IUCN WCPA has a proud tradition of proposing global guidelines to protected area practitioners. For the full list of Best Practice Protected Areas Guidelines Series in the IUCN Library System, click here.
Given that our understanding of the challenges of managing protected areas changes over time, with which our tools and approaches for management constantly develop, several of our Best Practice Guidelines have been updated. Please check below for the most updated version. In particular, note that guidance on marine protected areas has recently been updated in a second edition of Best Practice Guidelines 19 Guidelines for Applying the IUCN Protected Area Management Categories to Marine Protected Areas.
Photo: IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas
No. 32: Cultural and spiritual significance of nature (2021)
The cultural and spiritual significance of nature has been defined as the spiritual, cultural, inspirational, aesthetic, historic and social meanings, values, feelings, ideas and associations that natural features and nature in general have for past, present and future generations of people – both individuals and groups. These guidelines respond to a growing need to make conservation more inclusive, effective and socially just by accommodating multiple worldviews; by treating natural and cultural heritage as interlinked; and by suggesting ways for engaging and empowering all relevant groups and stakeholders in protected area design, governance and management. The guidelines also assist with creating common ground, resolving conflicts and implementing rights-based approaches that recognise human rights and legal pluralism.
Photo: IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas
No. 31: Guidelines on geoconservation in protected and conserved areas (2020)
These Guidelines are intended to help improve the conservation and management of geoheritage and geodiversity in protected and conserved areas and recognition of the interrelationships and interactions with biological features and processes. They are not a textbook on geoconservation management practice, but rather set out the essential background, context and principles; summarise relevant material to make it more readily accessible to users in one volume; and provide links to the key literature and additional sources that include detailed practical guidance. The use of best practice examples from around the world will hopefully give users renewed confidence in looking after geoheritage and in connecting geoconservation with biodiversity conservation.
Photo: IUCN
No. 30: Guidelines for conserving connectivity through ecological networks and corridors (2020)
Connectivity conservation is essential for managing healthy ecosystems, conserving biodiversity and adapting to climate change across all biomes and spatial scales. Well-connected ecosystems support a diversity of ecological functions such as migration, hydrology, nutrient cycling, pollination, seed dispersal, food security, climate resilience and disease resistance. These Guidelines are based on the best available science and practice for maintaining, enhancing and restoring ecological connectivity among and between protected areas, other effective areas based conservation measures (OECMs) and other intact ecosystems. For the first time, this publication introduces a common definition and recommends formal recognition of ecological corridors to serve as critical building blocks of ecological networks in conjunction with protected areas and OECMs. Furthermore, these Guidelines also include 25 case studies that demonstrate current approaches to conserving ecological connectivity and ecological networks for different ecosystems and species, and at different spatial and temporal scales.
No. 29: Guidelines for privately protected areas (2018)*
Photo: IUCN
These guidelines address planning and management of privately protected areas (or PPAs) and the guidance is aimed principally at practitioners and policy makers, who are or may be involved with PPAs. Guidance is given on all aspects of PPA establishment, management and reporting, and information is provided on principles and best practices, with examples drawn from many different parts of the world. The aim of these guidelines is to shape the application of IUCN policy and principles towards enhanced effectiveness and conservation outcomes, focused on PPA managers and administrators. Not all the guidance will necessarily apply in all social, political and economic contexts. However, learning from best practices around the world and considering how these can be incorporated at site or national level may improve the likelihood of success in private conservation and suggest how conditions might be improved to favour PPAs and thus capitalise on the opportunities they present. This publication is also available in French and Spanish.
Photo: IUCN
No. 28 :Tools for measuring, modelling, and valuing ecosystem services (2018)
Increasing interest in measuring, modelling and valuing ecosystem services (ES), the benefits that ecosystems provide to people, has resulted in the development of an array of ES assessment tools in recent years. Selecting an appropriate tool for measuring and modelling ES can be challenging. This document provides guidance for practitioners on existing tools that can be applied to measure or model ES provided by important sites for biodiversity and nature conservation, including Key Biodiversity Areas, natural World Heritage sites, and protected areas.
