The deep sea is the oldest and largest biome on Earth, yet we have little knowledge of the ecosystems and processes in these dark, hidden depths. Only in the last two decades have new technologies enabled scientists to start exploring this last frontier – and their discoveries are fascinating but alarming: the deep sea is teeming with life but is already showing clear signs of anthropogenic impacts despite its remoteness. Many vulnerable deep-sea habitats and communities are being destroyed by fishing and are under threat from increasing exploitation of their mineral and living resources.
Resource Type: ReportsA European Study on protected area management effectiveness assessments was carried out between May 2009 and March 2010, to provide an overview of existing studies, evaluation methods and results. This study was initiated in response to the Global Study’s insufficient coverage of the European sub-region, and as protected area governance in Europe has distinct characteristics that justified a separate analysis. The study was led by the Universities of Greifswald and Queensland, in partnership with UNEP-WCMC, EUROPARC Federation and the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN).
Resource Type: ReportsThe Global Study into management effectiveness evaluation was conducted between late 2005 and 2010. In cooperation with many people across the world, it aimed to strengthen the management of protected areas by compiling the existing work on management effectiveness evaluation, reviewing methodologies, finding patterns and common themes in evaluation results, and investigating the most important factors leading to effective management.
Resource Type: ReportsThe success of protected areas as a tool for conservation is based around the assumption that they are managed to protect the values that they contain. To be effective, management should be tailored to the particular demands of the site, given that each protected area has a variety of biological and social characteristics, pressures and uses. Achieving effective management is not an easy task – it requires adopting appropriate management objectives and governance systems, adequate and appropriate resourcing and the timely implementation of appropriate management strategie and processes. It is unlikely to be achieved fully without an approach to management that is inquiring an reflective – that seeks to understand how effective the current management regime is and how it could be improved. Information on management effectiveness is thus a cornerstone of good management.
The CBD-mandated Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (BIP) is a global initiative that has operated since 2007, promoting and coordinating development and delivery of biodiversity indicators in support of the CBD and related Conventions, national and regional governments and a range of other sectors. UNEP-WCMC is the official Secretariat of the BIP.
Resource Type: ReportsThis guidance is designed to help the development of biodiversity indicators at the national level for uses such as reporting, policy-making, environmental management, and education. It is intended principally for the people who produce biodiversity indicators, whether they are in government agencies, academia or NGOs. In some cases biodiversity indicators are developed on a ‘one-off’ basis to meet the needs for a particular study or report, or they can be developed for long-term reporting and decision-making. This guidance can be used for both situations.
Resource Type: ReportsThis guidance document to support national and regional use of the IUCN Red List Index is a product of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. It has been developed by IUCN and its partner organizations. Support for the production of this document has been provided by the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (www.twentyten.net).
Resource Type: ReportsThe aim of this assessment study was to explore policy options under current discussion in the global political arena that could have major positive or negative impacts on biodiversity. The central concern of the assessment is the achievement of the 2010 Biodiversity Target at global and regional levels, as agreed upon under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Resource Type: ReportsThis guidance document is one of a series produced with the support of the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (2010 BIP) to assist Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to track their progress towards the 2010 BiodiversityTarget. Coverage of Protected Areas has been selected as one of the indicators suitable for assessing progress towards and communicating the 2010 Target at the global level. The aim of this document is to provide guidance to support the calculation and interpretation of the Coverage of Protected Areas indicator at the national and regional scales.
This guidance document is one of a series produced with the support of the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (2010 BIP) to assist Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) track their progress towards the CBD’s 2010 Target. The Living Planet Index (LPI) has been selected as one of the indicators suitable for assessing progress towards and communicating the 2010 Target at a global level. The aim of this document is to provide information to support the calculation and interpretation of the Living Planet Index at the national and regional scales.
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