Gap analysis presentation: November 2008 Designing protected area systems Gap analysis presentation: November 2008 During the twentieth century, over 10 per cent of the worlds land surface was designated as a protected area almost certainly the quickest and largest conscious change of land use in history Oulanka National Park: Finland Gap analysis presentation: November 2008 Yet unfortunately, this does not mean that biodiversity is as yet adequately protected Hohe Tauern National Park: Austria Gap analysis presentation: November 2008 many protected areas have been established in sites where there is little political opposition, but also relatively little biodiversity, such as deserts and icecaps Namib Desert National Park: Namibia Gap analysis presentation: November 2008 leaving some ecosystems very under-represented, including small islands Nosey Vey proposed protected area, Madagascar Gap analysis presentation: November 2008 Elements of a gap analysis To improve the design and long-term functionality of the parks system Tourism planning including increasing tourism potential of PAs Planning sustainable development, Fisheries management, etc A decision support system for development investments To inform Environmental Impact Assessments Ensure sustainability of natural resources for people Why do a gap assessment? Gap analysis presentation: November different types of gaps should be considered Aldabra World Heritage Site, Seychelles Gap analysis presentation: November 2008 Representation gaps: no or inadequate representation; e.g per cent of mammals and per cent of amphibians are gap species and the percent is larger for threatened species. Many endemic island species are missed entirely Girraween National Park, Australia Gap analysis presentation: November 2008 Ecological gaps: protected areas are either insufficient in size, design, or distribution to address the ecology of the biodiversity features, such as migration.. Savolinna National Park: Finland Gap analysis presentation: November 2008 Snowdonia National Park: Wales Management gaps: protected areas are not managed well enough to maintain their biodiversity. Protected areas ideally need regular assessment of management effectiveness to make sure that they are delivering the benefits expected of them Gap analysis presentation: November 2008 Douj National Park, Senegal Under agreements of the Convention on Biological Diversity, governments are committed to completing ecologically representative networks of protected areas, and this process usually starts by identifying gaps in the current system i.e. a gap analysis Gap analysis presentation: November 2008 Ruaha National Park - Tanzania In a conservation context, gap analysis is a method to identify biodiversity (i.e., species, ecosystems and ecological processes) not adequately conserved within a protected area network or through other effective and long-term conservation measures. Gap assessments present important opportunities for creating a vision for a countrys protected area system and managed lands, to set priorities, and to develop a strategic plan from those priorities. Gap analysis presentation: November 2008 Evaluate and map the occurrence and status of biodiversity Use the information to identify gaps Agree on a strategy and take action Prioritise gaps to be filled Identify focal biodiversity and set key targets Analyse and map the occurrence and status of protected areas Elements of a gap analysis Gap analysis presentation: November 2008 Identify focal biodiversity and set key targets what features will be protected? how much protection is needed? Serengeti National Park: Tanzania Gap analysis presentation: November 2008 Map occurrence and status of protected areas Southern Vietnam