The sections below summarise key implementation steps, from jurisdiction to site level, with much more additional detail provided in the relevant User Manual chapters.
1. Commit
Voluntary commitments of jurisdictions, sites and organisations
Assign an Independent Reviewer
Convene, train and accredit a local Expert Assessment Group for the Green List (EAGL)
2. Adapt
EAGL adapts global indicators
Stakeholder consultation
Approved version
3. Implement
Site commitments
Self-assessments
Stakeholder engagement
Action plans
Site visits
EAGL evaluations
The Green List implementation process starts with a voluntary commitment from a site or organisation in a jurisdiction. New jurisdictions meet these four enabling conditions that demonstrate their commitment and capacity to engage in the Green List Programme.
Jurisdictions are typically established at a country level but can also be established at a regional or multi-country level (e.g. North Africa) or sub-national (e.g. California) level.
Usually, it is individual sites that commit to implement the standard, but multiple sites can also apply under one application if they meet the criteria for multi-site applications.
MSAs are where one application includes two or more protected or conserved areas. To be considered and assessed together, each site in the MSA must:
Sites that meet these conditions can be assessed together for green-listing. The most common cases are:
Following the acceptance of a jurisdiction into the programme, an Implementing Partner and an Independent Reviewer facilitate the formation and training of an Expert Assessment Group for the Green List (EAGL) for the concerned jurisdiction.
The primary tasks of the EAGLs are to ensure that the Indicators and Means of Verification of the IUCN Green List Standard are adapted (where necessary), to properly reflect the intent of the IUCN Green List Standard in their jurisdiction, and to evaluate PAs against the Standard leading to recommendations towards green-listing.
[1] Dudley, N. (ed.) 2008. Guidelines for Applying Protected Area Management Categories. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
[2] CBD/COP/DEC/14/8
The IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas Standard consist of 17 globally applicable CRITERIA categorised under four COMPONENTS, supported by 50 generic INDICATORS. It provides an international benchmark for quality that motivates improved performance and helps achieve conservation objectives. A green-listed site is one that meets all criteria, across all four components. The indicators provide more detailed information about how the criteria are being achieved.
The generic indicators can be adapted to the jurisdictional context to reflect the diverse thematic, legal, cultural, social and bio-geographical conditions of protected and conserved areas around the world. This is how the Standard maintains global consistency and also local relevance.
The Generic Indicators may only be adapted when the context of the respective jurisdiction makes it necessary. The generic indicators are already designed to be universal in application, so not all of them (or any of them) have to be adapted, if they have been evaluated to meet the regional or local context.
It is up to the respective EAGL to determine which indicators need adaptation and to draft adapted versions that reflect local circumstances. A public consultation may be necessary prior to the EAGL finalising the adaptation and submitting the adapted Standard to the Standard Committee, which reviews them to ensure alignment with the 17 global criteria, and to maintain the integrity of the global Standard.
Sites wishing to achieve ‘Green List’ status must demonstrate, and then maintain, successful implementation of the IUCN Green List Standard. This is evaluated in three Phases:
1. Application Phase:
The first step is a voluntary commitment to the IUCN Green List Programme. This commitment is made through an online registration. Sites provide initial evidence for five indicators drawn from the first three components of the IUCN Green List Standard to demonstrate readiness.
2. Candidate Phase:
Once admitted as a Candidate, the site considers the full set of criteria, provides evidence for meeting eall indicators and addresses any identified shortcomings over a period of time. This candidate phase may take months or even several years depending on the issues that must be addressed. A stakeholder consultation and a site visit by an EAGL representative are also required in this phase. Once complete, candidate sites are put forward for nomination to the Green List by the EAGL.
3. Green List Phase:
Once a Candidate site is awarded IUCN Green List status, the management and representatives of the site will be provided a certificate. The area will be afforded the right to use the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas logo and claims (in accordance with guidelines), and will be recognised and promoted by IUCN as a global exemplar in conservation achievement. After a site achieves IUCN Green List Status, the focus shifts towards supporting the site to maintain and enhance that status.
The time taken from application to certification depends on the management quality of the site at the time of application. Sites choose when they are ready for evaluation, and have up to a maximum of five years to achieve certification, which is then valid for a five year period. Typically, sites can achieve the IUCN Green List standard in three to six months (if there are no major actions needed), or perhaps from one to twoyears or longer if major remedies are needed. It is the site’s decision to submit their nomination when they consider themselves to be ready.
The participants with key roles for implementation extend beyond its main governing entities (Green List Committee, Standard Committee, Management Committee and Operations Team).
Other participants and their roles are:
A glossary of common terms
How the IUCN Green List Standard is developed, maintained and adapted
How jurisdictions are accepted and associated expert assessment groups are formed
The roles and responsibilities of the governance entities of the programme
The roles and responsibilities of all participants in the IUCN Green List community
The phased implementation process for committed protected and conserved areas
The evaluation and verification process for achieving IUCN Green List status
The complaints and resolutions process
Guidance on developing action plans, conducting site visits, engaging stakeholders and more!