|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
||||||||||
Protect Nature! |
Since the foundation of Yellowstone National Park in 1872, and Brazil's Tijuca National Forest eleven years earlier, protected areas have been an essential tool for conserving nature and the natural resources on which people depend. Recent years have seen a significant increase in the number of protected around the world. However, despite the existence of over 120,000 protected areas the loss of species and habitats continues.
There are significant weaknesses in the design and management of some protected areas which leave them vulnerable to threats such as poaching or fire. More protected areas are needed to conserve habitats such as grasslands, rivers and seas which are significantly under-represented globally. Together with our partners, we are working to overcome these challenges.
Feeling the Squeeze
As the world’s population grows, increasing pressure is being put on protected areas. Areas set aside for conservation can be seen as potential areas for development: rivers are dammed, roads are built and hotels constructed along beachfronts. Land is converted for agricultural use and fish stocks are depleted. Infrastructure development can open up pathways for other threats, such as fire and invasive species. Climate change is disrupting the natural behavior and functioning of many species and ecosystems. All of these different factors put pressure on protected areas and their ability to conserve nature and the natural resources on which people depend.
Building Solid Foundations
In order to deliver on their promise of a sustainable future, protected areas need to be well-funded, well-managed and have the support of both governments and society. Many protected areas, especially in developing countries, lack the basic resources needed to enable them to succeed. In Peru an estimated $11 million of additional funds is needed annually just to meet the costs of existing protected areas such as trained staff and vehicles.
Governments need more information about the benefits of protected areas to ensure that supportive legislation is passed and that economic development takes place in a way that preserves essential natural resources. Communities also need to be more involved in the decisions made on protected areas that effect their way of life. With the support of the Conservancy, many governments are now working to improve the foundations protected areas need to succeed.
Conservation Gaps
Some important habitats have been overlooked in the creation of protected areas and significant gaps exist. Less than two percent of our world’s oceans are currently protected. Rivers, lakes and grasslands are other habitats which are also under-represented. Some protected areas that have been created are too small or too fragmented to properly conserve the plant and animal life that they contain. They need to be expanded to ensure the preservation of those species is secured. The Conservancy is contributing resources and expertise to help governments tackle these conservation gaps.
Climate Change
Climate change threatens to alter the structure of our lands and waters, bring warmer temperatures to some areas and rising sea levels. Very few protected areas are currently designed or managed to respond to anticipated changes created by global warming. Rising temperatures are disrupting migration patterns that have evolved over many thousands of years, and many species are unlikely to adapt fast enough to keep up with these changes. The effects of climate change are especially acute in mountains and in our most northern and southern climates, where plants and animals have nowhere to escape the effects of warmer temperatures. The Conservancy supports policies and management practices that will help protected areas adapt to climate change.
A Cause For Hope!
Around the world, governments and communities are recognizing the importance of protected areas and are taking action to ensure the conservation of their natural heritage. Governments have made a historic commitment to improving protected areas systems, with clear timetables and targets to achieve results. Find out more about how the Conservancy is working to help strengthen protected areas as a foundation for conservation.
Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Marci Eggers (Paracas National Reserve, Peru); Photo © Janet Haas (Bison, Yellowstone National Park).
