What progress has been made with regard to the national designation of protected areas as a tool for biodiversity conservation?

The Emerald Network in Ukraine covers about 10.4 % of the country. The overlap between nationally desginated protected areas and Emerald sites is about 61 %, which corresponds to 6 % of the total area of Ukraine. Some Emerald sites (3.7 % of the country’s territory) have been designated without being underpinned by a national protected area category.

Ukraine has also made substantial progress in the desgnation of Emerald sites in the country since 2015. The number of Emerald sites has increased from 169 in 2015 to 271 in 2018. The percentage of the country that is covered by the Emerald sites has also increased, from 7.82 % to 10.4 %.

Indicator specification

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.

 

Units

Area (ha) of nationally protected areas as a percentage of the country territory.

Rationale

Justification for indicator selection

Establishment of protected areas is a direct response to concerns over biodiversity loss, so an indicator of protected area coverage is a valuable indication of commitment to conserving biodiversity and reducing its loss on a number of levels.

The indicator demonstrates the change over time in one form of protection afforded to components of biodiversity. It 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.

Scientific references

• 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

• MENR, 2018. Protected area system of Ukraine, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine

• Roekaerts, M. and Opermanis, O., 2018. Status of the Emerald Network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest in 2018, Group of Experts on Protected Areas and Ecological Networks 9^th Meeting, T-PVS/PA (2018) 11, Council of Europe, Strasbourg. (accessed 15 March 2019)

 

 

Policy context and targets

 

Context description

National policy context

Measures for the preservation of the natural heritage are specified in paragraphs 95-98 of the government priority action plan for 2017 and 2018 and the medium-term plan of the government’s priority actions by 2020, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on 3 April 2017.

International policy context

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity aimed at the establishment and maintenance of comprehensive, effectively managed and ecologically representative national and regional systems of protected areas.

The EU Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, 1979. The Convention aims to ensure conservation of wild flora and fauna species and their habitats. Special attention is given to endangered and vulnerable species, including endangered and vulnerable migratory species of European importance, and establish the Emerald Network of the areas of special conservation to ensure the survival of the protected species and habitats.

The EU Association Agreement (2014) includes a component for the harmonisation of Ukrainian conservation policies with the EU’s Natura 2000 policies.

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention, Article 2)

 

Convention concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage (Article 5)

 

Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians (Carpathian Convention, Article 4)

 

Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution (Black Sea Convention, Article 4 of the Protocol on the Protection of Biodiversity)

 

UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB)

 

Targets

National targets

The state strategy for regional development for the period up to 2020, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on 6 August 2014, stated that the area of the country in the protected areas system in 2017 should be 11 %, and in 2021 it should be 15 %.

The law of Ukraine on main principles (strategy) of the national ecological policy till 2020 defined the establishment of a system of environmental conservation measures for the conservation of biodiversity and landscape diversity and the expansion of the protected areas system to 10 % of the total territory of the country in 2015 and to 15 % in 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

Ukraine has national legal frameworks for the system of protected areas (law of Ukraine on protected areas of Ukraine) that regulate protected areas planning, governance and management, defining the relevant responsible institutions and parties. Chapter VII of this law regulates the procedure for the establishment of protected areas.

Other related policy documents are:

• law of Ukraine on environment protection;

• law of Ukraine on the ecological network of Ukraine;

• law of Ukraine on flora;

• law of Ukraine on fauna;

• law of Ukraine on the Red Book of Ukraine;

• law of Ukraine on main principles (strategy) of the national ecological policy till 2020;

• water, land and forestry codes of Ukraine;

• Convention on Biological Diversity. United Nations, 1992.

• Aichi Biodiversity Targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity. UN CBD, 2011. Strategic plan 2011-2020.

 

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

• Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, 2005. The Instruction on the Content and Documentation of the State Inventory of Territories and Objects of the Natural Reserve Fund of Ukraine. The document provides the clarifications on management categories of nationally designated areas as following:

 

Nature reserves are sites of national importance that are created to preserve the natural state of a typical or unique landscape and the whole complex of its components. They are established to study natural processes and phenomena within them, to advance the scientific study of the natural environment, and to ensure environmental safety and the efficient use of natural resources. Nature reserve areas are completely free from economic activities. The Ukrainian category ‘nature reserve’ satisfies the requirements of IUCN category Ia or Ib (strict nature reserve or wilderness area). However, in reality, the regime of some of Ukraine’s nature reserves did not meet the criteria of these international categories. Some of them would be equivalent to IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area).

