The Enhancing Our Heritage Toolkit

Sue Stolton, Equilibrium Research, UK

Presentation overview

– Introduction to the concept of management effectiveness

– Enhancing our Heritage: a brief introduction

Introduction to the concept of management effectiveness

‘…the assessment of how well a protected area is being managed – primarily the extent to which it is protecting values and achieving goals and objectives’

(WCPA, 2006)

A little bit of history

• Issue of management effectiveness was first raised at Bali World Parks Congress (WPC) in 1983

• Further call for action at Caracas in 1992, where effective management was identified as one of four major protected area issues of global concern

• Independent systems developed during 1990s (Parks in Peril, WWF/CATIE, various park management agencies)

Developing the Framework

• WCPA Working Group 1996 and Task Force 1998

• Publication of WCPA Best Practice Guidelines in 2000

• Revised Best Practice Guidelines in 2006

The WCPA Framework

Framework publication

• Defines terminology• Develops a framework of evaluation

criteria• Detailed advice on carrying out an

assessment and using the results• Case studies concentrating on the process

of carrying out an evaluation

Management follows a process

Effectiveness

Appropriate-ness

Effectiveness

EfficiencyEconomyAppropriate-ness

StatusFocus of evaluation

Impacts: effects of management in relation to objectives

Results of management actions

Services and

products

Suitability of management

processes

Resourcing of agency Resourcing of site

PA legislation and policy

PA system design

Reserve design

Management planning

Significance

Threats

Vulnerability

National policy

Partners

Criteria

Outcomes

What did we achieve?

Outputs

What were the results?

Process

How do we go about it?

Inputs

What do we need?

Planning

Where do we want to be?

Context

Where are we now?

Contents of evaluation

Global Uptake

• Over 40 different systems for assessing management effectiveness

• Evaluations have taken place in over 7,000 sites in 100 countries

• 90 per cent of the site assessments carried out with/or using systems that can be related to the WCPA Framework

Enhancing our Heritage(EoH)

Developing a standardised assessment system for natural

World Heritage sites

• To work with managers of World Heritage sites to develop assessment, monitoring and reporting systems and by applying the results to adapt or enhance management

• Demonstrate the potential to use the WCPA Framework to develop a consistent approach to management (through assessment, monitoring and reporting) on the state of conservation and management effectiveness of World Heritage sites that could be applied to World Heritage sites on an on-going basis

• 7 year project of UNESCO and IUCN started in 2001

• Funded by the United Nations Foundation, with seed funding from US Forest Service

• Carried out in co-operation with the University of Queensland, The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Institute of India, IUCN regional office and many other regional/local organisations

Developed with managers

• Working with protected area managers to develop assessment tools and processes

• Self-assessment toolkit• Integrate into existing systems• Adaptation is encouraged• Aimed at site and system level uptake

Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles Bwindi Impenetrable, Uganda

Canaima, Venezuela

Kaziranga, India Keoladeo, India Royal Chitwan, Nepal

Rio Platano, Honduras Sangay, Ecuador

Serengeti, Tanzania

Brief description of project• Work with sites (managers and stakeholders) to

develop assessment/monitoring based upon the WCPA Framework

• Conduct assessments, develop and implement additional monitoring as needed

• Implement small-scale projects in response to assessment

• Gather lessons learnt and use these to:– Revise and improve the WCPA Framework and the developing

EoH toolkit– Work with World Heritage Centre on application of WCPA

Framework for reporting procedures under the Convention

• Introduces management effectiveness concept

• Discusses assessment processes

• Explains and details the tools developed

• Includes case studies of trial sites

• Explores application to cultural sites

• Reviews next steps• Tools also available as e-

worksheets

What is a toolkit?

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EoH Toolkit • Built around the WCPA Framework• 12 tools which can assess a range of

indicators within the Framework• Many tools drawn from best practices

around the world - but often simplified• Tools can be adapted to suit a site’s

individual needs:– supplement existing assessment activities – point of reference to develop new

assessment tools to meet site needs– build a complete assessment system – Feed into the development of management

systems

Format of tools

• Wording specific to natural WH sites but easily adaptable to any protected area and hopefully to cultural sites

• Most assessments are qualitative, drawing on monitoring results:– data sheets assessing

strengths/weaknesses – rating assessment against best practice

benchmarks

• Quantitative data is used in assessments of inputs, outputs and outcomes

• All tools stress the need to include comment and explanation; recommendations and next steps

Context Tools• Tool 1: Identifying Site Values and Management Objectives

• Background: Developed from TNC methodology for identifying priority conservation targets

• Concept: Define ‘key’ values, including OUV and associated objectives which drive management and the assessment process

• Methodology and datasheet: guides sites through the process of identifying range of values for biodiversity cultural, economic, educational and social values