Photo: IUCN BPG
No 27: Tourism and Visitor Management in Protected Areas (2018)
Protected areas are a key component of any global conservation strategy. Tourism provides a crucial and unique way of fostering visitors’ connection with protected area values, making it a potentially positive force for conservation. Protected area tourism’s economic benefits—which depend on beautiful natural areas, healthy wildlife and nature, and authentic cultures—can also be a powerful argument for conservation. Tourism in protected areas is a major part of the global tourism industry—an industry whose scale and impacts are enormous. Such a high volume of visitors implies certain needs for fundamental infrastructure and requirements for employment and human services, all of which have ramifications for the economy, society, culture and the environment. These Guidelines provide guidance on key issues to help managers achieve sustainable tourism in protected areas. (Also available in Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Mongolian).
Photo: IUCN
No 26: Large-Scale Marine Protected Areas: guidelines for design and management (2017)*
Although focused on aiding managers, these Guidelines are for anyone involved in supporting LSMPAs or the communities that hold an interest in them. It is hoped these Guidelines will also assist new LSMPAs from the earliest design phase, and enhance the management of existing LSMPAs from planning and implementation through ongoing evaluation. Ultimately, the goal is to increase the effectiveness of LSMPAs so that they contribute to global conservation targets in ways that truly benefit humanity.
Photo: IUCN WCPA
No 25: Wilderness Protected Areas: Management guidelines for IUCN Category 1b
protected areas (2016)*
The purpose of these first-ever international Guidelines for managing wilderness (Category 1b) has been to impress upon you the challenges involved in managing wilderness, while also clarifying the essential techniques, protocols, and mindset required of a good, efficient, adaptable, and visionar
Photo: IUCN WCPA
No 24: Adapting to Climate Change, Guidance for Protected Area Managers and Planners (2016)
The world’s climate is changing rapidly and protected areas are an increasingly important component of national and international climate change adaptation strategies. These guidelines articulate essential elements for adaptation planning and implementation, and it describes additional resources that site managers can use right away.
Photo: IUCN
No 23: Transboundary Conservation: A systematic and integrated approach (2015).
Approximately one-third of all terrestrial high-biodiversity sites straddle national land borders, yet few man-made boundaries are fixed, and international boundaries often alter over time or disappear altogether. This publication makes the compelling case for transboundary conservation approaches and promotes an array of innovative methods based on contemporary principles. It has been developed primarily to provide transboundary conservation managers with advice on how to work more effectively and how to address the challenges that are specific to transboundary conservation.
Photo: IUCN WCPA Urban Specialist Group
No. 22: Urban Protected Areas (2015)
As our cities continue to grow, we should defend the protection of natural areas and even try to create new space for nature within this urban fabric. This volume explains the context and concept of urban protected areas, profiles urban protected areas in 15 metropolitan areas around the world, and offers best practice guidelines. Although it emphasizes management approaches and is designed primarily for managers of urban protected areas and those responsible for protected area systems, it has been written with a broader readership in mind. (also in French / en français, and in Portuguese)
Photo: Helen Miller
No. 21: Guidelines for applying protected area management categories including Best Practice Guidance on Recognising Protected Areas and Assigning Management Categories and Governance Types (2013).*
(Also see the 2008 version in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Czech, Japanese, Korean)
The IUCN protected area management categories is a core document for the development, reporting and understanding of protected areas worldwide. In this reprint of the 2008 categories new text on Recognising Protected Areas and Assigning Management Categories and Governance Types, drawing on global best practice and extensive consultation, provides guidance on implementing the categories.
Photo: IUCN
No. 20: Governance of Protected Areas (2013)
Over the past decades there has been a dramatic change in understanding about how governance of protected areas impacts on the achievement of their conservation goals. IUCN has issued a typology of four different forms of governance of protected areas. Along with the familiar state-run protected areas, there are those established and managed by indigenous peoples or local communities, there are privately managed protected areas as well as a wealth of shared-governance arrangements. (Also in French, Spanish and Portuguese). Annexes are available in English, French, and Spanish.
Photo: IUCN/WCPA
No. 19: Guidelines for Applying the IUCN Protected Area Management Categories to Marine Protected Areas (2019)
This is the second edition of this title, revised and updated in 2019. All previous editions are out of date.
