Overview : The project was designed to improve ecosystem representation in the protected area (PA) system, establish or strengthen the PA management operations at key sites and strengthen institutional, policy, legal/regulatory, information, and financing frameworks at the PA system level. At the site level, the project will enable the legal establishment of five new PAs (two terrestrial and three marine) and the operationalization of these sites as well as the two existing terrestrial PAs that currently have no management. The project will specifically support assessments of the current state of the proposed PA units, creating the necessary framework for establishing the new PA units, develop management plans for each PA Unit and strategic business plan for the overall PA system, and carry out capacity building for PA staff. Project activities also include the establishment of a Protected Areas Agency and the revising and updating of key laws and regulations to support PA management. |