World Commission on Protected Areas#Ib - Wilderness Area

In 1948, the IUCN established a Committee on National Parks. Two decades later the IUCN had been asked by the international community to take responsibility for preparing a world list of national parks in keeping with its role as a network to share the world’s knowledge on nature conservation, and in 1960, the IUCN raised the status of the Committee to that of a permanent Commission, with the creation of the Commission on National Parks. In 1996, the World Commission on Protected Areas took on its current name with the approval of the IUCN congress.{{Cite web|url=https://www.iucn.org/sites/dev/files/import/downloads/history_wcpa_15july_web_version_1.pdf|title=50 Years of Working for Protected Areas|last=IUCN|date=2010|access-date=11 June 2019|archive-date=22 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222083530/https://www.iucn.org/sites/dev/files/import/downloads/history_wcpa_15july_web_version_1.pdf|url-status=dead}}

WCPA is a network of volunteers. Secretariat support is provided by staff of the IUCN Programme on Protected Areas, with whom WCPA implements a shared strategic plan and work plan. The Commission has a Steering Committee, and the Chair is elected every four years at the IUCN World Conservation Congress. The World Conservation Congress is set for June 11 to 19, 2019, in Marseilles, France.{{Cite web|url=https://www.iucn.org/about/world-conservation-congress|title=World Conservation Congress|date=2016-01-21|website=IUCN|language=en|access-date=2019-06-11}}

The WCPA Steering Committee is the principal governing body of WCPA. The Steering Committee is appointed by the WCPA Chair and approved by the IUCN Council. The Steering Committee is composed of the Chair, the Deputy Chair, Regional Vice‐Chairs, and Thematic Vice‐Chairs. WCPA Steering Committee meetings occur once a year and include reporting on IUCN Global Protected Areas Programme (GPAP) and WCPA activities, discussion and decisions on important upcoming events and initiatives, review of the GPAP Intersessional Programme, and discussion and decisions on WCPA directions and priorities for the upcoming year.

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Regional Vice Chairs for 13 terrestrial regions,{{Cite web|url=https://www.iucn.org/commissions/world-commission-protected-areas/regions|title=Regions|date=2016-02-02|website=IUCN|language=en|access-date=2019-06-11|archive-date=2022-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207161117/https://www.iucn.org/commissions/world-commission-protected-areas/regions|url-status=dead}} include:

• Eastern and Southern Africa
• North Africa, West Asia, and Middle East
• West and Central Africa
• Caribbean and Central America
• North America
• South America
• East Asia
• South Asia
• Southeast Asia
• Europe
• North Eurasia
• Oceania

Thematic Vice Chairs include those for:

• Capacity Development
• Governance
• Marine
• Natural Solutions
• People and Parks
• Science and Biodiversity
• Science and Management
• Young Professionals
• World Heritage

The Steering Committee also includes two seats for publications:

• Publications Editor
• PARKS Editor

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The WCPA Executive Committee is the principal governing body of WCPA making decisions between Steering Committee Meetings. It is composed of the WCPA Chair, the WCPA Deputy Chair, Regional and Thematic Vice-Chairs, the Director of IUCN Global Protected Areas Program{{Cite web|url=https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/about/iucn-global-protected-areas-programme|title=IUCN Global Protected Areas Programme|date=2015-10-07|website=IUCN|language=en|access-date=2019-06-11}} and others co-opted at the request of the Chair.

To carry out its objectives, the WCPA has a number of specialist groups, task forces, initiatives, and thematic groups which report to the WCPA Executive Committee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.iucn.org/commissions/world-commission-protected-areas/get-involved/wcpa-thematic-vice-chairs-specialist-groups-and-task-forces|title=WCPA Thematic Vice-Chairs, Specialist Groups and Task Forces|date=2016-02-05|website=IUCN|language=en|access-date=2019-06-11}}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Specialist Groups are established to bring together Commission Members who can provide ongoing specialist expertise and leadership in topics that are Commission and Programme Priorities. Current Specialist Groups include:

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• [https://www.iucn.org/protected-areas/world-commission-protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/climate-change-and-protected-areas Climate Change and Protected Areas]{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• [https://www.iucn.org/protected-areas/world-commission-protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/connectivity-conservation Connectivity Conservation]{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• [https://www.iucn.org/protected-areas/world-commission-protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/cultural-and-spiritual-values Cultural and Spiritual Values of Protected Areas]{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• [https://www.iucn.org/protected-areas/world-commission-protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/freshwater Freshwater]{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• [https://www.iucn.org/protected-areas/world-commission-protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/geoheritage Geoheritage and Caves and Karst Protected Areas]{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• [https://www.iucn.org/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/pa-governance Governance]{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• [https://www.iucn.org/protected-areas/world-commission-protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/grasslands Grasslands]{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/our-work/iucn-green-list Green List]
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/high-seas High Seas]
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/health-and-wellbeing Health and well-being]
• [https://www.iucn.org/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/management-effectiveness Management Effectiveness] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209041558/https://www.iucn.org/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/management-effectiveness |date=2017-12-09 }}
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/marine-mammal-protected-areas Marine Mammals (jointly with SSC)]
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/mountains Mountains]
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/protected-area-finance-specialist-group Protected Area Finance]
• Protected Area Legislation
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/privately-protected-areas-and-nature-stewardship Privately Protected Areas and Nature Stewardship]
• Protected Landscapes / Seascapes
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/tourism-tapas Tourism and Protected Areas]
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/transboundary-conservation Transboundary Conservation]
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/urban-conservation-strategies Urban Conservation Strategies]
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/wilderness Wilderness]

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Task Forces are established to accomplish a specific time-bound task, e.g. the preparation of a WCPA Best Practice Guideline publication or the preparation of a particular policy. Current Task Forces include:

• [https://www.iucn.org/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/beyond-aichi-targets-task-force Beyond the Aichi Targets]{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/biodiversity-and-protected-areas Biodiversity and Protected Areas (jointly with SSC)]
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/health-and-well-being-0 Health and Well-being]
• [http://www.issg.org/index.html Invasive Alien Species (jointly with SSC)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114010654/http://www.issg.org/index.html |date=2021-11-14 }}
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/large-scale-marine-protected-areas Large scale Marine Protected Areas]
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/natureforall Nature For All (jointly with CEC)]
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/other-effective-area-based-conservation-measures-oecms Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECM)]

Thematic Groups and Initiatives contribute to the WCPA mandate by providing cross-cutting support to the Steering Committee, Specialist Groups, Task Forces, and Initiatives. Current thematic groups include:

• [https://www.iucn.org/protected-areas/world-commission-protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/capacity-development Capacity Development]{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/marine Marine]
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/natural-solutions Natural Solutions]
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/people-and-parks People and Parks]
• Science and Biodiversity
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/science-and-management Science and Management]
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/world-heritage World Heritage]
• [https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/young-professionals Young Professionals]

• International Union for Conservation of Nature
• National Park
• Natural Monument
• Paul F. J. Eagles
• Protected Area
• Protected Landscape
• Strict Nature Reserve
• WCPA High Seas Task Force
• Wilderness Area
• IUCN protected area categories

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Category:Nature conservation organisations based in Europe

Category:International scientific organizations

Category:IUCN commissions