paper reviews studies of everyday places and those specifically protected for wilderness and backcountry qualities. Beginning with early origins and working through contemporary research the authors synthesize what diverse social scientists have learned about the long-term and continual nature of wilderness participation and its impact on the formation of identity. The thrust of the paper points researchers, planners, and managers in non-traditional directions and reframes goals and objectives for visitor planning and management in wilderness and other protected areas.

We compiled details of over 8000 assessments of protected area management effectiveness across the world and developed a method for analyzing results across diverse assessment methodologies and indicators. Data was compiled and analyzed for over 4000 of these sites. Management of these protected areas varied from weak to effective, with about 40% showing major deficiencies. About 14% of the surveyed areas showed significant deficiencies across many management effectiveness indicators and hence lacked basic requirements to operate effectively. Strongest management factors recorded on average related to establishment of protected areas (legal establishment, design, legislation and boundary marking) and to effectiveness of governance; while the weakest aspects of management included community benefit programs, resourcing (funding reliability and adequacy, staff numbers and facility and equipment maintenance) and management effectiveness evaluation. Estimations of management outcomes, including both environmental values conservation and impact on communities, were positive. We conclude that in spite of inadequate funding and management process, there are indications that protected areas are contributing to biodiversity conservation and community wellbeing.

In protected areas of the African savanna tree cover, structure and species composition are influenced by a combination of many different variables. These include complex and multi-scaled interplay of environmental factors such as water and nutrient availability, fire, herbivory and, when occurring, direct human disturbance. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive and comparative analysis of the spatial variability of tree cover and density in three neighboring Southern African National Parks (Kruger, Limpopo, and Gonarezhou) characterized by similar environmental conditions but different management plans. We sampled 3382 plots of 0.5 ha across the three parks using an innovative methodology defined as augmented visual interpretation, based on a free and open source software. This software, named Collect Earth, allows access to very high spatial and temporal resolution imagery archives. Spatial variability of tree cover and density was analyzed comparing the three parks and the two bioclimatic regions (semiarid and dry subhumid) characterizing them. The effect of relevant environmental variables such as edaphic factors, precipitation and fire frequency was also assessed. Kruger National Park is characterized by the lowest values of tree cover and density among the three Parks. Contrary to what was expected and the general trend of Southern Africa, the dry subhumid zone showed lower values of tree cover and density than the semiarid zone. Such variability is hypothesized to be related to the different managements of the three parks within the general environmental template characterizing the African savanna as well as differences in tree species composition between the two climatic zones.

Recientemente, en el marco del proyecto GEF/PNUD
Sistema Regional de Áreas Protegidas, se estableció una iniciativa conjunta orientada a desarrollar una herramienta para la evaluación de la efectividad de manejo en áreas
protegidas privadas de las regiones de Los Ríos y Los Lagos, como parte del proceso de discusión de un estándar para la conservación privada. Basado en el marco de referencia de la Comisión Mundial de Áreas Protegidas de la UICN,  se realizó una propuesta de adaptación del Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool a las circunstancias y factores específicos del ciclo de manejo de las áreas protegidas privadas en Chile. A partir de estas sugerencias se desarrolló la Herramienta de Evaluación de
Efectividad de Manejo (HEEM) de Áreas Protegidas Privadas, que analiza seis ámbitos que contribuyen de manera decisiva al éxito de estas iniciativas, conocidos como las “6P”: Propiedad, Permanencia, Planificación, Personal, Presupuesto y Participación. Estos aspectos se evalúan a través de 26 variables. Esta herramienta fue aplicada de manera piloto en un taller realizado entre el 22 y el 24 de mayo de 2012 en la Reserva Privada Huilo Huilo, en el que participaron más de 30 administradores y gestores de iniciativas de conservación privada.

The number of cultural parks has been steadily increasing in recent years throughout the world. But what is a cultural park? This book provides a detailed answer to this question and sets out the basis for an academic debate that moves beyond the technical narratives that have prevailed to date. It is important to open up the topic to academic scrutiny given that cultural parks are becoming widespread devices being employed by different institutions and social groups to manage and enhance cultural and natural heritage assets and landscapes. The main problem in dealing with this topic is the predominant lack of theory-grounded, critical reflection in the literature about cultural parks. These remain largely conceived as technical instruments deployed by institutions in order to solve an array of problems they must deal with. As cultural parks are generally regarded as positive and constructive tools whose performance is associated with the preservation of heritage, the overcoming of the nature/culture divide, the reinforcing of identity and memory and the strengthening of social cohesion and economic development, this book critically explores these issues through the analysis of the literature on cultural parks. In addition, it provides a novel theoretical conceptualization of cultural parks that is connected with, and underpins, a tentative methodology developed for their empirical analysis.

Background: Coat colour variation has been recorded in several mammalian taxa, including large felid species. White lions are a rare colour variant of the African lion, Panthera leo, that only occurred in the wild in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve and southern Kruger National Park, South Africa. Although white cubs were born in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve in 2006, 2009, 2011, and 2014, and in southern Kruger National Park in 2014 and 2015, no adult animals had been seen since 1994. It has been suggested that white coat colour prevents free-roaming lions from hunting successfully and therefore surviving in the wild. This hypothesis was investigated under managed free-roaming conditions in two fenced areas since no adult white lions existed in the wild at the time. Two separate groups of white lions were rewilded and their hunting success evaluated. Prey density, availability of preferred prey and habitat type were similar to that of the white lions’ natural habitat of Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. Wild tawny lions were released into the study area and their hunting success recorded. All kill data were then compared to that of wild tawny lions in other small wildlife reserves in South Africa.

Results: There was no significant difference between the mean kill rate or mean consumption rate of the two white lion groups and: (i) the tawny lion group in the same study area, (ii) wild tawny lions at the Madjuma Lion Reserve (MLR), Karongwe Game Reserve (KGR), Welgevonden Game Reserve (WGR), Makalali Game Reserve (MGR) and the Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR) in South Africa.

Conclusions: White lions are capable of hunting
self-sufficiently under managed free-roaming conditions in a small fenced area, suggesting that white coat colour does not prevent free-roaming white lions from hunting successfully in their natural habitat. We suggest therefore that the hunting behaviour of white lions be studied under fully free-roaming conditions.

Keywords: white lion, colour variant, leucism, hunting success, Greater Kruger Park.