1. Analyze and define the Management Zones
The conflict for the direct or indirect use of space in a protected area is resolved through a planning technique called zoning.
There are many kinds of zoning, all of which are valid depending on the use to which they are to be put. Topographic, landscape, forest, and ecological zone classifications are typically designated to describe natural resources.
The wilderness planning zone does not describe natural resources, but does prescribe how natural resources will be located and harnessed or managed.
The purpose of zoning is to divide a wilderness area (terrestrial or coastal - marine) into units that are capable of being managed to meet the management objectives established for it. Each zone must be capable of meeting one or more of the area's objectives.
Within each zone, where physical development is required to support management that addresses the zone's objectives, Development Areas will be established.
Within the Development Areas, those places for picnics, parking lots, visitor center, laboratories, etc., make up the Development Sites.
In summary: all Zones, Development Areas and Development Sites are elements of the protected area. The Zone is a conceptual entity whose boundaries are set solely on maps. The Development Areas are marked and controlled, and it is where attention is focused on public use (including researchers) and infrastructure related to it and the most important administrative aspects of management. Development Sites are physical locations where actual fulfillment takes place.
The use of these subdivisions in the planning and management of protected areas enables a specific protected area and its components to be analyzed in an abstract way. This means that once the field information has been collected, the Planning Team can place their ideas on maps.
Where space conflicts exist, solutions can be sought by examining Zones, Development Areas, and Development Sites.
Zoning is the planning technique that provides adequate protection to all the resources of the protected area and makes all resources accessible to man. Some areas are geared towards direct benefits, while others focus primarily on indirect benefits.
2. Procedure to establish Zoning:
a) The areas in which the natural and cultural resources are related to the management objectives of the protected area are identified:
b) Representative samples of the biogeographic provinces or life zones.
c) Ecological transitions (ecotones), altitudinal gradients, banks of rivers and lakes, swamps, coasts and places related to ecological diversity. Complete wetlands are included.
d) Places related to outstanding plant communities and populations of endemic, unique or rare, threatened, endangered species and their corresponding habitats.
e) Places related to cultural and historical heritage.
f) Areas potentially important for education, interpretation, research and monitoring.
g) Areas with extraordinary scenic beauty and outstanding geomorphological phenomena.
h) Areas potentially important for recreation and tourism.
i) Related areas of importance for rural development.
j) Basins and catchment areas of some importance for the production of water in the region.
k) Areas susceptible to erosion or that already have it, highly altered or degraded areas.
l) Areas for sustainable forest use and non-timber forest resources.
m) Areas of sustainable agricultural use.
n) Delimit each of these twelve places in a copy of the base map of the Study Area, which will be called the Preliminary Zoning Map.
o) Identify six preliminary zones from the twelve previous places; These zones would be made up of:
ü Areas capable of meeting the objectives related to the conservation of the sample or representative ecological samples, ecotones, and important genetic materials.
ü Areas capable of meeting the objectives related to recreation, tourism and the conservation of outstanding scenic resources.
ü Areas capable of meeting the objectives of cultural heritage.
ü Areas capable of meeting the objectives of education, interpretation, research and monitoring.
ü Areas capable of meeting the objectives related to water production, erosion control and the recovery of degraded resources.
ü Areas capable of meeting the objectives of rural development and the sustained use of natural resources.
Other areas to consider:
Analyze the areas that are needed for the administration of the protected area or that are going to be used inconsistently or in conflict with the objectives of the protected area.
ü Determine the administrative headquarters of the protected area.
ü Establish a sub-office (if necessary).
ü Establish control and protection stations.
ü Locate the uses of the area that are not compatible with the objectives of the protected area.
ü Identify places for administrative and inconsistent uses.
All the results and conclusions during the work of points c) and d) above are added and modified to the Preliminary Zoning map.
ü Analyze the altered and / or degraded places that require reclamation or recovery. Recovery Zones are designated for this purpose, to indicate the places that are being recovered by natural means with the direct or indirect help of man.
ü Sketch the specifications of the zones.
4. Identify Development Areas
a) Identify the areas where the activities will be concentrated and the required facilities.
b) Study the basic characteristics for each area. It is evaluated whether the area proposed for development is conceptually capable of providing a center of activity for the area.
c) Prepare the specifications for each Development Area. It is recommended to develop these specifications separately for each Area, with the following information:
5. Identify Development Sites
a) Analyze the Site and the specific situation for activities, media and infrastructure, as indicated in the specifications for the Development Area.
b) Prepare the designs and plans for the establishment and function of the Site.
c) Prepare the maps of the Development Areas that show the Development Sites with the corresponding infrastructure and services.
d) Verify the purpose and consistency of the zoning.
The Planning Team has now prepared the zoning elements for the protected wilderness area: the preliminary zoning map, the zone specifications, the Development Area specifications, and the Development Area maps.
