Stefán Helgi Valsson 1

Nature protection

1. Historical perspective

2. Planning and controlling protected areas

3. National parks and reserves

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Historical evolution

Agricultural revolution – • conflict with nature begins • Struggle against non-crop vegitation and animals.• nature had to be conquered

Reform, enlightentment, technical improvements –

• Man is superior to nature• Land and nature protection needs to be intellectually

argued instead of following strange whims• Land and nature protection has to be supported by law

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The idea of a NP

Sigrún Helgadóttir, Friðlýsing lands

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The idea of a national park

George Catlin. Famous for his paintings of the natives of North America.

Newspaper clip 1832: “In future these areas would be preserved as they

are, in their original beauty, in a magnificent park,….What extraordinary beauty America could preserve and show its inhabitants and the worlds’ inhabitants for eternety: A national park, with people and animals in unspoilt nature.”

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Central Park in New York

Sigrún Helgadóttir, Friðlýsing lands

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Central Park, New YorkCreated in 1853 by

Fredrick Law Olmsted. Before he had examined a

public garden in England, and wrote:

“This garden is dedicated to the public for eternity. The poorest person in Britain is as free to use and enjoy it as the British Queen.”

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The first protected areas

Sigrún Helgadóttir, Friðlýsing lands

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The first protected areas

1864, Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove and two smal areas in California.

Placed under the auspice of the State, individuals’ rights for land use not allowed, the right of future generations respected.

To be for public use for eternity for enjoyment and recreation.

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Conceptual differences?

• Europe – “Old world”

• America – “New world”

• Iceland – Old world or new world?

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Iceland

• Industrial revolution around 1900

• Sigríður Tómasdóttir (Gullfoss Waterfall)

• Þingvellir NP, est. 1928

• Technological revolution during the WWII

• Nature protection laws 1956

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Policy and planning

World• Yellowstone NP, 1872• IUCN – France 1948

(now called the World Conservation Union but retains the acronym).

• The US Wilderness Act, 1964

• Alaska Conservation Act, 1980

Iceland• Þingvellir NP, 1928• Nature protection laws

1956• UNESCO 1995 (1972)• Ministry of

Environment, policy document 2002-2020.

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Iceland is a signitory to:

• Conservation on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar)

• Conservation on Biological Diversity (Rio)• Convention on the Protection of the World

Cultural and Natural Heritage (UNESCO´s World Heritage). Þingvellir NP is currently applying to become a World Heritage Site.

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Protection categories in Iceland

Icelandic• Þjóðgarður• Friðland• Önnur friðuð svæði• Náttúruvætti• Fólkvangur• Náttúruminjar

English• National park• Nature reserve• Other protected areas• Natural monument• Country park• Sites of special

interest

Sigrún Helgadóttir 11

IUCN´s Reach

• Present in 78 nations (Iceland since 1973)• 112 government agencies• 735 non-governmental agencies (NGO’s)• 35 organisations unoficial members• 10.000 scientists and specialists from 181

countries.• Headquarters in Switzerland, 1000 staff

working in 42 places

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IUCN´s Mission

“To influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrety and diversity of nature and to ensure the natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.”

Http://www.iucn.org

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IUCN´s Protection Categories

• 1. a. Nature reserve, b. wilderness (set aside for research, or uninhabited land)

• 2. National park (eco-protection and recr.)

• 3. National monument (natural heritage)

• 4. Eco-systems (active intervention)

• 5. Land protection for recreation• 6. Resource protection (Sustainable use of

eco-systems)

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Yellowstone NP

• Yellowstone National park was the first NP in the world, established in 1872.

• The park is reserved for the public use for eternety by the State

• The “greatest idea of the American people.”

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Yellowstone´s attractions

Lookout Point

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Yellowstone´s attractions

The Old “Faithful” Geyser was named so by the Washburn Expedition in 1870 because its regular eruptions

It erupts every 45-110 minutes to 30-55 meters.

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Yellowstone´s attractions

• Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces: heat, water, limestone, and a rock fracture.

• Today's geothermal activity is linked to a 600.000 year old volcanic explosion supplying the heat.

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Yellowstone´s attractions

Hyden Valley provides some of the best habitat for grizzly bears, bison, elk, and other wildlife species.

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Beware of the Grizzlies!

A way to educate children of the danger of wild animals?

Or a marketing ploy capitalising on the popular Yogi Bear catroon?

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Areas protected by US law

USA – 4.6% a lot of land, but more than half of it is in Alaska.

In 1964, America was a country that “was now rich enough, educated enough and sufficiently at leasure who wanted to enjoy the public land than to make money off it.”

Jon Margolis in The Last Innocent Year: America in 1964.

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Worldwide conservation areas

• Number aproximately 30.000

• Total area: 10% of the land surface

• Total area: 1% of the oceans