The smaller number of MPAs compared to terrestrial protected areas means there is less experience and understanding of applying categories to MPAs. Application of the categories to MPAs has often been inaccurate and inconsistent. These supplementary marine guidelines are therefore aimed at ensuring that the IUCN categories can be effectively applied to all types of MPAs, as well as to any marine components of adjoining terrestrial protected areas, provided a site meets the IUCN definition of a protected area. (2012 version also in French, Spanish)
IUCN resolutions relevant to these guidelines are proposed for discussion at the 2020 World Conservation Congress. Further updates will be prepared to reflect any relevant approved motions and will be available on the IUCN-WCPA Marine theme pages.
Photo: Best Practice Guideline
No. 18: Ecological Restoration for Protected Areas - Principled, Guidelines and Best Practices. (2012)
This publication provides guidance for terrestrial, marine and freshwater protected area managers on the restoration of natural and associated values of protected areas. It introduces key concepts and provides advice on underlying principles and guidelines, technical best practices, and implementation processes. It includes many examples and several case studies that illustrate on-the-ground experiences with ecological restoration in and around protected areas across the globe.
To the best of our knowledge, this publication is the most comprehensive compilation of guidance and related examples of ecological restoration for protected areas produced to date. We encourage you to explore the ideas, guidance, and examples it contains as a framework for taking action, both within and outside protected areas, that re-establishes species, re-connects habitats, re-instates natural processes, recovers cultural traditions and practices and, in doing so, restores the values and benefits of protected areas for all. (Also in French, Spanish).
Photo: Best Practice Guideline
No. 17: Protected area staff training : guidelines for planning and management (2011)
This title is out of date and readers should consult the Global Register of Protected Area Competences.
Qualified, competent and committed staff are central to the success of protected areas. Training of protected area (PA) staff is more and more recognized as a vital component of efficient protected area management. As well as being an essential tool at local, regional and national levels, capacity building for PAs now has a strong international context and is being embedded into major global conventions and PA-related decisions. The principal goal of PA staff training is to raise the capacity of PA managers to adapt to new challenges, using innovative and creative approaches. These Guidelines treat each training course as a project that follows the classic project cycle: from identifying training needs through resourcing, development and delivery of training to assessment of the use of the competences acquired.
Photo: IUCN
No. 16: Sacred natural sites : guidelines for protected area managers (2008)
The definitions of protected areas and related concepts in this title are out of date. Readers should consult BPG 21 and later titles for current definitions.
Sacred sites are the oldest form of protected areas and many of them are very important biodiversity reservoirs. This book will help conservation professionals and the custodians of sacred sites interested in the role of cultural and spiritual values in nature conservation to ensure the long-term survival of such valuable sites. Also available in separate Estonian, French, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Spanish language versions.
Photo: IUCN
No. 15: Identification and gap analysis of key biodiversity areas : targets for comprehensive protected area systems (2007)
This title is out of date and readers should consult the Global Standard for Key Biodiversity Areas.
Important Bird Areas and Important Plant Areas have already been identified in more than 170 countries. The Key Biodiversity Areas approach builds on the work done to date, in order to provide practical guidance to governments in identifying those sites which must be protected to ensure the future of both biodiversity and humanity.
Photo: IUCN
No. 14: Evaluating effectiveness : a framework for assessing management effectiveness of protected areas (2006)
The definitions of protected areas and related concepts in this title are out of date. Readers should consult BPG 21 and later titles for current definition.
The Framework for management effectiveness developed by the IUCN World Commission for Protected Areas was published in the first version of this Best Practice Guideline. It is further explained and interpreted, although not substantially altered, in this version. A number of key guidelines for good practice in evaluation are presented from many practitioners around the world, and important needs and directions for the future are identified.(Also in French)
Photo: IUCN
No. 13: Sustainable Financing of Protected Areas (2006)
This title is out of date, may not reflect all information on contemporary best practice, but may still contain useful background information.
Photo: IUCN
No. 12: Forests and Protected Areas
This title is out of date, may not reflect all information on contemporary best practice, but may still contain useful background information.
Photo: Cardiff IUCN
No. 11: Indigenous and Local Communities and Protected Areas
This title is out of date and readers should consult BPG 20 and 21 for more contemporary guidance.
Conventional approaches to managing protected areas have often seen people and nature as separate entities. They preclude human communities from using natural resources and assume that their concerns are incompatible with conservation. Protected area approaches and models that see conservation as compatible with human communities are explored. The main themes are co-managed protected areas and community conserved areas. Practical guidance is offered, drawing on recent experience, reflections and advice developed at the local, national, regional and international level.
