IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

Protected areas (PAs) are one of the recognized core competencies of IUCN and, together with issues of species conservation, have been a key focus of attention of IUCN’s work and of a vast majority of IUCN members. Protected areas have been recognized as critical instruments in achieving the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Millennium Development Goals.

PAs are the world’s most cost effective tool for biodiversity conservation, while also contributing to people’s livelihoods, particularly at the local level, thus assisting in poverty reduction. PAs are at the core of efforts for in-situ conservation of nature and provision of ecosystem services that are essential for water supply, food production, public health and reduction of the impacts of natural disasters. Their role in helping mitigate and adapt to climate change is also increasingly recognized; it has been estimated that the global network of PAs stores at least 15% of terrestrial carbon.

National governments have dedicated important efforts to establishing more than 120,000 PAs worldwide covering near 14% of the Earth’s terrestrial land surface. This represents a substantial global land use commitment to biodiversity conservation. Thus the IUCN Global Protected Areas Programme, working with WCPA and other IUCN global and regional programmes and partners, is fully committed to support and enhance global efforts to maintain the protected area state worldwide.

The Global Protected Area Programme of IUCN

• provides technical and policy advice joint with the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), on protected area issues
• acts as the secretariat for IUCN WCPA
• supports IUCN's World Heritage Programme in evaluating and monitoring natural World Heritage Sites

• To assist in the planning of protected areas and their integration into all sectors by providing strategic advice to policy makers;
• To strengthen capacity and effectiveness of protected area managers through the provision of guidance, tools and information, and as a vehicle for networking; and
• To promote investment in protected areas by persuading public and corporate donors, as well as governments, of their value.
• To coordinate the planning and effective implementation of IUCN World Parks Congress.

The Global Protected Areas Programme (GPAP) comprises a small Secretariat staff in Headquarters and a small number of technical staff in IUCN regional and country offices.

GPAP staff have extensive experience of all aspects of the estabishment and management of protected areas around the world.

The programme works largely with, and through, the membership of WCPA and the staff of regional protected areas programmes.

Activities are strongly decentralised and implemented at a geographic and issue-based level.

Particular emphasis is placed on facilitating linkages between WCPA Regional Vice-Chairs and IUCN Regional and Country offices.