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“The sites admitted to the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Green List have distinguished themselves through exemplary management, fair��governance and��a long-term��commitment to��successful conservation,” said ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Director General Dr Bruno Oberle. “Effective protected and conserved areas are critical if we are to halt the dramatic loss of life on Earth we are seeing. As ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� and the global community call for the protection of 30% of our planet’s surface by 2030, ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Green List sites provide the best examples of effectiveness and inclusiveness, which are essential for our efforts to succeed.”

The becomes Switzerland’s first Green List site. Established in 1914 in the canton of the Grisons, the park is designated as a Strict Nature Reserve (������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Category Ia) and forms part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Engiadina Val Müstair. The park covers 170 km² of forests, subalpine and alpine meadows, and rock and scree.�� Nationally-threatened species such as golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) and bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) breed within its borders.

Seven of the newly-certified Green List sites are in France, increasing the country’s total to 22, the highest number in the world to date. They include the recently established Forest Management Biological Reserves, a site combining unique coastal and forest ecosystems in La Réunion, as well as France’s highest protected area, the National Nature Reserve in the French Alps. The other newly-listed sites in France are: Natura 2000 site,, Estate, National Nature Reserve, and National Nature Reserves.

Two protected areas in Italy were added to the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Green List; National Park and National Park, while the Green List status of the country’s first National Park, , was renewed. An archipelago of seven Mediterranean islands including Elba, with high endemic floral diversity, the Arcipelago Toscano National Park is part of��the��UNESCO Biosphere Reserve��Isole��di Toscana. The Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona and Campigna National Park, in the Apennine mountains,��conserves one��of��Italy's largest��old-growth beech��forests, is��a UNESCO World Heritage Site��and is also recognised with��a European��Diploma for Protected��Areas.

The ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Green List Committee, which reviews nominations on behalf of ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��, also renewed the Green List status of ,����and�� National Parks in��the Republic of��Korea. Jirisan is the first established national park in the Republic of Korea and is known as a “mountain of life” for its considerable biodiversity as well as cultural assets. The park successfully conserves the globally threatened Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) along with many other ecologically significant species. It also protects over 300 cultural sites including one of the major temples in the country, Sanggyesa temple. Odaesan National Park is known for its five mountain peaks and successful conservation of designated Ramsar wetland sites of global importance. It also hosts and protects a 1000-year-old temple designated as a National Treasure. Seoraksan National Park conserves the globally threated Long-tailed Goral (Naemorhedus caudatus). All three sites had first achieved the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Green List distinction in 2014.

“We are encouraged by the fact that a record number of protected and conserved areas have newly qualified for the coveted ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Green List status, demonstrating their effectiveness in delivering benefits for people and nature. Their achievement creates an incentive for the more than 500 candidate sites in 50 countries which have formally expressed interest in joining the Green List to further improve their management and governance,” said Trevor Sandwith, Global Director of ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��’s Protected and Conserved Areas Programme.

Sites on the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Green List have demonstrated excellence based on a rigorous assessment against the����of 17 criteria structured in��four��components: good governance, sound design and planning, effective management��as well��as successful��conservation outcomes.����

Notes to editors

For more information or to set up interviews, please contact:

������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ����Media��Relations: +41 79 536 0117,��[email protected] ��

Photos (audio/video material) are available .

Supporting quotes:

Switzerland:��

"It's no surprise that the Swiss National Park, with its strong participatory management, is the first protected area in Switzerland to enter the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� World Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas. The Swiss national expert group of Green List assessors (EAGL) is delighted that this example is being emulated in the many protected areas in Switzerland, thus contributing to effective management and conservation of biodiversity," said��Bertrand��Montmollin, ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Swiss National Committee President and��Chair of the Swiss��Expert Assessment Group for the Green List (EAGL).

"We are extremely proud to have guided the Swiss National Park through the application for the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Green List. This corresponds with our vision, to bring people together and foster impact for nature protection. Please reach out if you are interested to become a Green List Candidate yourself," said Roman Eyholzer, CEO of Porini Foundation.��

"To now belong to the exclusive group of green listed protected areas in the world is a great��honor��for the Swiss National Park. We hope that we can inspire many other organizations in Switzerland to apply for this valuable label," said��Ruedi Haller, Director of the Swiss National Park��

Italy:

"������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��’s Green list is the most important international certification of excellence concerning governance of protected areas. It’s with great honour that we acknowledge that three Italian national parks (Arcipelago Toscano, Foreste Casentinesi and Gran Paradiso) met this goal. This is an outcome in which the Ministry has invested and it shows the value of our precious natural capital, not only in terms of biodiversity protection, but also around its overall management," ��said Roberto Cingolani, Minister of Ecological Transition of Italy.

Republic of Korea:��

"I am very delighted that three Korea national parks including��Odaesan,��Seoraksan, and��Jirisan��have been relisted in the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas (������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Green List). In the decision of CBD COP 13(CBD COP XIII/2), the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Green List was promoted as a voluntary standard for protected area management effectiveness. KNPS has participated in the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Green List since 2012 and accumulated our experiences in listing Korea national parks to the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Green List. Recently, there has been a lot of interest from Asian region about the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Green List and KNPS is ready to share our experiences and knowledge with global communities. Managing protected areas effectively will be important in the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. I believe that the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Green List will play a crucial role in post-2020 period. KNPS will��strengthen collaboration with ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� in encouraging the effective management of protected areas through ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Green List," said Mr��Hyung-Kun Song, Chairman of Korea National Park Service (KNPS).

France:

��

"We are glad that efficient management and good state of conservation of 7 new French sites have been recognized by the Green List Program! I have no doubt they will constitute inspirational sources and new references for future applicants. Diversity and richness of habitats, species, governance systems and protection status of French Continental and Overseas territories are now well represented by those 22 Green Listed sites. They will very soon be engaged in the creation of the Francophone Green List network and globally contribute to the international influence of the Green List," said��Jean-Philippe Siblet,��Attaché emeritus of the French Natural Museum of Natural History and EAGL Chair France

Marais des basses vallées de l'Essonne et de la Juine:

"Labeling��under the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� green list is a source of immense pride and recognition which rewards the investment of all local players (associations, municipalities, departmental services, naturalists, etc.). This approach will also contribute to further increase our requirement for the management of these remarkable sites."��

Asters, Conservatoire d'espaces naturels de Haute-Savoie:��

"We are very proud to integrate ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Green list with our mountain natural reserves. The certification process was a rewarding experience that put our practices into perspectives and improvement."��

Coloraie��du Volcan Forest��Managed��Biological��Reserves:��

"We are so proud for this integration in the Green List��protected area!��It's been a long process and hard��collective��work, but the goal is effective protection of very specific tropical island natural habitats et numerous endemic species, with integration of local��communities."��