Using EoH tools to identify values and threats to those values (tools 1 and 2)
Jan 14, 2016
Using EoH tools to identify values and threats to those values
(tools 1 and 2)
Context Tools
• Tool 1: Identifying Site Values and Management Objectives
• Background: Developed from TNC methodology for identifying priority conservation targets
• Concept: Define ‘key’ values, including OUV and associated objectives which drive management and the assessment process
• Methodology and datasheet: guides sites through the process of identifying range of values for biodiversity cultural, economic, educational and social values
Worksheet 1a• Values = what is important within the site• Objectives = concrete management aims• It is not usually possible to manage all values
present at a site – tool can help managers group major site values that can help focus management
• Document the major site values and to relate these to the principal management objectives
• Understanding values helps inform the entire management effectiveness assessment process
• And is the basis for the development of monitoring programmes (i.e. Tool 11)
Review information sources Site nomination report
Statements of Outstanding Universal Value or Significance Management and/or other planning documents
Other reports Interviews
Identify major values
List principal management objectives and relate these to values where appropriate
Identify major values and their relationship to World Heritage status
Identify values and objectives
BwindiManagement Objectives
World Heritage values reflected in objective
Additional values reflected in objective
Biodiversity Values
Mountain gorillas Endangered species Population and health
Habitat Afro-montane, continuous forest
Lowland-medium to High altitude forest and high altitude wetlands.
Other endemic species
Species endemic and endangered that exist in BINP
Numbers, home-ranges
Other Natural values
Climate modification
Rainfall Humidity and temperature
Water catchments
Source of rivers for both domestic and wildlife use
Water quality and quantity
Carbon sink Forest absorption of excess CO2
Vegetation
Scenery Landscape
Cultural/Social values
Revenue generation from tourism activities
Gorilla tracking, Bird watching, Nature walks
Non-timber forest Products
Resource off takes (Medicinal, weaving materials, honey)
Education and Research
Research Institutions, School study tours, and independent researchers
Using the worksheet in the management planning process
• Tool 1 is used to set the context for the EoH process – can highlight problems in management context
• In Sangay National Park in Ecuador, the initial management assessment undertaken using this tool identified the need to revise the management plan to ensure the objectives better reflected the site’s values and management challenges
• Ensuring that values match objectives can be a time consuming process
• Tool 2: Identifying Threats • Background: Developed from work
carried out by TNC• Concept: Understanding the causes
and impacts of threats and the urgency of action
• Methodology and datasheet: Guidance on characteristics of current and potential threats for each value identified in tool 1 and summarise its impacts (extents and intensity) and the urgency of management responses (actions)
Context Tools
Understanding threats• Threats are major problems facing a site: i.e. forest loss or
degradation of a coral reef• Causes of threats are the reasons why, to use the sample
examples, the forest is disappearing (e.g. illegal logging and agricultural encroachment) or coral is degrading (e.g. tourist over-use, global warming)
• Impacts of threats are the problems that result: e.g. for forests, an impact could be soil erosion; for coral reefs, loss of fish species
• Also considers current and potential threats
Uses of the assessment• It allows managers to develop strategies
for threat abatement by tackling the actual causes of the threat
• If the causes cannot be eliminated, helps develop interventions can reduce their impacts
• As threats can create more than one impact, management activities can be prioritized according to the causes responsible for the gravest and most numerous impacts
• Worksheet concentrates on direct causes, those within the managers power, rather than underlying causes, such as poverty, global trade balance, etc
Assessment• Identifies threats• Identified the values impacted by the threat – and
whether they are current or potential• Identifies causes• Assess impact of threat by extent (%) of value
threatened and severity using a 4-point rating scale• Management response: identifies actions to be taken and
assess urgency of that action
Threats and management planning• The threat context of the site should have a major impact
on management planning priorities and actions• Tool can help focus on direct causes and decide urgency of
action following assessment of extent and severity of threat