Most countries have set aside a substantial part of their territory
as protected areas for the purpose of safeguarding outstanding
examples of their natural heritage. In such areas, little or no
human exploitation has taken place, and allowable activities are
limited according to the category of protected area. Also included
in such protected area systems are areas of specific scientific,
educational and recreational interest, and natural landscapes of
great beauty. Management of protected areas usually aims at
conservation of the unaltered ecosystem and, in case of national
parks in sections or zones designed for this purpose, provision of
recreational facilities which generate income from visitors. In
some countries, the national protected area system includes
cultural or natural monuments and historic sites. In most tropical
countries, their preservation and management is the responsibility
of departments other than those responsible for national parks and
nature reserves.
Euroconsult Mott MacDonald‘s experience:
- Development of protected area systems, strategies, guidelines
and regulations
- Protected area management planning and implementation:
conservation management, recreation/visitor management and estate
management, wildlife management and habitat management
improvement
- Preparation of regional environmental profiles and strategies
including nature conservation
- GIS and database management for protected area system planning
and management
- Contribution to international conservation treaties
- Protected area community conflict solving, control of problem
animals
- Participatory approaches to protected area management
- Buffer zone management
- Biodiversity trust funds
- Design of GEF projects