Photo: IUCN
No. 10: Guidelines for Management Planning of Protected Areas
This title is out of date, may not reflect all information on contemporary best practice, but may still contain useful background information.
(Also in Arabic, Chinese, French and Japanese)
Photo: Cardiff IUCN
No. 9: Management Guidelines for IUCN Category V Protected Areas Protected Landscapes/Seascapes
The definitions of protected areas and related concepts in this title are out of date. Readers should consult BPG 21 and later titles for current definitions.
Protected Landscapes (IUCN Protected Area Category V) are lived-in working landscapes. In the past, there has been a tendency to see them as a rather Eurocentric approach to protected areas but increasingly the category is being designated in other parts of the world, including in a number of developing countries. The Guidelines include sections on the background and on the planning of such areas, and chapters on the principles, policies, process and the means for their management. The text includes more than 20 case studies from more than 15 countries in every region of the world. (Also in Chinese, French and Spanish)
Photo: IUCN
No. 8: Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas
This title is out of date and has been replaced by BPG 27, but may still contain useful background information.
The link between protected areas and tourism is as old as the history of protected areas. Though the relationship is complex and sometimes adversarial, tourism is always a critical component to consider in the establishment and management of protected areas. These guidelines aim to build an understanding of protected area tourism, and its management. They provide both a theoretical structure and practical guidelines for managers. The underlying aim is to ensure that tourism contributes to the purposes of protected areas and does not undermine them. (Also in Chinese, Russian, Japanese and Spanish)
Photo: Cardiff IUCN
No. 7: Transboundary Protected Areas for Peace and Co-operation
The definitions of protected areas and related concepts in this title are out of date. Readers should consult BPG 23 and later titles for current definitions and best practices.
Protected areas are vital for life on earth. They safeguard biological and cultural diversity, help to improve the livelihoods of local communities, provide the homelands for many indigenous peoples and bring countless benefits to society at large. It is now generally understood that conservation planning cannot just be site-specific; plants and animals do not recognize national boundaries, nor do many of the forces that threaten them. Strategies to conserve biodiversity in the 21st century must therefore emphasize transboundary co-operation , and may at the same time foster better co-operation and understanding between countries. This publication reports on the work undertaken by IUCNs World Commission on Protected Areas to focus attention on the conservation and security benefits of transboundary protected areas. (Also in Chinese)
Photo: Cardiff IUCN
No. 6: Evaluating Effectiveness
This title is out of date, may not reflect all information on contemporary best practice, but may still contain useful background information.
Photo: Cardiff IUCN
No. 5: Financing Protected Areas
This title is out of date, may not reflect all information on contemporary best practice, but may still contain useful background information.
Photo: IUCN WCPA
No. 4: Guidelines for Marine Protected Areas
The definitions of protected areas and related concepts in this title are out of date. Readers should consult BPG 19 and 21 and later titles for current definitions.
Creation and effective management of marine protected areas (MPAs) have lagged behind those of protected areas on land, but they are just as important. The world urgently needs a comprehensive system of MPAs to conserve biodiversity and to help rebuild the productivity of the oceans. The aim of these guidelines is to help countries establish systems of MPAs as a key component of integrated management of coastal and marine areas and as part of their sustainable development. The various actions to make an effective MPA are set out, from early planning stages to implementation. These guidelines aim to help policy-makers, planners and field managers, whether working on conservation of nature or sustainable use.
Photo: Cardiff IUCN
No. 3: Indigenous and Traditional Peoples and Protected Areas
This title is out of date, may not reflect all information on contemporary best practice, but may still contain useful background information.
(Also in Spanish)
Photo: IUCN Publications
No. 2: Economic Values of Protected Areas
This title is out of date, may not reflect all information on contemporary best practice, but may still contain useful background information.
Photo: IUCN WCPA
No. 1: National System Planning for Protected Areas
This title is out of date, may not reflect all information on contemporary best practice, but may still contain useful background information.
(Also in Arabic, Chinese and Russian)
*Current, subject to updates for MPAs contained in the second edition of BPG 19 Guidelines for Applying the IUCN Protected Area Management Categories to Marine Protected Areas.
