title: Conceptual basis for an integrated system for the management of a protected area. Examples from its application in a mediterranean area.
abstract: Improving the efficiency of management in protected areas is imperative in a generalized context of limited conservation budgets. However, this is overlooked due to flaws in problem definition, general disregard for cost information, and a lack of suitable tools for measuring costs and management quality. This study describes an innovative methodological framework, implemented in the web application SIGEIN, focused on maximizing the quality of management against its costs, establishing an explicit justification for any decision. The tool integrates, with this aim, a procedure for prioritizing management objects according to a conservation value, modified by a functional criterion; a project management module; and a module for management of continuous assessment. This appraisal associates the relevance of the conservation targets, the efficacy of the methods employed, both resource and personnel investments, and the resulting costs. Preliminary results of a prototypical SIGEIN application on the Site of Community Importance Chafarinas Islands are included.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: encornej@ucm.es.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cornejo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Fungairiño
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Barandica
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zorrilla
authors.affiliation: Tecnología y Servicios Agrarios, S.A, 28037 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.affiliation: Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales, 28003 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Zapata
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Acosta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D056727:Endangered Species; D053476:Extinction, Biological; D062312:Islands; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D013030:Spain
keywords: Chafarinas islands; Conservation priorities; Integrated management system; Management efficiency; Management objects