Protected Area

Ideally, the numbers and sizes of protected areas should be designed to sustain all native species and natural ecosystems occurring within a jurisdiction (a municipality, state, or entire country). This should include terrestrial, freshwater, and marine species and ecosystems, and the goal should be long-term protection. To ensure there is adequate representation of all elements of indigenous biodiversity within a system of protected areas, the kinds of native species and ecosystems in the jurisdiction must be known. This knowledge makes it possible to accommodate all elements of ecological heritage within a comprehensive system plan for a network of protected areas.

The above criteria are for an ideal system of protected areas. No country has yet managed to designate a comprehensive system of protected areas, in which all native species and natural ecosystems are represented and sustained. An enormous amount of political will is required to set aside the amounts of land and water necessary to fully protect the native biodiversity of any region. Countries that have made the most progress in this regard are relatively wealthy, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. But even in these cases, the systems of protected areas are highly incomplete.

Most of the existing protected areas are relatively small, or threatened by degrading influences occurring within their boundaries or surrounding area. It is doubtful the smaller protected areas will be able to sustain their present ecological values over the longer term, in the face of disturbances and other environmental changes. In addition, scientists are often unfamiliar with the ecological needs of endangered species and ecosystems, making proper management difficult.