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A Global Analysis of Protected Area Management Effectiveness

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Abstract

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 well-being.

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Acknowledgments

The Global Study was funded by The Nature Conservancy, WWF and the University of Queensland and supported by IUCN. The later phase of the project was supported by the 2010 Biodiversity Indicator Partnership with funding from the Global Environment Facility through the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Additional funding for regional studies which were incorporated into the study was provided by IABIN (InterAmerican Biodiversity Information Network) and the German Government (BfN). Some of the information in this article appeared in the project report for the global study but data has since been updated and re-analyzed. We could not have undertaken the study without the use of information and assistance given freely and generously by many sources, including country agencies, conservation organizations and individuals. In particular we are indebted to J. Courrau, J. Ervin, S. Stolton, N. Dudley, M. Marr, K. MacKinnon, M. Zimsky, S. Butchart, S. Pauquet, C. Besançon, B. Bomhard, L. Lacerda, L. Higgins-Zogib, A. Belokurov, J. Spensley, E. Díaz Pascacio, N. Burgess, T. Whitton, V. Mathur, M. Stern, S. Valenzuela, P. Stathis, C. Nolte, A. Dinu, S. Stoll-Kleeman, A. Kettner, G. Neilsen and J. Parrish. N. Burgess and two anonymous reviewers provided very helpful comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Integrative Systems, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4067, Australia

    Fiona Leverington, Katia Lemos Costa & Marc Hockings

  2. UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Huntington Road, Cambridge, UK

    Helena Pavese & Marc Hockings

  3. School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, 4343, Australia

    Allan Lisle

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  1. Fiona Leverington
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Correspondence to Marc Hockings.

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Leverington, F., Costa, K.L., Pavese, H. et al. A Global Analysis of Protected Area Management Effectiveness. Environmental Management 46, 685–698 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-010-9564-5

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