1. Examine the various functional gradients. Discuss the movements, internal and external, of current and potential users of the protected wilderness area. It should describe what would be the scenario for researchers, visitors, and groups seeking educational experiences and natural adventure.
The relationships, impacts and conflicts of these movements in the area are analyzed.
2. Examine the necessary buffer function between the zones, and between them and the neighboring region (buffer zone and region of influence).
3. Examine the proposal for consistent vertical integration. The preliminary zoning map provides the basis for verifying that the vertical elements are consistent with each other (zones, areas, and development sites).
4. Examine the proposal for consistent horizontal integration. The grouped areas must have all the necessary capacity to meet the management objectives of the Protected Wild Area.
5. Examine the proposals for consistent integration with the neighboring region (buffer zone and region of influence). The final check consists of placing the protected wilderness area in the context of the region (RECODES).
Correct all inconsistencies in the zoning proposals. Before continuing with the planning process, it is necessary to make all pertinent corrections and adjustments to the preliminary zoning map and a final version of the zoning map is prepared.
Basic Management Zones for a Protected Wilderness Area
The following zones should be considered as suggestions, since each protected area has its own realities, for example a coastal - marine area, possibly it will have an artisanal fishing zone, which is not included in the examples given below.
a) Pristine Zone: The general objective of management is to maintain the ecological processes and the biodiversity that exist in it unchanged.
b) Intangible or Scientific Zone: The general objective of management consists of preserving the natural environment using only non-manipulative scientific reference uses, and administrative and protection functions without altering the natural resources found there.
c) Primitive Zone: The general objective of management is to preserve the natural environment and facilitate scientific research, environmental education and primitive forms of recreation.
d) Extensive Use Zone: The general management objective is to conserve the natural environment with minimal human impact, but offering public and access services for educational and recreational purposes.
e) Intensive Use Zone:
The general objective of management is to facilitate environmental education and intensive recreation, in such a way that it harmonizes with the natural environment and causes the least possible impact on the environment and the natural landscape.
f) Zone of Sustainable Use of Natural Resources: This zone is determined by the management categories that allow the use of natural resources in the protected area.
g) Historical - Cultural Zone: The general objective of management consists of protecting the natural elements of the environment together with the conservation of the historical - cultural heritage.
h) Natural Recovery Zone: The general management objective is to stop the degradation of resources or to bring the restoration of the area to its most natural state possible.
i) Special Use Zone: The general management objective consists of minimizing and mimicking the impact of elements that are not consistent with the general objectives of the management category under which the protected wild area is governed.
STEP 7: Draw the boundaries of the protected area
a) Conceptually and in practice, the limit of a protected wild area is a line that extends outside the set of management zones that comprise it. The decision on setting the limit is based on several management guidelines:
ü The basic geographic unit to establish the protected wild area is a significant sample of one of the main ecological provinces or life zones of the country.
ü The transition areas or ecotones between the ecological provinces, life zones, biomass, or habitats are added to the basic unit in order to cover the greatest possible biodiversity. The necessary area is added to the unit that covers entire basins or important parts of them. The unit must be able to maintain ecological processes.
ü The unit includes populations of unique, rare or representative animal and plant species of special value as genetic resources, as well as critical areas for their survival.
ü The natural resources and the physiographic forms necessary for the educational, interpretive, research and monitoring functions have been included in the unit.
ü Suitable places for recreation, to enjoy and learn about natural resources have been added.
ü The unit includes, whenever possible, historical or archaeological sites.
ü Areas of spectacular scenic beauty have been included.
ü All areas within the unit play a potential role for the production of water, and to reduce erosion.
ü The relationship between the unit and the development and conservation of the surrounding areas is clear.
ü Check that the limit circumscribes a relatively sustainable unit and without leaving out areas and connections that strengthen the concept of sustainability.
ü Check the shape of the boundary. The unit should be as round as possible in its overall shape with a minimum of jagged edges around its periphery.
ü Check that the boundary causes the least possible conflict with adjacent lands.
ü Check if the limit line is practical for the identification and respect of the neighbors, as well as for the surveillance or occasional inspections.
ü Make the necessary changes regarding the boundary on the preliminary zoning map.
Formulation of the Management Plans for the
San Diego - La Barra Natural Area and Montecristo National Park.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ZONE, DEVELOPMENT AREA OR SITE
| Name of the Zone, Development Area or Site | |
| Location | |
| Reference number | |
| Approximate Area: | |
| Description and Analysis of the Resource: | |
| General objective: | |
| Specific objectives: | |
| Area Theme: | |
| Potential for use: | |
| Services: | |
| Products: | |
| Current infrastructure: | |
| Means required: |
| Possible inter-institutional cooperation: | |
| Urgent measures: | |
| Locate with conceptual circles, the Development areas on the preliminary zoning map: | |
| Prepare a design and plans for the establishment and function of the site: | |
| Prepare Development Area maps showing development sites with corresponding infrastructure and services | |
| Others: |
