A decision support system-based procedure for evaluation and monitoring of protected areas sustainability for the Mediterranean region

K Pediaditi, F Buono, F Pompigna, C Bogliotti, E Nurlu, G Ladisa, George Petropoulos

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)
117 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Despite common acknowledgement of the value of protected areas as instruments in ensuring sustainability, and their promotion for the achievement of policies on halting the loss of biodiversity, there is no common approach today for monitoring and evaluating them. This paper presents a novel integrated nature conservation management procedure developed to monitor and evaluate the sustainability of Mediterranean protected areas. This procedure was successfully implemented and formally evaluated by protected area managers in six Mediterranean countries, results of which are presented here together with an overview of the web-based Decision Support System (DSS) developed to facilitate its wide adoption. The DSS and procedure has been designed and evaluated by managers as a useful tool, which facilitates and provides needed procedural guidance for protected area monitoring whilst minimizing input requirements to do so. The procedure and DSS were developed following a review of existing protected area assessment tools and a detailed primary investigation of the needs and capacity of its intended users. Essentially, the procedure and DSS guides provide the facilities for protected area managers, in following a participatory approach to develop a context-specific sustainability monitoring strategy, for their protected area. Consequently, the procedure is, by design, participatory, context specific, holistic and relevant to protected area management and institutional procedures. The procedure was piloted and formally evaluated in Greece, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Malta and Cyprus. Feedback collected from the pilot evaluations is also summarised herein.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)949-961
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Earth System Science
Volume120
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2011

Keywords

  • Assessment management
  • participation indicators decision support systems
  • protected area management

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A decision support system-based procedure for evaluation and monitoring of protected areas sustainability for the Mediterranean region'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this