This report provides an overview of the use of Management Categories for Protected Areas. It looks at the emergence of the system of protected area management categories, the original purposes of the system and new uses being made of it. Suggestions are made as to how the system can be used more effectively. Finally there is a set of recommendations, along with a vision as to the place of the categories in the future.

• Speaking a Common Language: Uses and performance of the IUCN System of Management Categories for Protected Areas(pdf, 2Mb)