Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Finland's Protected Areas

Finnish MEE LogoA comprehensive international Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of the Finnish protected area system was commissioned by Metsähallitus Natural Heritage Services (NHS) in 2004.

The Finnish MEE is the first comprehensive agency-wide evaluation conducted in a developed country. As such, it serves as an example for future evaluations to be carried out in accordance with the targets of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas developed by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Positive Rating for Management of Finnish Protected Areas

The report of the evaluation was published on April 8, 2005. The evaluation gives the general rating that Finland's protected areas are well managed. However, the evaluators give, as commissioned, a number of recommendations for improvements, summed up into ten areas of suggested action.

Evaluators Experienced International Experts

The Natural Heritage Services was satisfied to have a professional, devoted and constructive Evaluation Team representing wide expertise.

  • Mr. Brian Gilligan (former Director General of Parks New South Wales), team leader
  • Mr. Nigel Dudley (MEE evaluation expert, WWF International)
  • Mr. Antonio Fernandez de Tejada (Nature and Biodiversity Unit, Directorate-General Environment, European Commission)
  • Dr. Heikki Toivonen (Research Manager, Biodiversity Research Unit, Finnish Environment Institute), local expert

Evaluation Process in an International Framework

The evaluation was conducted in the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) framework, but was adapted to the conditions of Finland. The elements of the management cycle considered were:

  • Context
  • Planning
  • Resources
  • Process
  • Outputs
  • Outcomes

The MEE included a literature review, a rapid self-assessment (RAPPAM) conducted by the NHS on 70 protected areas and a series of specific questions based on IUCN WCPA framework. These formed the core of the assessment and the report. The MEE was finalised by a field assessment which included visits to representative protected area sites as well as meetings with NHS staff and representatives of ministries that guide and finance NHS work, local stakeholder groups and NGOs.

The Report of the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (julkaisut.metsa.fi)

The report should be cited as follows:

Brian Gilligan, Nigel Dudley, Antonio Fernandez de Tejada, Heikki Toivonen 2005:
Management Efectiveness Evaluation of Finland's Protected Areas.
Nature Protection Publications of Metsähallitus. Series A 147. 175 pp.

Last modified 03.06.2015
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