D1 - Nationally designated protected areas of the Republic of Belarus
What progress has been made with regard to the national designation of protected areas as a tool for biodiversity conservation?
Figure 1 - Change in the number and size of nationally designated protected areas in the Republic of Belarus (2001-2017)
Data sources:
D1- Protected Areas provided by the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus
Figure 2 - Share of protected areas of the territory of the Republic of Belarus (2017)
Data sources:
D1- Protected Areas provided by the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus
The state programme on environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources for 2016-2020 is promoting the conservation of natural ecological systems and biological and landscape diversity through supporting the operation of an effective system of protected areas. In that context, a target has been set of 8.8 % of the total territory of the country to be designated as protected areas by 2020. The total area of nationally designated protected areas increased by 13.7 % between 2001 and 2017 in Belarus. With this amount, the share of protected areas has reached 8.7 % of the total territory of the country, which is close to the national target of 8.8 % by 2020. However, Belarus is still far from reaching Aichi biodiversity target 11, which aims to have 17 % of terrestrial and inland water conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes.
Druing the period 2001-2017, Belarus substantially revised the spatial delineation of its protected areas. Some of protected areas have been abandoned because of their insignificant importance in conserving the biodiversity of the country or for some administrative reasons. Meanwhile, the boundaries of some protected areas have been expanded. With this revision, the total number of protected areas decreased from 1 461 in 2001 to 1 285 in 2017, whereas the total area increased from 1 593 000 ha to 1 811 600 ha within the same period.
Figure 3 - Progress in protected areas by nationally designated types in the Republic of Belarus (2001-2017)
Data sources:
D1- Protected Areas provided by the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus
Figure 4 – Share of protected areas by regions in the Republic of Belarus (2017)
Data sources:
D1- Protected Areas provided by the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus
Belarus has a high diversity of protected areas, which vary in size, aim and management approach. The protected area categories of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classification are not used directly in the protected area system of Belarus; however, the national legislation takes the overall management objectives of the IUCN categories into account.
National parks and nature reserves comprise the main part of the protected areas in the country and cover more than 8 % of the territory of the country. In terms of the regional distribution of the protected areas, the Brest region holds the largest share (26 %) of total protected areas, which corresponds to 2.3 % of the country’s territory.
The nationally designated protected area system and the Emerald Network under the Bern Convention represent the two most important coordinated European networks of protected areas. The degree of overlap between nationally protected areas and Emerald sites (candidate or formally adopted sites) illustrates the extent to which a country has made use of nationally designated areas to underpin its Emerald designation and to what extent Emerald sites extend beyond national systems.
As a result of a lack of data, complementarity analyses on European desgination (Emerald Network) and national desgination could not be performed. However, during recent years, Belarus has made substantil progress by including 155 sites with the total area of 2 306 470 ha (corresponding to 11% of the country’s territory) into the Emerald network. In addition,7 sites are candidate to the Emerald network with total area of 9 7368.3 ha (status in November 2019).
Indicator definition
The proposed definition is a combination of the D1 UNECE Environmental Indicator and of the Streamlined European Biodiversity Indicators (SEBI) 007 indicator.
The indicator shows the terrestrial area protected in compliance with the national legislation and its development over time. It reflects both the extent of protected areas and their share in the total area of the country.
The indicator can be further broken down by IUCN management categories and by category of national designation (national park, strict nature reserve, protected landscape etc.). In addition, a sub-indicator showing the relation between nationally designated areas at national level and areas designated as Emerald sites can be developed.
Protected areas are the part of the territory of Belarus with unique or valuable natural complexes and features that have special ecological, scientific and/or aesthetic value, in respect of which special protection and use regulations are established.
The indicator reflects the area of nature reserves, national parks, refuges and natural landmarks, and their share as a percentage of the country’s total area. The indicator is presented for Belarus as a whole and by regions.
Units
Area (ha) of nationally protected areas as a percentage of the country territory.
Rationale
Justification for indicator selection
The indicator provides a measure of the response to the degradation of ecosystems and the loss of biodiversity in a country. It demonstrates the extent to which areas important for conserving biodiversity, cultural heritage, scientific research (including baseline monitoring of processes in the ecosystems), recreation and maintaining natural resources and other environmental values are protected.
Legislation
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Law of the Republic of Belarus of October 20 1994 (o 3335-XII) on protected areas.
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Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 9 February 2012 (o 59) on some issues of the development of protected areas.
Scientific references
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Dudley, N., (Editor), 2008. Guidelines for Applying Protected Area Management Categories. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. x + 86pp. WITH Stolton, S., P. Shadie and N. Dudley (2013). IUCN WCPA Best Practice Guidance on Recognising Protected Areas and Assigning Management Categories and Governance Types, Best Practice Protected Area Guidelines Series No. 21, Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. xxpp. 978-2-8317-1636-7
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MNREP, 2015. Environmental bulletin for 2015. of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus.
