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A review of criteria for evaluating natural areas

Environmental Management volume 10, pages 715–734 (1986)Cite this article

Abstract

Methods for evaluating natural areas have evolved in the last couple of decades to assess the importance of natural areas for the purposes of land-use planning, environmental impact assessment, and planning protected areas. Criteria used for evaluation vary and generally fall into three categories: ecological, or abiotic and biotic; cultural; and planning and management. Abiotic and biotic criteria are reviewed here in terms of three questions for each criterion: What is it—what are the definitions used in the ecological and environmental management literature? Why use it—what are the reasons behind its use? How has it been used—what is the state-of-the-art in assessing the criterion? Cultural criteria are discussed more generally in terms of the commonly used frameworks and the concept of significance. Planning and management criteria are generally related to either the need for management action or feasibility of effective management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Waterloo, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

    Paul G. R. Smith & John B. Theberge

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  1. Paul G. R. Smith
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Smith, P.G.R., Theberge, J.B. A review of criteria for evaluating natural areas. Environmental Management 10, 715–734 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01867726

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Key words

  • Evaluation
  • Conservation
  • Criteria
  • Protected areas
  • Planning