Social and Economic Benefits of Protected Areas
Social and Economic Benefits of Protected Areas

Author: Marianne Kettunen

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2013-09-05

Total Pages: 240

ISBN-13: 1136213090

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Protected areas (PAs) contain biodiversity and ecosystems of high conservation value. In addition, these areas provide a range of benefits, both direct and indirect, to our societies and economies, i.e. so called ecosystem services. These services include, for example, an ecosystem's ability to regulate floods and climate, purify water, secure the pollination of crops, and create opportunities for recreation, culture and tourism. This book offers a comprehensive introduction to the socio-economic benefits of PAs and PA networks and provides step-by-step practical guidance on identifying, assessing and valuing the various ecosystem services and related benefits provided by PAs. It also aims to improve the communication of PA benefits to different stakeholders and the general public. It is shown that identifying and valuing the socio-economic benefits of PAs can be beneficial for several reasons. Demonstrating socio-economic importance of a protected site can significantly increase political and stakeholder support for the site and resolve conflicts between different interest groups. This can lead to positive changes in policies and decision-making. Insights on PA benefits are also needed to identify a combination of actions and land use practices that best support the sustainable and equitable utilisation of these benefits, while retaining a site’s conservation goals. Finally, demonstrating different benefits can help to discover alternative and sustainable sources for financing the management of PAs.

Small grants, large gains
Small grants, large gains

Author: Kumudini Ekaratne

Publisher: IUCN

Published: 2013-01-01

Total Pages: 76

ISBN-13: 955020524X

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Mangroves for the Future (MFF) is a partnership-based regional initiative promoting investments in coastal ecosystems that support sustainable development. This booklet documents selected MFF Small Grants Facility Phase 2 projects, implemented in Sri Lanka, with emphasis on the sharing of good practices and lessons learnt. The projects are categorized into four thematic areas, namely, Generating Knowledge, Education and Awareness, Ecosystem Restoration, and Livelihood Enhancement. The booklet is based on information gathered from project progress reports, mid-term reviews, notes made during field monitoring visits and lessons learnt workshops.

Why Birds Matter
Why Birds Matter

Author: Çagan H. Sekercioglu

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Published: 2016-08-24

Total Pages: 398

ISBN-13: 022638277X

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For over one hundred years, ornithologists and amateur birders have jointly campaigned for the conservation of bird species, documenting not only birds’ beauty and extraordinary diversity, but also their importance to ecosystems worldwide. But while these avian enthusiasts have noted that birds eat fruit, carrion, and pests; spread seed and fertilizer; and pollinate plants, among other services, they have rarely asked what birds are worth in economic terms. In Why Birds Matter, an international collection of ornithologists, botanists, ecologists, conservation biologists, and environmental economists seeks to quantify avian ecosystem services—the myriad benefits that birds provide to humans. The first book to approach ecosystem services from an ornithological perspective, Why Birds Matter asks what economic value we can ascribe to those services, if any, and how this value should inform conservation. Chapters explore the role of birds in such important ecological dynamics as scavenging, nutrient cycling, food chains, and plant-animal interactions—all seen through the lens of human well-being—to show that quantifying avian ecosystem services is crucial when formulating contemporary conservation strategies. Both elucidating challenges and providing examples of specific ecosystem valuations and guidance for calculation, the contributors propose that in order to advance avian conservation, we need to appeal not only to hearts and minds, but also to wallets.

Guidelines for Applying Protected Area Management Categories
Guidelines for Applying Protected Area Management Categories

Author: Nigel Dudley

Publisher: IUCN

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 106

ISBN-13: 2831710863

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IUCN's Protected Areas Management Categories, which classify protected areas according to their management objectives, are today accepted as the benchmark for defining, recording, and classifying protected areas. They are recognized by international bodies such as the United Nations as well as many national governments. As a result, they are increasingly being incorporated into government legislation. These guidelines provide as much clarity as possible regarding the meaning and application of the Categories. They describe the definition of the Categories and discuss application in particular biomes and management approaches.