Role and Trends of Protected Areas in Conservation

Protected areas are the cornerstones of biodiversity conservation. Encompassing some 13% of the global land surface and almost 1.5% of the oceans, protected areas represent one of the largest forms of land-use allocation and management in existence. Over time, natural areas have been protected as sacred places, sources of food, and other natural resources, in appreciation of scenery and recreation opportunities, and to conserve biodiversity. Scientific knowledge shaped the selection, design, and management of protected sites. As protected area theory developed in the twentieth century, the extent of area protected worldwide increased dramatically, though large gaps remain. It seems likely that within a few decades, ownership and use of the world’s terrestrial surface will largely be assigned, with marine spaces lagging only a short way behind. As natural areas, with their myriad management systems, become more isolated and fragmented by human activity in surrounding areas, these protected areas will at once be by far the most important tool for safeguarding nature and yet less effective at doing so. Perhaps, if the social and economic values of this estate is more clearly established, this recognition will lead to the reduction of threats from within and without protected areas.