Objective

Maintain the ecological functions of a protected area.

Description

If a reserve is created to protect a specific habitat and that habitat moves in response to changing conditions, it may be necessary to extend the protected area boundaries in one direction and to degazette areas that no longer contain the target habitat (for example, to move a coastal protected area inshore as sea level rises or to move a mountain protected area further uphill). Communities living in the path of a moving protected area will likely resist such a move unless they are compensated and given new land (possibly in the degazetted area). Ecologists are also considering options for allowing the temporary set-aside of land areas for a period of a few years or decades to allow natural migration to a more suitable habitat.

Expected results

Ecosystem preserved in the protected area.

Result indicators

Number of species kept protected
Area of new land protected [m²]

Involved actors

Governments, ecologists.

Expected timeline for action

• Medium term (5-10 years)

Best practices

• Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands
• Segovia – Spain
• Allagäu Region - Germany and Austria
• Eferdinger Becken – Austria

Criticalities

Practical challenges are daunting in most places.

Scope of the action

• Adaptation

Type of proposed actions

• Green
• Soft

Sector of action

• Biodiversity / Conservation of ecosystems

Climate impacts

• Change or loss of biodiversity

Implementation scale

• Province
• Region / Country

Source

http://www.fao.org/3/i2498e/i2498e04.pdf