Transboundary Protected Areas for Peace and Co-operation - IUCN

Transboundary Protected Areas for Peace and Co-operation
b) where local communities and indigenous peoples in natural areas are linked across
boundaries by shared ethnic or socio-cultural characteristics, traditions and
practices;
c) where the management or use of shared natural resources is or may become a locus
of contention;
d) where a boundary dispute involves unresolved claims to land or marine areas; or
e) to rebuild confidence and security for local communities and indigenous peoples
and provide a stable foundation for conservation and sustainable development
after a period of armed conflict.
2. Where a State or other stakeholder wishes to establish or enlarge a protected area
contiguous to a boundary, all parties concerned should co-operate in examining the
possibility of establishing a corresponding protected area or appropriate conservation
measures on the other side of the boundary. Where appropriate, the States concerned
should consider proposing such areas for joint designation under relevant multilateral
environmental instruments.
3. The public, including affected local communities and indigenous peoples, nongovernmental
organisations, women’s organisations and other stakeholders, shall be
consulted as part of a transparent and participatory process before any decision is
taken to establish or enlarge a protected area contiguous to a boundary. Where
practicable, issues related to land tenure and rights of access to and use of natural
resources in the TBPA shall be taken into consideration during this consultation
process.
4. Where appropriate, States or other stakeholders may call on the good offices of a
neutral third party to facilitate consultation over the establishment of contiguous
protected areas as well as the development of harmonised policies and management
plans for the area.
12. Legal basis for co-operative management of TBPAs
1. States should use their best endeavours to remove legal and institutional obstacles to
co-operation, harmonise relevant legal measures and establish a positive framework
for co-operative management of the TBPA concerned.
2. Appropriate frameworks will vary for each TBPA. They may be strengthened over
time to reflect changes in circumstances, capacity and political and public awareness.
The range of options includes:
a) formal agreements between neighbouring States to consult and co-operate with
each other, ranging from a bilateral treaty to a joint declaration, memorandum of
agreement or letter of intention;
b) delegation by each State of powers to a designated authority to coordinate the
management of the protected area with that of the contiguous protected area, to
implement agreed conservation and management objectives and to enter into
further agreements for this purpose;
c) administrative agreements between counterpart environment, resource management
and/or planning agencies, such as memoranda of understanding or cooperation;
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