Summaries of globally relevant systems to identify areas of importance for biodiversity.
The Areas guide provides short articles about selected areas of importance for biodiversity conservation. It explains in detail a number of recognised systems to protect, prioritise and identify areas of biodiversity importance that fall into two main categories: protected areas and biodiversity designations.
Area designations categorised as protected areas are those under protected area frameworks, that have legal or other effective protection at the national level. Some have additional recognition through regional or international conventions and agreements.
Area designations categorised as biodiversity designations are developed by governments, academics and NGOs in order to identify areas of biodiversity importance or areas where biodiversity is threatened, as a means to focus attention and resources on their conservation. They are not in themselves recognised as protected areas, although on-ground the sites may overlap with a protected area designation.
The Emerald Network is the name given to a network of protected sites in Europe that meet criteria to be ‘Areas of Special Conservation Interest’ aiming to support the long-term survival of the species and habitats of the Bern Convention.12