WPC / WCPA Steering Committee

WCPA Information Management Task ForceDurban, South AfricaOctober 28 – November 1, 2002

Agenda

The WDPA Consortium process: Background and statusWDPA core database architectureA vision for the World Database on Protected AreasPresent state of the WDPAThe WDPA Review process by WCPA membersThe WCPA Collaboration Portal

WDPA Review and Users Need

Assessment, August 2001

Recommendation # 2

This review recommends that the existing Project Steering Group be maintained and expanded, and that a meeting be held to progress planning as early in 2002 as funding can be found. [p.28]

Current Partners in the WDPA Consortium

Birdlife International (BI)Conservation International (CI)Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (endorsement)

The Nature Conservancy (TNC)UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring CentreWorld Commission on Protected AreasWorld Resources InstituteWWF

To: Members of the Consortium for the World Database of Protected Areas

8 October 2002

Dear ColleaguesWorld Database on Protected Areas

I am greatly encouraged by the progress that we have made together over the past months to consolidate the development of the World Database on Protected Areas as a consortium-led activity. The Centre’s staff and UNEP itself are fully committed to taking forward the WDPA consortium – as you know we have the full support of the Executive Director, Klaus Töpfer, and his interactions with the IUCN Director General , Achim Steiner, have been most positive.

The Centre is fully committed to the consortium principles, including the placing of data in the public domain. As custodians of the WDPA core database, we carry important responsibilities and a duty of care towards both data providers and data users. We will seek to maximise accessibility while at the same time ensuring that the rights of data providers are fully understood and protected, and that the integrity of database versions is maintained.

I am sure that the consortium can build on the excellent progress made so far to address goals common to our various institutions. Let us look towards jointly delivering to the world community the best possible information resource on protected areas whilst continuing to create improvements and wider ownership of the information content and process.

I very much hope that the visit by technical staff from the Centre to Washington later this week will prove another constructive stage in the process, and I should like to thank you all for your support in establishing this opportunity.

With kind regards

Yours sincerely

Mark Collins MA MBA PhD Director UNEP-WCMC

“DATA FEST 2002”Protected Areas Data Collectivization

 October 11-16

At CABS GIS LaboratoryConservation International1919 M St. NW, Suite 600,

Washington DC 20036(202) 912-1000

Working Principles1. The core dataset to be a publicly and freely available

resource, managed in accordance with defined quality control and metadata standards.

2.  Further datasets linked to the core database to remain the property of those who have developed them (and who remain responsible for quality control and metadata provision).

3. To work towards the avoidance of duplication, ensuring synergy, and ensuring reduced pressure on national governments and others to provide information.

Working Principles (cont.)4. Moves to be made towards a distributed approach to data

management, through development of incentives and guidelines for contributors, and appropriate recognition of sources.

5.  All new approaches to database development and delivery to be pilot tested with collaborators before full implementation to ensure feasibility and that the result meets user requirements.

6. A monitoring and evaluation program to be implemented, incorporating indicators of usage and success, and the solicitation of feedback .

Working Principles (cont.)7. The development and delivery of the World Database on

Protected Areas and the associated information services to be integrated with the WCPA strategic plan, the associated work of the IUCN Program on Protected Areas, and the work of other international agreements, programmes and organizations that relate to protected areas.

8. The database should be designed to deal with conflicting information so as to indicate the most credible source. For an objective analysis, an Oversight Technical Committee, comprising key members of WCPA and other key partners institutions, should be instituted to provide quality control.

Working Principles (cont.)9. The planning and development of an upgraded World Database

on Protected Areas should be an inclusive process that can promote new partnerships with key institutions dealing with PA issues. This should also include partnerships with other IUCN Commissions and Programmes, giving particular attention to develop linkages with the SSC Species Information System initiative.

10.The World Database on Protected Areas should be promoted as the authoritative standard for global conventions, particularly CBD, WHC, CMS, and Ramsar. This should be promoted as one of the targets to achieve during the World Parks Congress.

