Definition
Goal/target addressed
Goal 7. Ensure environmental sustainability.
Target 9. Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources.
Rationale
Habitat conservation is vital for stemming the decline in biodiversity. The establishment of protected areas is an important mechanism for achieving this aim. Some areas, such as scientific reserves, are maintained in their natural state and closed to extractive use. Others are partially protected and may be used for recreation or tourism.
In addition to protecting biodiversity, protected areas have become places of high social and economic value: supporting local livelihoods; protecting watersheds from erosion; harboring an untold wealth of genetic resources; supporting thriving recreation and tourism industries; providing for science, research and education; and forming a basis for cultural and other non-material values. These values continue to grow in importance.
Method of computation
Protected areas, both terrestrial and marine, are totaled and expressed as a percentage of the total surface area of the country. The total surface area of the country includes terrestrial area plus any territorial sea area (up to 12 nautical miles).
Data collection and source
Data are collected by environment and other ministries responsible for the designation and maintenance of protected areas. Data are stored in the World Database on Protected Areas and can be accessed at http://sea.unep-wcmc.org/wdbpa/UN.cfm.
References
IUCN–World Conservation Union, www.iucn.org/themes/biodiversity.
World Database on Protected Areas, United Nations Environment Programme–World Conversation Monitoring Centre (sea.unep-wcmc.org/wdbpa/UN.cfm).
Indicators of Sustainable Development: Guidelines and Methodologies, 2001, United Nations Division for Sustainable Development (www.un.org/esa/sustdev/natlinfo/indicators/isd.htm).
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, biosphere reserves, www.unesco.org/mab.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, heritage sites, www.unesco.org/whc.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, wetlands, www.ramsar.org/sitelist.pdf.
Gender and Biodiversity, Tipsheet, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development/Development Assistance Committee (www.oecd.org).
Periodicity of measurement
Data are constantly updated in the World Database on Protected Areas as new information is received from countries.
Gender issues
Mainstream agricultural, environmental and related policies and programmes tend to see farmers as men. They often fail to recognize women’s work, knowledge, contributions and needs. This has important consequences for biodiversity as well as gender equality.
International data comparisons
World Development Indicators, annual, World Bank (www.worldbank.org/data).
World Database on Protected Areas, United Nations Environment Programme–World Conversation Monitoring Centre (sea.unep-wcmc.org/wdbpa/UN.cfm).
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, biosphere reserves, www.unesco.org/mab.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, heritage sites, www.unesco.org/whc.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, wetlands, www.ramsar.org/sitelist.pdf.
Comments and limitations
The designation of an area as protected is not confirmation that protection measures are actually in force. The indicator provides a measure of governments’ will to protect biodiversity. It does not measure the effectiveness of policy tools in reducing biodiversity loss, which ultimately depends on a range of management and implementation factors not covered by the indicator.
The indicator provides no information on areas not designated as protected, but which may also be important for conserving biodiversity.
The data also do not include sites protected under local or provincial law (World Conservation Monitoring Center, Protected Areas Data Unit).
It is not obvious how to establish targets for this indicator.
Agencies
Ministries of environment.
United Nations Environment Programme, World Conservation Monitoring Centre.
IUCN–World Conservation Union.