• Use in management planning: Helps define the purpose of management and link OUV to management objectives

• Tool 2: Identifying Threats • Background: Developed from work

carried out by TNC• Concept: Understanding the causes

and impacts of threats and the urgency of action

• Methodology and datasheet: Guidance on characteristics of current and potential threats for each value identified in tool 1 and summarise its impacts (extents and intensity) and the urgency of management responses (actions)

• Use in management planning: Understands the context of management and the threats which the management plan need to address

• Tool 3: Relationships with Stakeholders• Background: Draws on assessment

developed in Australia and developed from work carried out by TNC and partners

• Concept: Reviews the roles of stakeholder in management, rather than engagement in management

• Methodology and datasheet: identifies the diverse groups of stakeholders of the protected area and review their relationships with managers

• Use in management planning: Can help in identifying who to involve in the management planning process and issues that need to be addressed in management planning

• Tool 4: Review of National Context• Background: Developed from the WCPA

Framework• Concept: Reviews how national and

international policies, legislation and government actions affect the effective management of a protected area

• Methodology and datasheet: Simple data sheet which looks at the strengths and weaknesses of policy and legislation

• Use in management planning: Can help identify areas for consideration in the process of management planning and management plan itself

• Tool 5: Assessment of Management Planning

• Background: Developed from best practice in protected area planning

• Concept: Reviews status of planning documents and assesses the primary decision making document

• Methodology and datasheet: decision-making framework; adequacy of information; needs and interests of any local and indigenous communities and other stakeholders

• Use in management planning: Assess situation with current plan and highlights areas of success and improvement

• Tool 6: Design Assessment • Background: Developed from best practice in

protected area design• Concept: How the size, location and boundaries

affect management • Methodology and datasheet: Assessment of the

strengths and weaknesses of design:– ecological integrity (key habitats, size, external

interactions and connectivity)– community well-being (cultural integrity and

livelihoods) – how design affects the ease of management of

the site (legal status and tenure, access points and neighbours)

• Use in management planning: Context management

Input Assessment• Tool 7: Assessment of Management Needs and Inputs

• Background: Datasheet developed by UWA for Bwindi

• Concept: Evaluate management needs and the resources going to the site

• Methodology and datasheet: Assessments of available resources (staff, equipment, infrastructure and funding)

• Use in management planning: A reality check on management possibilities and constraints

• Tool 8: Assessment of Management Processes

• Background: Developed from an appendix in the first edition of the WCPA Framework and adapted following experiences developing the METT

• Concept: Define desired standards for management and assess current management practices against best practices

• Methodology and datasheet: Multiple choice questionnaire assessing performance (which should be adapted to site conditions) from poor to very good

• Use in management planning: Identifies best practice management

• Tool 9: Assessment of Management Plan Implementation or Tool 10: Work/Site Output Indicators

• Background: Fraser Island in Australia, Serengeti National Park

• Concept: Is the management plan and/or work programme being implemented and what are the results, or outputs, from the management process?

• Methodology and datasheet: System for ranking implementation status of activities outlined in primary planning document and ParkPlan electronic tool developed

• Use in management planning: Tool 9 can aid in developing monitoring for management plan implementation

Outcomes• Tool 11: Assessing the Outcomes of Management

• Background: Workshop on common elements of systems developed by TNC, Parks Canada and Kruger National Park, field tested in Serengeti

• Concept: Assess if management is protecting the values for which the site was designated

• Methodology and datasheet: Developing a monitoring plan (or deciding if an existing one is good enough), assessment of outcomes using the results of monitoring

• Use in management planning: Development of comprehensive monitoring for assessing achievement of management objectives

• Tool 12: Review of Management Effectiveness Assessment Results

• Background: Developed to ensure users of the EoH toolkit reflect on results and develop plans to implement assessment findings

• Concept: Simple format to encourage implementation of results

• Methodology and datasheet: Review worksheet to develop action plan

• Use in management planning: Not relevant unless action focussed towards management planning

Don’t panic

Building a management plan

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What next for the toolkit?• EoH Toolkit (available in English, French and Spanish soon) launched at

the WCC in 2008• Currently being used in West Africa, East Africa, and all Indian WH sites• Workshop on implementation in natural and cultural WH sites in Nordic

countries in April …….• Written into funding proposals and project plans by IUCN and the African

World Heritage Fund• Being recommended in mission reports – in Peru etc

Information Iceberg

Periodic Reporting

Monitoring and assessment (EoH, reactive monitoring; national monitoring etc)

Site Monitoring Site Monitoring Site Monitoring Site Monitoring

WCPA Framework also influenced the development of a new electronic periodic

reporting tool for all WH sites

For further information• Enhancing our Heritage:

whc.unesco.org/en/series/23/