Accountability, reporting, or management improvement? Development of a State of the Parks assessment system in New South Wales, Australia

Hockings, M., Cook, C. N., Carter, R. W. and James, R. (2009) Accountability, reporting, or management improvement? Development of a State of the Parks assessment system in New South Wales, Australia. Environmental Management, 43 6: 1013-1025.


Author Hockings, M.
Cook, C. N.
Carter, R. W.
James, R.
Title Accountability, reporting, or management improvement? Development of a State of the Parks assessment system in New South Wales, Australia
Journal name Environmental Management  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank C)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2009-03-17
Sub-type Article
Year available 2009
DOI 10.1007/s00267-009-9277-9
Volume number 43
Issue number 6
ISSN 0364-152X; 1432-1009
Start page 1013
End page 1025
Total pages 13
Editor Virginia H. Dale
Robert S. de Santo
Place of publication New York, U.S.
Publisher Springer Verlag
Collection year 2010
Language eng
Subject C1
050205 Environmental Management
9613 Remnant Vegetation and Protected Conservation Areas
0502 Environmental Science and Management
Formatted abstract Management effectiveness evaluation has been recognized as an important mechanism for both reporting on and improving protected area management. The Convention on Biological Diversity’s program of work on protected areas calls on all countries to implement such systems. In 2004, the first whole of system assessment of park management effectiveness, based on the IUCN-WCPA Management Effectiveness Evaluation Framework, was undertaken in New South Wales, Australia as part of a State of the Parks reporting requirement. This article describes the development of the State of the Parks assessment tool, its elements, and how it addresses the management effectiveness difficulties associated with assessments conducted across an extensive and diverse range of park types. The importance of engaging staff, at all levels, throughout the process is highlighted, as well as the adjustments made to the assessment tool based on staff feedback. While some results are presented, the main purpose of the article is to identify and discuss important procedural and methodological considerations. These include balancing quantitative and qualitative assessment approaches, achieving a comprehensive understanding of the management processes, and responding to any problems associated with assessments.
©Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2009
Keyword Management effectiveness
Management performance
National park
Protected area
State of Parks
Evaluation
Assessment
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collection: School of Agriculture and Food Sciences
 
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Created: Fri, 04 Sep 2009, 10:27:50 EST