Editing Protected area (section)

==IUCN Protected Area Management Categories==
[[File:Belianske Tatry.JPG|thumb|Strict nature reserve [[Belianske Tatras]] in Slovakia]]
Through its [[World Commission on Protected Areas]] (WCPA), the [[IUCN]] has developed six [[IUCN Protected Area Management Categories|Protected Area Management Categories]] that define protected areas according to their management objectives, which are internationally recognised by various national governments and the United Nations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/pa/pa_products/wcpa_categories/|title=IUCN – Home|date=8 June 2016}}</ref> The categories provide international standards for defining protected areas and encourage conservation planning according to their management aims.<ref>[http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/PAPS-016.pdf/ Guidelines for Applying Protected Area Management Categories, Published October, 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604151740/http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/PAPS-016.pdf |date=4 June 2013 }}</ref>

'''IUCN Protected Area Management Categories''':
* Category Ia – [[Strict nature reserve]]
* Category Ib – [[Strict nature reserve|Wilderness Area]]
* Category II – [[National park]]
* Category III – [[Natural monument]] or Feature
* Category IV – Habitat/Species Management Area
* Category V – [[Protected Landscape]]/Seascape
* Category VI – Protected Area with sustainable use of natural resources