1. Promoting the Establishment and Management of Protected Areas
WWF views protected areas as important means by which ecological processes, representative or unique habitats, assemblages of species and viable populations can be conserved. WWF's approach in this respect is therefore to promote and maintain systems of effective and sustainable protected areas.
For protected areas to remain biologically viable and socially sustainable at the local level, WWF will support and encourage local and national governmental and non-governmental bodies to:
- Identify gaps in protected areas networks, especially in the Global 200 ecoregions
- Design new areas and increase the viability of existing protected areas, including local stakeholders and incorporating concepts of landscape ecology
- Improve management of existing areas by upgrading and implementing management plans
- Monitor the threats to protected areas as the basis for reinforcing their effective management, and promote models of good management practices for educational and training purposes.