Cristian-Remus Papp, WWF DCP

On-line tools for Protected Areas Management in the Carpathian

Countries

10 November 2011

Seynod, France

Valuable and critically endangered

WWF - Global 200

science-based global ranking of the Earth's most biologically outstanding habitats (2001)

Carpathians and Danube –priority ecoregions

The Danube-Carpathian Ecoregion

The Carpathians

• Carpathian Ecoregion:- over 200.000 km2

• Seven countries

• Unique because ….

Carpathians - Unique and Special

• Large …. some of the largest unspoiled area in Europe (ousite Russia)

• Large areas of well-balanced mosaic landscapes shaped by traditional agriculture and close to nature forestry

The green heart of Europe

• Large tracks of natural forests and over 300.000 ha of pristine forests

• Rich semi-natural habitats (mountain pastures and hay meadows) .

• Home to globally threatened species: the European bison (Bison bonasus), the Tatra Mountain Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica) and the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca).

• The last region in Europe with viable populations of large carnivores: about 8,000 brown bears (Ursus arctos), 4,000 wolves (Canis lupus) and 3,000 Lynx (Lynx lynx) can still be found here.

The green heart of Europe

• Critical water source, exceptional water reservoir for the Danube, Tisa and Dnister rivers

• Some of the most intact, wild river systems remaining in Europe.

• Some of the last floodplain and riverine forests – the most endangered habitat in Europe

Carpathian Ecoregion - Unique and Special

2012 PA4LP Project

• 2012 Protected Area for a Living Planet Programme (2012 PA4LP)• Global programme to promote and support the implementation of

the PoWPA developed within the CBD

Primary need for development –CBD PoWPA

Programme element 4 – Standards, assessments and monitoring:• Develop and implement an efficient, long-term monitoring system of the

outcomes being achieved through protected area systems in relation to the goals and targets of this work programme (CBD PoW PA Activity 4.1.2).

Develop and adopt ... appropriate methods, standards, criteria and indicators for evaluating the effectiveness of protected area management and governance, and set up a related database, takinginto account the IUCN-WCPA framework for evaluating management effectiveness, and other relevant methodologies, which should beadapted to local conditions (CBD PoW PA Activity 4.2.1)Goal 4.2 - To evaluate and improve the effectiveness o f protected areas management

• � CCPAMETT (http://cpamett.natura2000.ro)

DevelopmentHow?• Online, web based tool, based on the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool

(METT)

Why? To:• Contribute to the implementation of the CBD Programme of Work on Protected

Areas (PoWPA), e.g. long-term monitoring (� support governments reporting back to the CBD)

• Support effective adaptive management in Carpathian protected areas

• Support development of an effective Carpathian Network of Protected Areas

• Track and monitor progress in the achievement of the PA management effectiveness targets

• Help monitor progress towards improving management effectiveness

• Help managers track progress in implementing PAs commitments under the CBD

Progress so far

• Carpathian Convention COP 3 (Bratislava, Sk) – commitment to use the CCPAMETT

• Use of CCPAMETT (more than 65 PAs in the database)

Strengths

• Comprehensive tool, easy to handle

• Easy to analyse the results and to generate different types of reports

• The collected data is stored in a database, less paper work has to be done

• Gives the opportunity to compare the results of a certain PA to other PAs from a country (at national level) or region (within the Carpathians of a specific country)

• Internationally embedded links to the CBD, WCMC and the WDPA

Constraints and weaknesses

• It might be possible that only one person performs the evaluation (e.g. no internal discussion takes place). Depending on the PA staff, the evaluation can be subjective.

• If the internet connection is not reliable, it is recommended to use printed forms as well

More informed – more efficient

Clearing House Mechanism for the

Protected Areas in the Carpathian Countries

Primary need for development –CBD PoWPA

• Goal 4.4 - To ensure that scientific knowledge contributes to the establishment and effectiveness o f protected areas and protected area systems

�Carpathian Countries Protected Area Clearing House Mechanism (CCPACHM)

� on-line (http://chm.natura2000.ro/), GIS based patform

Target groups and aims

• PA and project managers - information/ experience exchange and communication platform

• General Public - promoting Carpathians as a unique ecoregion in Europe

Main functionalities

Maps of PAs – overview and generation of own maps

No software is needed!

AccommodationCycling paths

Possibilities for practicing outdoor activities

Mapping and analysis

Analysis based on Corine Land Cover

Roads’ impact on the movement of large carnivores and other wild animals

Basic information about PAs

General info at various levels about PAs and related fields

Tools

Interests in Carpathian PAs - Usage (15 Feb 2011 – 15 May 2011)

Key benefits

• Increases user interactivity

• Web-site becomes more attractive

• Better data representation

• Helps data structuring

• Access to data in a more intuitive way

• Better interpretation of information

Bioregio...

• Further development

• Lobbying and awareness raising activities are needed

• The obligations derived from the CBD PoWPA have to be made clear to the governments

• Use the Carpathian Convention and the CNPA Steering Committee to promote the tool and approach ministries

Thank you!