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Landscape Planning Studio
PROTECTED AREAS
Protected areas are geographical space that are clearly defined, recognized, dedicated and managed to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values through legal or other effective means.
CATEGORIES
CATEGORIES
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IUCN protected area management categories are categories used to classify protected areas in a system developed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
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The protected area management categories system was developed to define, record, and classify the wide variety of specific aims and concerns when categorizing protected areas and their objectives.
IA
STRICT NATURE RESERVE
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Strictly protected for biodiversity and also possibly geological/geomorphological features, where human visitation, use and impacts are controlled and limited to ensure protection of the conservation values.
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IA
STRICT NATURE RESERVE
IB
WILDERNESS AREA
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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.
IB
WILDERNESS AREA
II
NATIONAL PARK
Large natural or near-natural areas protecting large-scale ecological processes with characteristic species and ecosystems, which also have environmentally and culturally compatible spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational and visitor opportunities.
II
NATIONAL PARK
III
NATURAL MONUMENT OR FEATURE
Areas set aside to protect a specific natural monument, which can be a landform, sea mount, marine cavern, geological feature such as a cave, or a living feature such as an ancient grove.
III
NATURAL MONUMENT OR FEATURE
IV
HABITAT/SPECIES MANAGEMENT AREA
Areas to protect particular species or habitats, where management reflects this priority. Many will need regular, active interventions to meet the needs of particular species or habitats, but this isn't a requirement of the category.
IV
HABITAT/SPECIES MANAGEMENT AREA
V
PROTECTED LANDSCAPE OR SEASCAPE
Where the interaction of people and nature over time has produced a 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 nature conservation and other values.
V
PROTECTED LANDSCAPE OR SEASCAPE
VI
PROTECTED AREAS WITH SUSTAINABLE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Areas which conserve ecosystems, together with associated cultural values and traditional natural resource management systems. Generally large, mainly in a natural condition, with a proportion under sustainable natural resource management .
VI
PROTECTED AREAS WITH SUSTAINABLE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES
SIZE COMPARISON
Habitat/Species
Management Area
Strict Nature Reserve
Protected
Landscape/Seascape
Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources
National Park
Protected Area With Sustainable Use of Natural Resources
National Parks will not generally have resource use permitted except for subsistence or minor recreational purposes.
Management in category III is focused on around a single natural feature, whereas in National Parks it is focused on maintaining a whole ecosystem.
Natural Monument
Wilderness Area
National parks will generally not be as strictly conserved as Category IA and may include tourist infrastructure and visitation.
Strict Nature Reserve
Natural Monument
A clear and direct size comparison does not exist, however the diagram on the left is merely a representation of the following designation comparison made by the IUCN.
Wilderness Area
Protected Landscape /Seascape
National Parks areas are natural systems or in the process of being restored to natural systems while category V are cultural landscapes and aim to be retained in this state.
In practice, category IV will seldom be large enough to protect an entire ecosystem and the distinction between categories II and IV is therefore to some extent a matter of degree, as category IV sites are likely to be quite small.
Habitat/Species Management Area
Management in category III is focused on around a single natural feature, whereas in National Parks it is focused on maintaining a whole ecosystem.