At the heart of the IUCN Green List initiative is a globally applicable Standard. It provides an international benchmark for quality that motivates improved performance and achievement of conservation objectives. By committing to meet the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas Standard, site managers must demonstrate and maintain performance and deliver real nature conservation results.
The IUCN Green List Standard is organised into four components of successful nature conservation in protected and conserved areas. The IUCN Green List Standard is organised into four components. The three baseline components concern:
These support the fourth component on Successful Conservation Outcomes that attests to the achievement of an area’s goals and objectives. Each component is supported by criteria and indicators to measure achievement. There are 17 criteria covering all four components.
Areas that commit to achieving IUCN Green List status must demonstrate and maintain the Standard in three steps. The first is to enter the Application Phase and conduct a self-assessment. Progress to the next phases are independently evaluated by a technical Expert Assessment Group for the Green List (EAGL) and an impartial reviewer. In each Phase, the views and consensus of stakeholders are sought to inform the area’s ongoing performance.
Application Phase
Candidate Phase
Green List Phase
Adapting the standard to the local context allows for it being globally consistent and locally relevant. While it is a benchmark for quality performance, it is also a capacity development tool for protected areas, and helps to identify which aspects of protected and conserved areas need to be strengthened. By focusing efforts on these aspects, it is more likely that success will be achieved.
A simple Theory of Change guides the Green List to ensure the delivery of direct, intermediate and long-term results as follows
Direct results
Intermediate Results
Long-term result