This document provides a summary of the IUCN protected area categories system. It outlines the history and development of the categories from 1975 to the present. The key elements summarized are: - The 2008 definition of a protected area as a clearly defined geographical space recognized and managed to achieve long-term conservation of nature. - The six protected area management categories (Ia, Ib, II, III, IV, V, VI) based on conservation objectives and levels of protection. - Four governance types for protected areas (governments, various parties, private entities, indigenous groups). - Global trends including a significant increase in protected areas from 1,000 sites in 1962 to over 200,000 sites

1. Global Protected Areas Programme
Protected areas .... achieving quality

2. Introduction to the IUCN Categories:
History, main elements and definitions

3. An introductory presentation
to
Guidelines for Applying
Protected Area Management
Categories
Edited by Nigel Dudley
Including IUCN WCPA Best Practice
Guidance on Recognising Protected
Areas and Assigning Management
Categories and Governance Types by
Sue Stolton, Peter Shadie and Nigel
Dudley Best Practice Protected Area Guidelines
Series No. 21
ISBN 978-2-8317-1086-0
Available at www.iucn.org/pa_categories

4. 4
This presentation provides a short history of the
development as well as definitions of the IUCN
management categories

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IUCN has spent the last two decades reviewing and to
a certain extent rethinking the question of what
defines a “protected area” and how and what
protected areas contribute to human society

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In 1975 IUCN began to
develop a categories system
based on management
objectives and this was
eventually published as a set
of six categories in 1994.
Add picture
of 1994
version

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What started as simply a
statistical tool soon began to
influence planning,
management, policy, laws and
even the underlying
philosophy of protected areas
and conservation.

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From 2000-2004 an analysis of
the scope and impact of
categories, was carried out for
IUCN. The results were published
in the report Speaking a Common
Language and a resolution at the
2004 World Conservation
Congress called for a thorough
review of the categories and
production of new guidelines

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As a result IUCN published a
new edition of guidelines to
the IUCN protected area
categories at the World
Conservation Congress in
October 2008 following a
major global consultative
process
replaced by the current Best
Practice Guideline No 21

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The category guidelines have three
main elements:
1. Definition of a protected area
2. Definition of six management
categories for protected areas
3. Definition of four governance
types for protected areas
Plus guidance on understanding,
using and reporting these three
elements.

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The IUCN definition of a protected area: A clearly
defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated
and managed, through legal or other effective means,
to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with
associated ecosystem services and cultural values

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This definition was one of
the major revisions in the
2008 guidelines – it reflects
a wider view of nature,
including geological
diversity – but increases
emphasis on nature
conservation
The guidelines explain the
definition phrase by phrase
and provide principles to
guide its use

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One key principle is: For IUCN, only those sites where
the main goal or outcome is conserving nature
should be considered protected areas. Note that this
would include many sites which can have other goals
as well, at the same level, such as cultural or spiritual,
but in the case of conflict nature conservation has to
be the priority

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Categories of protected areas
The categories were not changed in the 2008 edition
but the guidance associated with them was clarified,
harmonised and standardised.

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An important note: The names of the categories used
by IUCN do not necessarily reflect the names used at
national or sub-national levels
Snowdonia National Park (category V) UK
Serengeti National Park (category II) Tanzania

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Category Ia (strict nature reserve) set aside to protect
biodiversity and also possibly
geological/geomorphological features, where human
visitation, use and impacts are strictly controlled and
limited to ensure protection of the conservation
values

17. 17
Category Ib (wilderness area) usually large unmodified
or slightly modified areas, retaining their natural
character and influence, without permanent or
significant human habitation, protected and managed
to preserve their natural condition.

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Category II (national park) protect large-scale
ecological processes, along with the complement of
species and ecosystems characteristic of the area,
which also provide a foundation for environmentally
and culturally compatible spiritual, scientific,
educational, recreational and visitor opportunities

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Category III (natural monument or feature) protect a
specific natural monument, which can be a landform,
sea mount, submarine cavern, geological feature such
as a cave or even a living feature, such as an ancient
grove

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Category IV (habitat/species management area)
protect particular species or habitats, where
management reflects this priority. Many will need
regular active interventions to address the
requirements of particular species or to maintain
habitats, but this is not a requirement of the category

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Category V (protected landscape) protected areas
where the interaction of people and nature over time
has produced an area of distinct character with
significant ecological, biological, cultural and scenic
value and where safeguarding the integrity of this
interaction is vital to protecting and sustaining the
area and its associated values

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Category VI (protected areas with sustainable use of
natural resources) protects ecosystems and habitats,
and associated cultural values and traditional natural
resource management systems. Generally large areas,
with most of the area in a natural condition, where a
proportion is under sustainable natural resource
management with low-level non-industrial use of
natural resources compatible with nature
conservation.

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Governance
Who has responsibility and is held
accountable for decisions about a given
protected area?
A. the government (and its agencies at
various levels)
B. various parties (shared governance)
C. owners of the concerned land and
natural resources (private individuals,
corporate actors…)
D. indigenous peoples and local
communities
See also Best Practice Guidelines on
Governance of Protected Areas
www.iucn.org/pa_governance

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Protected Planet (powered by the World Database on
Protected Areas) www.protectedplanet.net managed by
UNEP-WCMC and IUCN uses the IUCN definition,
protected area categories and governance types

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*Source: UNEP/IUCN World Database on Protected
Areas – March and October 2013
14.6% of terrestrial area protected (excluding Antarctica)
2.8 % of marine area protected
Protected areas*
1962 1,000
2013 ca. 200,000
(190.000 terrestrial,
9500 marine)
Global extent of protected areas

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Having the world of protected areas online means we
should ensure the most accurate data on protected
areas is available to all those interested

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Which means ensuring a good understanding of the
protected area definition, categories and governance
types

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Countries are also encouraged to use the IUCN
categories and governance types as part of their
commitments under the CBD’s Programme of Work
on Protected Areas and the categories are used to
plan and assess both global and national protected
area systems

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IUCN continues to build capacity for the implementation of the
categories from providing workshops and training in using the
categories to developing additional specialist guidance on application;
e.g. guidance on using the categories in marine protected areas
See also Guidelines for Applying the IUCN Protected Area Management Categories to Marine
Protected Areas
http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/gpap_home/gpap_capacity2/gpap_bpg/?11131
/Guidelines-for-Applying-the-IUCN-Protected-Area-Management-Categories-to-Marine-
Protected-Areas

30. Global Protected Areas Programme
Protected areas .... achieving quality

31. Acknowledgements
IUCN‘s Global Protected Areas Programme gratefully
acknowledges the partnership that has provided leadership and
voluntary support to develop these guidance materials
Regional Council for the
Environment of Junta de
Andalucía