For Arpa, implementation foresees the creation of a management infrastructure to ensure the integrity of PAs in the short run and to make medium planning possible, so that the PAs can fulfill its basic purposes.
The implementation subcomponent aims at providing the PAs with two levels of structure and operation: degree I of implementation includes the basic instruments which are needed for the PA management; degree II provides more elements to face the threats and entropic pressures upon the PA and to carry out an additional set of activities, such as social and environmental monitoring and research. The different degrees of implementation reflect the difference in the PA’s demand for support, its social and environmental features, and the geographical situation.
A total of 14 indicators are analyzed to assess the PA implementation; they consist of indicators on the management and operational structure. There are 9 indicators to be assessed and reached in degree I implementation and 14 indicators in degree II. Not all indicators get financial support from Arpa; some of them are considered to be prerequisite for a PA to be implemented, such as a minimum staff team based in the PA region and the updated National Protected Areas Register (CNUC). See below the details of the indicators for each implementation degree.
The selection of investments on PA implementation, degrees I and II, is done through the Conservation and Investment Strategy, according to urgency criteria (threats and pressure), the relevance in terms of biodiversity, size in hectares, and the estimated cost for Arpa to conclude the PA implementation degrees I or II.
Degree I implementation
The areas which are implemented in degree I must implement their basic management instruments and reach the indicators described in Table 3, within a maximum period of two years, depending on the stage they are in when they start the implementation process, and the date of entry in the Arpa Program.
By the end of the maximum period for implementation in degree I, if the PA does not reach one or more indicators, the Program can, and this will be decided by the Steering Committee (CP), allocate resources during one year’s time to maintain the process (s) until the area achieves the implementation level for this phase. After this period, the PA will be excluded from the Program.
After reaching all the indicators of degree I of implementation, the PAs which are selected by ECI for degree II of implementation will be able to access the resources for it.
Degree II implementation
Protected areas in degree II of implementation should reach the indicators described in Table 4 in order to incorporate more elements to face threats and entropic pressures and to carry out more advanced activities regarding the management.
The PAs have a two years deadline for degree II of implementation, depending on the stage they are in when starting the implementation process and on the date of entry in the Program. By the end of this term, if the PA does not reach one or more indicators, the Program can, and this will be decided by the Steering Committee(CP), to allocate resources to maintain the process (s) reaching the implementation level for this phase, for one year at the most. After this period, the PA will be excluded from the Program.
PAs selected by ECI for this degree of implementation which have reached all the indicators for degree I of implementation are able to access the resources for degree II of implementation.
Implemented Protected Areas
Reaching the indicators for degree II implementation enables the PA to receive resources from the Protected Areas Fund (FAP) to support recurrent expenditure related to maintaining the implemented management instruments, according to the additionality principle in the public budget.
Indicators achievement also enables the PA to submit specific investment projects to the Program, to be selected on a competitive basis and according to the available resources for this purpose.
For further information on the proceedings and on the flows of FAP resources use, please refer to the Protected Areas Fund Handbook.