PROTECTED AREAS MANAGEMENT
Meaning
IUCN; an area of land or sea specifically dedicated
to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural
and associated cultural resources managed through legal or other
effective means
Origin
Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit 1992 (United Nations
Convention on Biological Diversity )
That; Each
party must as far as possible:
1.
Establish a system of protected areas or
areas where special measures need to be taken to conserve biological diversity
2.
Develop where necessary guidelines for
the selection, establishment and management of protected areas
Protected areas meet the general purposes as
in the definition, but in practice the precise purpose for which
protected areas are managed differ from different categories
THERE ARE SIX (6) CATEGORIES/TYPES (IUCN CATEGORY);
1
(a)Strict nature reserve or (b) Wilderness area
2
National Park
3
Natural Monument
4
Habitat/Species Management Area
5
Protected landscape/seascape
6
Managed resource protected area
1. (a)STRICT NATURE RESERVE
Purpose; for science (The study of physical and
Natural world)
It is an area of land or sea possessing some
outstanding or representative ecosystems, geological or physiological features
or species available primarily for scientific
research or environmental
monitoring
Eg. Amani Nature Reserve Eastern Arc mountain (Uluguru, East Usanbara,Udzungwa)-
propositions are underway
(b) WILDERNESS AREA
An area managed mainly for wilderness protection
Unmodified or slightly modified land or sea
retaining its natural character and influence without permanent or significant
human habitation which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural
condition.
Uninhabited area of land in its natural uncultivated
state, sometimes deliberately preserved. e.g. a forest or mountainous region,
dry area wetlands etc
2: NATIONAL PARKS
-Purpose; ecosystem protection and recreation
Eg. Serengeti, Mikumi, etc
- It is
a natural area of land or sea designed
*To protect ecological integrity of one or more
ecosystems for present and future generations.
*To exclude exploitation or occupation to the
purposes of designation/specification of the area.
*For spiritual scientific, educational, recreational
and visitor opportunities, all of which must be environmentally and culturally
compatible.
3. NATURAL MONUMENT S
Purpose; conservation of specific natural features
or historical, cultural, and aesthetic importance
Eg. Mbozi
meteorite, Amboni caves, Natural monument in lake Manyara , Bismark rocks –
Mwanza.
An area containing one or more specific natural or
cultural feature which is of outstanding or unique value because of its
inherent rarity, representative qualities,
or cultural significance.
4: HABITATS OR SPECIES MANAGEMENT AREA
Purpose; to manage the areas for conservation
through management intervention
(Endangered species protection/ management)
E.g. Game reserves – habitat, Ngorongoro
conservation area (NCA) – species – habitat
It is the area of land or sea subjected to active
intervention for management purposes so as to ensure maintenance of habitats to
meet the requirements of specific species.
5: PROTECTED
LANDSCAPE OR SEASCAPE
-Purpose; management of landscape and seascape for
conservation and recreation.
E.g. *Seascape in Tanzania; Rufiji – Mafia complex
*Landscape Longido Heart lands; slopes of mount
Kilimanjaro and Savannah area of Longido Contains mammal and birds (more than
400 species)
In this area, the Maasai people (pastoralists) have
lived here for over 400 years; they have co-existed with the wildlife in a
relative harmony.
Tarangire / Manyara Heart land
It is an area of land or sea where the interaction
of people and nature overtime has produced an area of distinct character with
significant ecological or cultural values and often with biological diversity.
6. MANAGED RESOURCES PROTECTED AREA
Purpose;
to protect a resource for sustainable use of ecosystem
E.g. many forest reserves, Kazimzumbwe protected
area, Mafia Island, Mnazi bay, Ngorongoro Crater etc
It is an area containing predominantly natural
systems managed to ensure long term protection and maintenance of biological
diversity while at the sometime providing sustainable flow of natural products
and services to meet community needs.
By
Chrisant, E
HOD Geography
St. Augustine University of
Tanzania- Mwanza
