14 November 2014: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has launched the IUCN Green List of Protected Areas (GLPA), which is meant to provide a global standard of good practice for protected areas. Areas in Australia, China, Colombia, France, Italy, Kenya, the Republic of Korea and Spain are among the first to be listed on the GLPA, which includes 23 sites selected from 50 candidates as part of its first phase.

IUCN Director General Julia Marton-Lefèvre said the sites were evaluated against “a set of demanding criteria,” and that they should “demonstrate fair and transparent sharing of the costs and benefits of conservation, effective management and long-lasting conservation outcomes.”

James Hardcastle, GLPA Manager, said the list would help ensure that protected areas have “real conservation impacts that benefit people, economy and the environment.”
 He highlighted one successful candidate, the Cape Byron State Conservation Area/Arakwal National Park in Australia, where the Aboriginal Arakwal traditional owners were critical in establishing the National Park in 2001 and are involved in its daily management, with more than 65 local volunteers.

Other protected areas on the list include: Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy, where pastoral ranching is allowed within the protected area; France’s Cerbère-Banyuls Natural Marine Reserve, which was established in 1974 to protect fragile marine habitats; six areas in China, including the Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve, home to a giant panda population; and Colombia’s Gorgona National Park, which helps protect marine and coastal biodiversity, in collaboration with local fishers.

The list, which was introduced during the IUCN World Parks Congress in Sydney, Australia, aims to recognize and promote success in managing “some of the most valuable natural areas on the planet.” Julia Miranda, Director, National Parks, Colombia, said the IUCN Green List standard will bring greater international recognition to the listed sites and increased political support, and will help improve tourism quality. Countries next in line for GLPA assessment include Croatia, Mexico and several countries in North Africa. [IUCN Press Release][IUCN GLPA Website][IISD RS coverage of the IUCN World Parks Congress]