 

Biosphere reserves are sites of international significance, created to preserve the natural state of the most common natural systems of the biosphere. They are established to provide environmental monitoring and to research the environment and its changes under the influence of anthropogenic factors. In the biosphere reserves there are three functional zones, each with special regimes: (1) core zones; (2) buffer zones; and (3) zones of anthropogenic landscapes (transition areas). A characteristic feature of biosphere reserves is that their core and buffer zones are mainly covered by nationally designated protected areas that correspond to various IUCN categories, such as categories Ia, II, IV or V.

 

National nature parks are implemented for conservation, restoration and effective use of nature complexes that have special natural, recreational, historical, cultural, scientific, educational and aesthetic values. National nature parks are designed within three zones: (1) core zone; (2) zones of controlled and stationary recreational activities; and (3) economic development zone. This category falls under IUCN category II. It should be noted that most national nature parks in Ukraine have no strict management regime, and indeed they are close to the protected landscape/seascape area (IUCN category V) or natural monument (IUCN category III).

 

Regional landscape parks are mainly established at the local level with the purpose of preserving the naturalness of typical or unique natural areas, as well as for recreational purposes. The main objectives of regional landscape parks are to preserve valuable natural, historical and cultural areas and features, creating good conditions for tourism, leisure and other recreational activities, and to promote environmental education. Management practices of regional landscape parks in Ukraine are almost equivalent to the IUCN category V of protected landscape/seascape areas.

 

Reservations are natural areas that are created for conservation or restoration of natural systems or their individual components. All type of activities that contradict to the overall management objectives of reservations are restricted or prohibited. This management category is equivalent to IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area).

Nature monuments are unique natural formations that have special environmental, scientific, aesthetic and cognitive values and are designated as such to conserve their natural state. Any type of activity that may cause degradation of the natural monument is strictly prohibited. This management category fully matches the IUCN category of natural monuments (IUCN category III).

 

Reserve stows include landscapes of forest, steppe, marsh and other structural entire landscapes that have great value for scientific purposes, nature and aesthetics. Land degradation or activities that violate natural processes are strictly prohibited in the reserve stows. Formally, the regime of reserve stows meets the requirements of IUCN category Ia, ‘strict nature reserve’. However, the actual treatment of these areas in most cases corresponds to IUCN category IV, ‘habitat/species management area’.

 

 

• 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

• EEA, 2005. EEA core set of indicators guide. EEA Technical report No 1/2005, ISBN 92-9167-757-4, Luxembourg.

• EEA, 2018. Nationally designated protected areas. CSI 008, SEBI 007.

• UNECE, 2018. Guidelines for the Application of Environmental Indicators, Data template – D1. Protected areas.

• UNECE, 2018. Guidelines for the Application of Environmental Indicators, Description of D1. Protected areas.

• UNECE, 2018. Guidelines for the Application of Environmental Indicators, Glossary of terms – D1. Protected areas.

 

 

Uncertainties

Methodology uncertainty

The indicator, ‘Progress in the designation of protected areas by IUCN categories over time’ could not be clearly defined, as many national protected areas may include a territory with several IUCN categories. A specific definition of the IUCN category is possible by a separate expert assessment.

 

Data sets uncertainty

The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR) currently does not have a map or geographical information system (GIS) with complete information on Ukraine’s protected area system. The total area of nationally designated protected areas does not fully match the total area designated as being within IUCN categories.

 

Rationale uncertainty

The indicator does not describe the quality of management or whether or not the areas are protected from incompatible uses. The indicator needs to be complemented by information on management effectiveness or funding or by other elements that would indicate the potential of the designated area to protect biodiversity.

 

Data sources

Data provided by the Department of EcoNet and Protected Areas of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine under the ENI SEIS II East project activities

Roekaerts, M. and Opermanis, O., 2018. Status of the Emerald Network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest in 2018, Group of Experts on Protected Areas and Ecological Networks 9^th Meeting, T-PVS/PA (2018) 11, Council of Europe, Strasbourg. (accessed 15 March 2019)