An article in the UK’s The Guardian states: “It’s the saddest truism in wildlife conservation: When politicians announce that they are setting aside precious habitat “in perpetuity”, what they really mean is until somebody else wants the land.” It apparently happens so often, there’s even a name for it: “protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement” (PADDD). The issue is timely now in part because of the goal, under the 168-nation Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), to extend protection to 17% of the earth’s terrestrial and inland water areas by 2020. People interested in CSVPA issues, may be interesed in checking the web site, PADDDtracker.org, jointly maintained by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Conservation International to see how culturally and spiritually important protected areas are doing.
