Protected Areas, a global
perspective Tue, Aug 27, 2013
By Siobhan Kenney and Brian Mac Sharry,
The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA)
is the most comprehensive dataset on the
world's protected areas covering both terrestrial
and marine protected areas. Currently there
are about 200,000 records in the database
covering nearly every country and territory.
FURTHER RESOURCES
Figure 1: Map of the WDPA, 2013. Sites in
green are terrestrial protected areas
The basis for the database began in 1959,
when the United Nations Economic and Social
Council called for a list of national parks
and equivalent reserves in recognition that
they 'are valuable for economic and scientific
reasons and also as areas for the future
preservation of fauna and flora and geologic
structures in their natural state' (Resolution
713 (XXVIII)). The first UN List of Protected
Areas was published in 1962. Today the UN
List is incorporated into the WDPA ? which
was established in 1981.
The WDPA consists of spatial information
(where a protected areas is) and associated
descriptive information (what the protected
area is called, its designation type, etc).
The database is regularly updated through
direct contact with countries and other
relevant partners and covers a diverse range
of protected areas. The data can be viewed
and downloaded via the online map viewer,
Protected planet www.protectedplanet.net.
The database includes
nationally designated areas (e.g. national
parks, nature reserves) as well as areas
designated under international agreements
and conventions (e.g. UNESCO World Heritage
Sites, Ramsar Wetlands of International
Importance). In order to qualify for inclusion
in the WDPA, a site should meet the IUCN
or CBD definition of a protected
The global protected
areas system is in constant flux with new
protected areas being created, areas being
expanded and contracted, and community and
private protected areas receiving increasing
recognition. At any one time the WDPA provides
a snapshot of the current data that has
been made available to UNEP-WCMC and an
updated version of the database is produced
every month.
One of the key uses
of the WDPA is tracking global progress
towards protected area targets. In particular
the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Aichi Target 11 calls for:
'By 2020, at least 17
per cent of terrestrial and inland water,
and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas,
especially areas of particular importance
for biodiversity and ecosystem services,
are conserved through effectively and equitably
managed, ecologically representative and
well connected systems of protected areas
and other effective area-based conservation
measures, and integrated into the wider
landscapes and seascapes.' (CBD COP 10,
Decision X/2)
In terms of coverage,
the WDPA tells us that protected terrestrial
areas have increased from 8.9% of the world's
land surface in 11000 to 14.6% in 2012,
and during this time, protected marine areas
have more than doubled in coverage from
4.6% to 9.7% .
Figure 1: Map of the
WDPA, 2013. Sites in green are terrestrial
protected areas and sites in blue are marine
protected areas.
The database is a joint
project between the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) and the International Union
for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), maintained
by the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring
Centre (UNEP-WCMC) in Cambridge, UK.
+ More
New report finds green
investments in South Africa could spur growth
and jobs while enhancing crop yields, water
supplies and land restoration
Fri, Aug 23, 2013 -
The study assesses the impacts of green
investments in four of the country's key
economic sectors: agriculture, energy, transport
and natural resource management.
New report finds green
investments in South Africa could spur growth
and jobs while enhancing crop yields, water
supplies and land restoration
KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa, 6
August 2013 - Improving the management of
natural resources and investing in the environment
could increase South Africa’s crop yields
by almost a quarter, create 170,000 additional
jobs, and significantly increase the availability
of water, compared to current practices.
These are among the
key findings of a new report released today
by South Africa’s Minister of Water and
Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa at a ceremony,
which also launched a new community based
Green Fund Project in the uPhongolo Local
Municipality.
The study, South African
Green Economy Modelling, shows that investing
in a low-carbon, resource efficient green
economy is fundamental for South Africa’s
sustained economic growth and well-being.
The study assesses the
impacts of green investments in four of
the country’s key economic sectors: agriculture,
energy, transport and natural resource management.
Based on the government’s current targets
and expenditures, the report identifies
possible opportunities for achieving government
targets in each of these four sectors.
The report finds that
a green economy approach - such as investing
in low-carbon technologies, green buildings,
and renewable energy - can create more jobs
than a business as usual approach, while
supporting the same level of economic growth,
yet with lower emissions of greenhouse gases
and less environmental damage.
However, based on a
green economy, target-specific scenario,
it also confirms that additional investment
may be needed to meet the country’s growth
target stipulated in the National Development
Plan of 4 to 7 per cent rise in GDP per
year between now and 2020.
“South Africa is committed
to pursuing and exploring opportunities
in its transition to an inclusive, low-carbon,
resource-efficient green economy,” said
Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs
Edna Molewa. “This study demonstrates that
a green economy approach, which takes into
account the country’s economic, social and
environmental aspirations, can deliver as
much growth as a business-as-usual model
but in a more sustainable manner. The report’s
findings will help guide the country’s future
policies and investments, as it work towards
achieving its sustainable development and
poverty eradication goals.”
Some key findings in
the report include:
Investment in a green
economy can contribute to 46 per cent more
restored land by 2030, and greater water
availability, without reducing land required
for the agriculture sector. In addition,
it could create jobs for 737,000 people
compared to 568,000 under a business-as-usual
scenario.
In the agriculture sector,
investment in ecological practices could
increase crop yields by as much as 23.9
per cent by 2030, while avoiding further
CO2 emissions. However, the report states
additional land for agriculture would still
be required to meet the needs of the projected
population growth.
Green investment in
the transport sector is currently insufficient
to meet the country’s 2005 energy efficiency
goal of 9 per cent by 2015. However, under
a green economy scenario, efficiency improvements
could reach 5.5 per cent by 2030, partially
offsetting the projected growth of population
and GDP.
Applying the green economy
model in the energy sector could result
in a reduction in energy demand, while increasing
the country’s electricity diversification
mix, but it still falls short of the National
Development Plan goal to have 33 per cent
of country’s electricity demand covered
by renewables by 2030. Thus, a more aggressive
investment strategy is needed to meet this
target.
With regards to employment, the report finds
that job creation is dependent on the investment
option chosen. For example, if investment
in the energy sector is prioritized, it
could create the most jobs. But if green
investments are spread equally across all
sectors, then the agriculture sector has
the most potential for employment creation.
“This report is evidence
of South Africa’s green economy leadership
as it continues to seek new information
that will help guide its forward-thinking
programmes and policies,” said UNEP Executive
Director Achim Steiner. “By undertaking
this modelling exercise, South Africa is
also contributing to the global discussion
on how countries can measure progress towards
their sustainable development aspirations.”
The study was commissioned
by UNEP at the request of South Africa’s
Department of Environmental Affairs, with
technical assistance from the Millennium
Institute and the Sustainability Institute,
in collaboration with the Centre for Renewable
and Sustainable Energy Studies of Stellenbosch
University. Funded by the European Commission,
the United Nations Development Programme
supported stakeholder consultations and
capacity building activities related to
the implementation of the project.
South Africa is one
of over 30 countries currently availing
of UNEP’s Green Economy Advisory Services.
The support package consists of policy advice,
technical assistance and capacity building
provided to governments in support of their
national and regional initiatives to transform
and revitalize their economies.
Note: The other project
launched today, “Farming the Wild”, is a
community based project to green the rural
economy of the uPhongolo Local Municipality.
The project is funded by the National Green
Fund, and aims to create green jobs and
sustain two rural communities.
