Extension of the IUCN Framework for Conservation Planning and Management: An Exploratory Approach

Abstract

Conservation areas are hotspots for biodiversity protection and ecosystem services. Due to their central role in environmental sustainability, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) developed a framework for effective planning and management of conservation areas. Yet, the areas are faced with different challenges of varying intensities across nations of the globe. This research, therefore, aims to extend the IUCN framework by incorporating the dimensions of collaboration and motivation and to determine the extent to which these dimensions relate to the existing dimensions of the framework. To achieve these, the sequential mixed method comprising both qualitative and quantitative research designs were adopted. Literature search and scoping interviews were conducted at the initial stage, followed by questionnaire design and administration. Two-staged sampling techniques were used to administer 191 questionnaires. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed for the analysis. The EFA extracted eight clusters of variables with each cluster having a high correlation between the indicators but low correlations with indicators outside their clusters. This implies that collaboration and motivation contribute significantly to the effective planning and management of conservation areas. The novelty of this research is its ability to scientifically determine suitable and manageable parameters that can adequately measure collaboration and motivation; determine the relationship of the two factors with the six factors of the IUCN framework and further integration into the IUCN framework, which has not been established by previous studies. Understanding these can guide policy and decision-makers in making evidence-based decision-making. It can also provide the institutions and agencies involved in the management of conservation areas with up-to-date knowledge that can ease and improve the performance of managers, advance ecological space protection, improve human wellbeing and sustain both natural and built environment. The research recommends testing this framework scientifically using a hypothesised model.