Background Document for the Summit

The Summit's aim was to reach agreement on critical issues relating to the revision of the 1994 IUCN Guidelines for Protected Areas Management Categories. The process included a series of working papers, prepared by leading experts, which were available for consultation and discussion before the summit and as a reference for the meeting.

IUCN members supported the current definition and categories through a resolution at the 2004 World Conservation Congress. There are currently no plans to change these, although the WCPA Categories task force is considering all proposals. The summit is not a decision-making meeting. Final decisions about definition, categories and guidance will be made by all IUCN members at the next World Conservation Congress in 2008.

Specific objectives

• To assess the conceptual and methodological strengths and weakness of the system and its application.
• To identify required actions to strengthen the system and enhance its application at different levels; including its use in supporting regional planning and connectivity initiatives.

Expected results:

• Substantive input to a revised version of the IUCN Guidelines for Protected Areas Management Categories, to be presented for endorsement by the IV World Conservation Congress (Barcelona, Spain, 2008).