Estándares internacionales aplicables al manejo efectivo de áreas protegidas: Una visión general
| Autor | Johana Robles Arias |
| Cargo | Independent legal researcher |
| Páginas | 125-159 |
Robles, J. International standards for the effective management of protected areas
125
Revista Facultad de Jurisprudencia RFJ No.11 Junio 2022
International standards for the effective
management of protected areas: An overview
Estándares internacionales aplicables al manejo
efectivo de áreas protegidas: Una visión general
Johana Liseth Robles Arias
Independent legal researcher
City: Quito
Country: Ecuador
Original article (research)
RFJ, No. 11, 2022, pp. 125 - 159, ISSN 2588-0837
ABSTRACT: Protected areas are a necessary means to ensure
the survival of species, maintain healthy ecosystems, and
preserve landscapes and seascapes in their natural state. Today,
the environmental crisis has accelerated the loss of biodiversity.
This has direct repercussions not only on the environment but
also on human health and well-being. Hence the importance
of protected areas in reversing the loss of biodiversity and
ensuring life on this planet. This article is therefore dedicated
to analysing the Guidelines for Protected Area Legislation
issued by the International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN). This article presents important parameters such as
the inclusion of environmental principles or best management
practices to guide States in the development of regulations.
What is essential is that the regulations are clear and can be
implemented. Concerning management plans, these must
contain achievable objectives and actions to achieve long-term
preservation. They must also be logically structured to achieve
the expected changes. Ultimately, States need to commit to
protecting their biodiversity and use the most innovative
technological tools so that the regulatory system that is
implemented can reverse biodiversity loss and thus ensure that
humans can live in harmony with nature.
DOI 10.26807/rfj.v11i11.421
Robles, J. International standards for the effective management of protected areas
126
Revista Facultad de Jurisprudencia RFJ No.11 Junio 2022
KEYWORDS: biodiversity, climate change, nature conservation,
international law, endangered species, nature reserve.
RESUMEN: Las áreas protegidas son medios necesarios
para asegurar la supervivencia de especies; mantener a los
ecosistemas sanos y preservar paisajes marinos y terrestres
en su estado natural. En la actualidad, la crisis ambiental ha
acelerado la pérdida de biodiversidad. Esto tiene repercusiones
directas no solo en el medio ambiente sino en la salud y
bienestar del ser humano. De ahí la importancia que adquieren
las áreas protegidas para revertir la desaparición de la diversidad
biológica y asegurar la vida en este planeta. Por ello, este artículo
se dedica a analizar las Directrices para la Legislación relativa
a Áreas Protegidas emitida por la Unión Internacional para
la Conservación de la Naturaleza (UICN). En este artículo se
presenta parámetros importantes como la inclusión de principios
ambientales o prácticas óptimas de manejo para orientar a los
Estados en el desarrollo de normativa. Lo fundamental es que
la normativa sea clara y pueda implementarse. Con respecto
a los planes de manejo, estos deben contener objetivos y
acciones realizables para lograr la preservación a largo plazo.
Igualmente, deben estructurarse de manera lógica para lograr
los cambios esperados. En definitiva, es necesario que los
Estados se comprometan a proteger su biodiversidad y utilicen
las herramientas tecnológicas más innovadoras para que el
sistema normativo que se implemente pueda revertir la pérdida
de biodiversidad y así lograr que los seres humanos puedan
vivir en armonía con la naturaleza.
PALABRAS CLAVES: biodiversidad, cambio climático,
conservación de la naturaleza, Derecho Internacional, especie
en peligro de extinción, reserva natural.
JEL CODE: F13, Q54.
Robles, J. International standards for the effective management of protected areas
127
Revista Facultad de Jurisprudencia RFJ No.11 Junio 2022
INTRODUCTION
Some places are home to a unique diversity of animal
and plant species. For example, the Galapagos Islands were
declared a natural world heritage site in 1978 by the United
Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation
(National Institute of Cultural Heritage, n.d., para. 1). Their
richness includes giant tortoises, frigate birds, iguanas, sea lions,
dolphins, red mangroves, cactus, etc. Unfortunately, the islands
are threatened by human intervention. Overfishing, pollution
of water sources, logging, the introduction of invasive species,
and climate change, among others, have accelerated the loss of
biodiversity globally.
An effective tool to protect these places is the law.
If government regulations, plans, and actions are properly
developed, biodiversity conservation can be achieved. It
should be emphasised that states cannot achieve this goal
alone. The protection of these biodiverse areas requires the
commitment of the international community. For example,
global environmental conventions are the result of negotiations
and agreements between states to avoid environmental crises
such as mass extinction of species, loss of ecosystems, global
warming, etc.
Environmental problems directly affect human
beings. For example, the coronavirus pandemic is caused
by the environmental crisis we are currently experiencing.
The Ecuadorian newspaper El Comercio (2021) published
an interview with David Quammen, a specialist in zoonotic
diseases, who mentioned the following:
The ultimate cause of these spills or overflows that bring
new viruses to humans is disruptive human interaction
with wildlife, especially in highly diverse ecosystems,
where so many animal species exist, all carrying unique
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