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A protected area is a clearly defined geographical space recognised, dedicated and managed through legal of other effective means to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values.

We see a future where generations of Pacific Island people will have choices about how they use and interact with sea turtles.

The importance of measuring economic impacts of tourism in protected areas. The value of protected areas is often hidden from direct view. Once managers understand the number of behaviour of visitors they host, and the revenues and costs they generate, informed decisions on management plans and tourism strategies can be made.

This year, nations of the world are expected to set ambitious new targets for protecting biodiversity. In much of the world, achieving spatial targets will require conservation of areas under private ownership. Throughout 2021 IUCN is hosting the Vital Sites webinar series which is rich in expert insights and discussions across all of the many areas of expertise in our global network. All seminars are recorded. In June the series explored the potential for privately protected areas (PPAs).

In 2018, the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted a decision on protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). It contains the definition of an OECM and related scientific and technical advice that has broadened the scope of governance authorities and areas that can be engaged and recognised in global conservation efforts. The voluntary guidance on OECMs and protected areas, also included in the decision, promotes the use of diverse, effective and equitable governance models, the integration of protected areas and OECMs into wider landscapes and seascapes, and mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation across sectors.