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.

The central aim of this publication is to consider the key elements of a modern, comprehensive, and effective legal framework for successful management of protected areas. They provide practical guidance for all those involved in developing, improving, or reviewing national legislation on protected areas, be they legal drafters and practitioners, protected area managers, interested NGOs, or scholars. These guidelines include fifteen case studies, eight dealing with the protected area legislation of individual countries and six cases dealing with specific sites providing fundamental solutions that stand the test of time.

This document is one of seven guidelines developed to provide standards and recommendations for management of the country’s natural assets. The Guidelines for Biodiversity Monitoring is intended for conservation scientists, managers and stakeholders involved in the management of ecosystems. It specifically provides support for natural resource managers, protected area planners, decision-makers and managers, staff of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), NGOs and universities, with a view to elaborating adequate and realistic monitoring plans for individual steppe protected areas, in order to establish a working monitoring system for steppe ecosystems. The Guidelines provide a methodology and structure to set up clear indicators and targets for a comprehensive monitoring system for ecosystems. They offer a working basis for national and local experts and specialists, and support the steps towards a comprehensive monitoring scheme. They constitute the first stage in a longer process of defining clear objectives and indicators for individual pillars of monitoring for the ecosystems and their components.

Wildlife management is about finding the balance between conservation of endangered species and mitigating the impacts of overabundant wildlife on humans and the environment. This book deals with the monitoring of fauna, related diseases, and interactions with humans. It is intended to assist and support the professional worker in wildlife management.

A system plan is the design of a total reserve system covering the full range of ecosystems and communities found in a particular country, identifying the range of purposes of protected areas and the relationships among the system components (i.e., individual areas, protected areas and other land uses), and different sectors and levels of society. Highlighting key linkages with other aspects of economic development, it shows how various stakeholders can interact and cooperate to support effective and sustainable management of protected areas, and help to establish priorities. A valuable resource for all those involved with national system planning.