Positive management for strict natural reserves: Reviewing effectiveness

Current interest in creating networks of strict natural reserves is not reflected in active management for conservation in the field. The absence of any practical guidelines is considered responsible for this situation. The first step is to ascertain the effectiveness of the strict natural reserve. Accordingly, proposals are made for collecting appropriate information through routine patrolling followed by formal interference assessment surveys. For both phases of activity attention centres on the individual threats to which strict natural reserves are exposed and a classification of the threats is given. Organizational change may be needed to promote positive management: it is argued that strict natural reserves would benefit if they were separated administratively and financially from other parts of the forest estate.