WDPA core database architecture

National protected areas

sites and systems

Internationally recognized and designated sites

Other designated

areas

CORE DATASET

Protected areas

CORE DATASET: Country / SiteCountry      Protected area designations     Protected area agencies     Contact details for agencies

Site      Country (and/or other geopolitical unit)      National designation       IUCN Management Category      Area (hectares)      Area which is marine (hectares)      Year established      Geographic location (latitude/longitude)      Boundary file (at 1:1 million)      Relationship with other sites

From Hegerl, et al. p.23

CORE DATASET: “International site”Country (and/or other geopolitical unit)

Convention or programme

Criteria (as appropriate)

Area (hectares)

Area which is marine (hectares)

Year established

Geographic location (latitude/longitude)

Relationship to other sites

Boundary file (at 1:1 million)From Hegerl, et al. p.23

A vision for the WDPA

Biodiversity Information Commons

Core World Database

on Protected Areas

Web

WDPA becomes essential authority dictionary in the commons structure

WDPA: part of a larger strategy for sharing conservation information

Linked to other spatial data layers on the web

Core World Database

on Protected Areas

Web

• NASA R/S images• WWF Ecoregions• CI Hotspots• FAO Soils• etc.

Can access and use any GIS & R/S dataset available on the web

Linking to other Conservation Information Systems

Core World Database

on Protected Areas

Web• IUCN/SSC Species Information System

Links PA to species data allowing new analysis: gap, conservation effectiveness,…

Direct link to Global Stakeholders Information Systems

Core World Database

on Protected Areas

Web

• CBD• World Heritage Center• MAB Biosphere Reserves• RAMSAR• Climate Change• The Law of the Sea• other UN conventions• other global stakeholders: WTO, mining, …• etc.

All use same core set, but manage their own data / information (some of it public)

Linked data and information from research efforts by wide range of organizations

Core World Database

on Protected Areas

Web

• Climate Change studies• People and PAs• Fires and PAs• Monitoring data• etc.

Any research data can be attached to the core set

Linked to WCPA Collaboration Portal and activities

Core World Database

on Protected Areas

Web • On-going GAP analysis and priority setting• Support to regional networks• Members PA assessments• PA monitoring• Etc. Information captured in the

portal directly relates to core set

Park managers, conservationists, students, decision makers, users…

Core World Database

on Protected Areas

Web

The Learning Network: sharing knowledge across countries, across cultures…

This vision is possible now!

The technology is ready

The impact on conservation would

be incredible

Let’s make it happen!

Where are we today?The State of the WDPA

WDPA on Line: support for review process

% of PAs with spatial data per country

Original scale of PA data per country

WDPA: Integration of existing datasets

Review process: comparison of 2 datasets

3Q 2002

Data integration, validation by consortium Regional chairs, national focal points

1Q 2003

Review process: work at national levels, regional preparatory meetings

Submission of UN List Mandate to UNEP Governing Council

2Q 2003

1st draft UN List, State of World Parks

3Q 2003

Integration of new WDPA, Launch & presentation at WPC, final draft

of State of World Parks Launch IUCN-UNEP partnership at WPC

2004 Long term WDPA system and processes in place

WDPA Consortium UN List 2003

State of the

World’s Parks

WDPA Data Standardization, Input, Integration, Verification

WDPA Data Standardization, Input, Integration, Verification

Updated & reviewed data

Expert Evaluation of

data

Interactive supportwhere

appropriate 

National Governments(includes Federal,

State / Provincial)

  

 WCPA RegionalVice Chairs

Data

Up

date

and

V

erification

Req

uests

IUCN

CI, TNC, WWF…

UNEP

ARCBC, EEA,

SPREP

Organizations / agencies acting as regional support nodes

Liaise with and support national agencies and WCPA Regional Vice Chairs in updating PA data.Provide up-to-date information where applicable (WDPA Consortium contributors).Verify final data with sources.

The WDPA 2003: WCPA Members Review Process

Review ProcessObjective: analyze available data and provide feedback to improve databaseBased on the use of the WDPA on-line and the WCPA portal Nov & Dec 2002: work with regional chairs in defining regional strategy and national leadersJan 1st, 2003: review process startsThrough regional chairs, national focal points and regional WPC preparatory meetings

Review questions

Is the dataset complete?Missing any type of areas?Are all existing areas included?

Quality and Accuracy of the data?Both spatial and attribute data, metadata

Any additional sources of data or expertise?

The WCPA Collaboration Portal

September 2002: agreements on members access to portalOctober 28, 2002: tutorial sent to all membersNovember 9: upload of membership, email sent to all members

Agreements

Portal: members and friends onlyPortal introduction screen directs all users to the WCPA websiteIn order to enter the portal you MUST log in with your name and password

Membership to the portalCentralized, managed by Delwyn Dupuis

Support to members: Delwyn, Carola Borja

Portal Membership

Need to allow a larger membership to portalMembers

WCPA membersAssociates (determined by each member)Guests (determined by SC members)