Legal Protections for Natural Areas

Warren G. Lavey and Stephanie R. LaveyUniversity of Illinois 2015

Nature and humans need effective laws for

protecting natural areas

6 themes

1. Laws channel nature

UN Climate Summit 2014 Forests: Action Statements and Action Plans

• Governments can strengthen implementation and enforcement of legal frameworks for protecting and sustainably managing forests

• Governments can clarify rights in land tenure systems to improve land security, strengthen community management of natural resources and resolve overlapping forest clearing concessions

2. Natural areas serve many purposes

3. Laws shape the effectiveness of

natural areas Goal of many laws and policies: Protected areas

contribute to sustainable development for humans and nature

4. Laws protecting natural areas are

developing rapidly worldwide

2015

5. Natural areas require adaptive

management

6. Climate change is a major factor in

managing natural areas

6. Climate change is a major factor in

managing natural areas