In transit towards a third generation of protected areas? Analysis of disciplines, forming principles and fields of activities by example of recent projects in protected areas in Austria

Addressing Present Challenges in the Life-Cycle of Wetlands Management to Successfully Integrate Sustainability and Good Governance

“…Table 1. An overview of fields of activity in each phase of the life-cycle of protected areas according to IPAM toolbox the "life-cycle" of Il-Ballut and Għadira according to five principal dimensions (Figure 4), ten key principles of sustainable development and 29 related "Fields of Activity" (FoA) within the five phases (Pre-phase, Basic Planning, Detailed Planning, Implementation and Networking) of IPAM (Table 1) (Getzner et al, 2012;Jungmeier, 2014;Lange & Jungmeier, 2014;Tomaskinova & Tomaskin, 2018;Tomaškinová et al, 2019). The third wave of civilisation associated with the information and knowledge phenomenon implies new models of management and a completely new philosophy (principles, paradigm) of management, as a multidisciplinary paradigm.…”

“…Research has confirmed that IPAM can help managers in the challenging role of PA management, especially in identifying specific fields of activity (FoA) that need to be revised (Getzner et al, 2012;Jungmeier, 2014;Egner & Jungmeier, 2014;Tomaskinova & Tomaskin, 2018;Tomaškinová et al, 2019). Modern PA management must focus on the balanced development of all five dimensions, ten sustainable development principles and 29 FoA in the process of good governance.…”

“…FoA-12 focusses upon the implementation and development of sustainable economic structures while paying close attention to issues relating to PAs. As opposed to earlier attitudes, PAs are nowadays seen as an integrated, co-existing element of the economy, contributing considerable benefits to a region (Borrini-Feyerabend et al, 2013;Figgis et al, 2015;Jungmeier, 2014;Tomaškinová et al, 2019). Of course, these functions must be developed properly and undertaken as part of a participative process.…”

“…Therefore modern protected area (PA) management strategies have to take into account all five dimensions of sustainable development (ecological, social, cultural, economic and safety aspects) (Tomaškinová et al, 2019) by incorporating a broad spectrum of management policies such as ecological management, visitor management (Lange & Jungmeier, 2014) and knowledge management through education and information systems and the generation of scientific knowledge (Getzner et al, 2012). The vulnerable ecosystems themselves, their visitors, and the PA management side of PAs encompass the full spectrum of property rights, relevant policies, decisions bodies and authorities (Jungmeier, 2014) which make up the governance system of protected areas. Therefore, assessment of PA management effectiveness may carry out a crucial role in a conceptual model of participative protected area management.…”

“…This model has to be built simultaneously with efficient information management, because it must lead to a certain level of public support and a positive attitude vis-a-vis the protected area/s concerned. These should in turn provide the impetus for a different form of regional economic development which can then be a source of further funding for PA management (Getzner et al, 2012;Jungmeier, 2014;Lange & Jungmeier, 2014). It is evident that a practical guide is required (Young et al, 2016) to assist managers and decision-makers in dealing with these challenging and demanding issues.…”