ABSTRACT

Achieving a comprehensive and effective protected area system requires the targeted and strategic establishment of protected areas (see Chapter 8). In addition to their biodiversity conservation objectives, protected areas provide a range of other values to society, including social, economic, spiritual and cultural values, which extend far beyond protected area boundaries. Protected areas are, in turn, affected by land-use activities and impacts in the surrounding areas, as well as by global change. These include agriculture, fisheries and settlements that fragment landscapes and impact upon ecosystem processes, as well as the pervasive threats of climate change and the impact of invasive alien species (see Chapter 9).