Various methodologies and indicators have been developed at different levels to access the management effectivenessof protected areas. In order to create a global management effectiveness indicator a mechanism was created to enable cross-analysis of data from methodologies using a variety of indicators. This mechanism has two components:‘matching’ the topic of each indicator to a common ‘summary indicator’; and establishing a ‘translation’ system so that the different scoring systems are incorporated in a consistent way. Fourteen summary indicators have been created for the global indicator:

• Values and significance • Threats and constraints • Site design and establishment • Management planning • Management resources • Information base • Internal management systems and processes • Law enforcement • Stakeholder relations • Visitor management • Achievement of work program • Conservation outcomes • Natural & cultural resource management systems • