Book Description

This set of Guidelines is aimed at protected area staff, conservation scientists, managers and stakeholders involved in the management of protected areas in Turkey. It provides substantial support to protected area planners, decisionmakers and managers, and staff of the MAF, helping them to assess and improve management effectiveness for protected areas and monitor regularly the management effectiveness of these unique and valuable sites. Protected areas are the cornerstone of biodiversity, habitat and ecosystem services conservation. However, unprecedented global losses due mainly to human activities are exerting pressure on these sites. Achieving long-term sustainability and the expected benefits of these areas requires effective management, a key to which is a well-prepared management plan. A second vital component for effective protected area management – in addition to legal and administrative regulations and management plans – is the availability of quantitatively and qualitatively equipped human resources. The third element necessary to ensuring that management and protection goals are achieved in a protected area is the establishment of participative opportunities and the integration of purposeful processes that include all relevant stakeholders. The mechanism for management effectiveness assessment evaluates the presence and efficiency of all of these aspects.