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UNECE, 2016. Third Environmental Performance Review of Belarus. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, ECE/CEP/178, New York and Geneva
Policy context and targets
Context description
National policy context
According to the state programme on environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources for 2016-2020, one of the tasks is the conservation of natural ecological systems and of biological and landscape diversity through supporting the operation of an effective protected area system.
International policy context
In addition, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 of the Sustainable Development Agenda for the period up to 2030 is to ‘Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss’. Indicator 15.1.2 of SDG 15 is the ‘proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type’, which denotes the importance of the sustainable use of natural resources.
Targets
National targets
According to the state programme ‘Environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources for 2016-2020’ the share of protected areas in the country should be 8.8 % by 2020.
International targets
Under the CBD, the strategic plan for biodiversity 2011-2020 was adopted, which requires that, by 2020, at least 17 % of terrestrial and inland water areas, and 10 % of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes (Aichi biodiversity target 11).
Related policy documents
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Aichi Biodiversity Targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity. UN CBD, 2011. Strategic plan 2011-2020.
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Convention on Biological Diversity. United Nations, 1992.
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Government of Belarus, 2017. The National Strategy for Sustainable Social and Economic Development of the Republic of Belarus up to 2030. 02 March 2017, No.10
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The concept of national security of the Republic of Belarus, 2010
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The state programme ‘Environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources for 2016-2020
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The National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus, 2018. The Road Map of the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus on developing statistics on the Sustainable Development Goals.
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UNEP, 2010. COP 10 Decision X2 – Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, United Nations Environment Programme Convention on Biological Diversity
Methodology
Methodology for indicator calculation
It is necessary for this indicator to have a database of all nationally protected areas in the country, including name of the protected area, date of establishment, protection regime in accordance with national legislation (and relevant international requirements), size and digital boundaries.
To break down results by IUCN management category, it is necessary for each protected area to be characterised according to the type of management applied, following the IUCN guidelines.
To assess the (spatial) complementarity between Emerald site designation and nationally protected areas, two datasets are necessary (to be overlaid): (1) spatial delineation of nationally protected areas; and (2) spatial delineation of Emerald sites (only candidate and officially designated Emerald sites to be considered).
The percentage of protected areas can be calculated by the formula:
Share of protected areas (%) = (total area of protected areas in hectares or km2/total area of the country in hectares or km2) × 100.
Protected area coverage can be calculated nationally and by sub-national administrative unit of terrestrial and/or marine area.
Methodology for gap filling
No methodology for gap filling has been specified.
Methodology references
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Law of the Republic of Belarus on October 20, 1994, No 3335-XII, on protected areas:
Nature reserves include conservation areas designated for the purpose of the preservation of natural capital and other high-value natural habitats and features; the study of flora and fauna, natural ecosystems and landscapes; and establishing good conditions for natural processes.
National parks include conservation areas designated to restore and/or preserve the unique, etalon and other high-value natural habitats and features, for nature protection, research, and educational, tourism and recreational purposes.
Refuges include conservation areas designated to restore, preserve and/or reproduce natural habitats and features, and natural resources of one or several types, with limited use of other natural resources.
Natural landmarks include conservation areas designated to preserve the unique etalon and other high-value natural habitats and features in the interest of present and future generations
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Dudley, N. (Editor), 2008. Guidelines for Applying Protected Area Management Categories. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. x + 86pp. WITH Stolton, S., P. Shadie and N. Dudley (2013). IUCN WCPA Best Practice Guidance on Recognising Protected Areas and Assigning Management Categories and Governance Types, Best Practice Protected Area Guidelines Series No. 21, Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. xxpp. 978-2-8317-1636-7
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EEA, 2005. EEA core set of indicators guide. EEA Technical report No 1/2005, ISBN 92-9167-757-4, Luxembourg.
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EEA, 2018. Nationally designated protected areas. CSI 008, SEBI 007.
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UNECE, 2018. Guidelines for the Application of Environmental Indicators, Data template – D1. Protected areas.
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UNECE, 2018. Guidelines for the Application of Environmental Indicators, Description of D1. Protected areas.
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UNECE, 2018. Guidelines for the Application of Environmental Indicators, Glossary of terms – D1. Protected areas.
Uncertainties
Methodology uncertainty
No uncertainty has been specified.
Data sets uncertainty
No assignment to IUCN category.
Rationale uncertainty
No uncertainty has been specified.
Data sources
D1- Protected Areas provided by the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus