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What Do the IUCN Categories Really Protect? A Case Study of the Alpine Regions in Spain

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  • Lorena Muñoz

    (Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway)

  • Vera Helene Hausner

    (Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway)

Abstract

Protected area (PA) coverage is used as an indicator of biodiversity protection worldwide. The effectiveness of using PAs as indicators has been questioned due to the diversity of categories encompassed by such designations, especially in PAs established for purposes other than biodiversity protection. Although international standards have been developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the policies on the ground have been developed independently of the IUCN categories, thus making the IUCN categories dubious measures of biodiversity conservation. Management plans are crucial for the effective management of parks and for guidance on how biodiversity maintenance should be prioritized relative to other goals. We therefore analyzed the aims and regulations of the management plans of alpine PAs in Spain as a first step in evaluating conservation performance. We used content analysis and correspondence analysis of instrumental variables (CAiv) to assess how aims and regulations vary in relation to three explanatory factors: IUCN categories, vegetation zones and autonomous communities. We found that the aims of many parks were vague, without clear indications of how to prioritize biodiversity goals. Furthermore, only 50% of the parks studied had any management plan, which strengthens our argument concerning the lack of clear guidance in PA management. Although certain aims were correlated with the IUCN categories, the regulations showed no clear relationship to international policies, which indicates that these aims do not necessarily influence management practices. Devolution to autonomous communities could be one explanation for the large variation in management practices among parks. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of such management policies on biodiversity.

Suggested Citation

  • Lorena Muñoz & Vera Helene Hausner, 2013. "What Do the IUCN Categories Really Protect? A Case Study of the Alpine Regions in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(6), pages 1-22, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:5:y:2013:i:6:p:2367-2388:d:26062
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    Cited by:

    1. Nikola Banjac & Rado Maksimović & Katarina Dragaš & Jelena Ivetić, 2019. "Monitoring and Assessment of Protected Areas’ Management Capacities in the Republic of Serbia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-17, January.
    2. Maria José Aguilar-Carrasco & Eric Gielen & Maria Vallés-Planells & Francisco Galiana & Mercedes Almenar-Muñoz & Cecil Konijnendijk, 2022. "Promoting Inclusive Outdoor Recreation in National Park Governance: A Comparative Perspective from Canada and Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-25, February.
    3. Salman, M.M. & Kharroubi, S. & Itani, M. & Talhouk, S.N., 2020. "Using IUCN protected areas management categories as a tool to assess youth preferences for local management of an Important Plant Area (IPA) in Lebanon," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).

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