A framework for identifying paper parks

Stewart, Jessica L., Kingston, Naomi, Ali, Natasha, Bingham, Heather C., Davies, Zoe G., Dudley, Nigel, Gardner, Charlie J., Geldmann, Jonas, Juffe-Bignoli, Diego, Pienkowski, Thomas, and others. (2026) A framework for identifying paper parks. Biological Conservation, 322 . Article Number 112038. ISSN 0006-3207. (doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2026.112038) (Access to this publication is currently restricted. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:115892)

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2026.112038

Abstract

The term ‘paper park’ is widely used to label protected areas that only exist ‘on paper’. Identifying and rectifying paper parks could be critical for producing ‘effectively conserved and managed […] systems of protected areas’, a core component of Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3. However, the term is not well defined and often applied to cases more accurately described as protected areas with low management effectiveness. This inconsistency is problematic because sites where management interventions are entirely absent (true paper parks) fundamentally differ from those where management is insufficient or poorly executed (ineffective management). These fundamental differences include how paper parks are conceptualised and monitored, and the interventions required to tackle them. To address this, here we propose a new paper park definition as “a site that has been legally or otherwise designated as a protected area, but where management interventions have been absent for at least 5 years”. We present a decision tree to identify paper parks and discuss how they differ from other types of conservation area. We suggest addressing the problem by measuring the extent of paper parks, investigating the causes of absent management, and prioritising investment to implement effective interventions. Without such work, there is a risk that Target 3 will perversely incentivise the creation of more paper parks.

Item Type:	Article
DOI/Identification number:	10.1016/j.biocon.2026.112038
Uncontrolled keywords:	Area-based conservation, OECMs, Paper parks, Protected areas, Monitoring, Effectiveness
Subjects:	Q Science > QH Natural history > QH75 Conservation (Biology)
Institutional Unit:	Schools > School of Natural Sciences Institutes > Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology
Former Institutional Unit:	There are no former institutional units.
Funders:	UK Research and Innovation (https://ror.org/001aqnf71)
Depositing User:	Bob Smith
Date Deposited:	13 Aug 2026 07:59 UTC
Last Modified:	18 Aug 2026 14:13 UTC
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/115892 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Davies, Zoe G..

Creator's ORCID:	https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0767-1467
CReDIT Contributor Roles:	Writing - original draft, Investigation

Gardner, Charlie J..

Creator's ORCID:	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2750-3690
CReDIT Contributor Roles:	Investigation, Writing - original draft

Juffe-Bignoli, Diego.

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:	Writing - original draft, Investigation, Conceptualisation

Pienkowski, Thomas.

Creator's ORCID:	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3803-7533
CReDIT Contributor Roles:	Writing - review and editing

Sykes, Rachel E..

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:	Investigation, Writing - original draft, Conceptualisation

Smith, Robert J..

Creator's ORCID:	https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1599-9171
CReDIT Contributor Roles:	Visualisation, Supervision, Conceptualisation, Investigation, Writing - original draft, Funding acquisition

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