Criterion: a major category of conditions or processes - quantitative or qualitative - which together helps define the six elements of the framework. A criterion is characterised by a set of related indicators.
Effective management: the efficient and orderly use of human and material resources on a planned basis directed to achieve management objectives (Deshler, 1982). In the context of protected areas, management objectives will be derived from a number of sources including: national/agency protected area legislation, regulations, policy and standards; international conventions and designations; and management plans or agreements relating to the area.
Element: A major component of the evaluation framework defined by the aspect of management that is being assessed. The elements relate to the steps in a strategic planning and management cycle. Performance within each element is assessed by reference to a number of defined criteria.
Evaluation: the judgement or assessment of achievement against some predetermined criteria (usually a set of standards or objectives); in this case the objectives for which the protected areas were established. Information on which such assessments can be based could come from many sources, but monitoring has a particularly important contribution to make in providing the basic data that should underpin the evaluation.
Indicator: a measure - quantitative or qualitative - that provides useful information about a criterion. Monitoring: the process of repeated observation, for specified purposes, of one or more elements of the environment, according to prearranged schedules in space and time and using comparable data collection methods (Meijers, 1986). It can be used to assess change in environmental parameters over time. In the context of this paper, it is important to note that monitoring need not only address the state of the external physical and social environment, but can also focus on the activities and processes of management.
Protected area: IUCN (1994) defines a protected area as: An area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means.