Criteria for the Protected Area Management Category Framework in Peninsular Malaysia for Sustainable Conservation Planning

Abstract

The categories of protected area management are essential tools for ensuring the agenda of conserving biodiversity is achieved. Almost all countries in the world have established the management categories intending to provide the guidelines to manage the conservation site. Peninsular Malaysia is not exceptional and the management categories are following the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It has been implemented since 1996 specifically for all protected areas managed by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP). However, the implementation is done without using any criteria and sub-criteria in assigning the management category to each protected area. Therefore, the objective of this article is to highlight the criteria and sub-criteria that need to be considered in the management category framework of protected areas in Peninsular Malaysia. All criteria/sub-criteria were identified through a literature review, followed by filtering, integration and expert validation. A total of 46 sub-criteria were identified and can be categorized into 5 criteria: general, environmental, social, economic and management. For sustainable conservation planning all the identified criteria and sub-criteria are essential for determining the management categories of protected areas in Peninsular Malaysia.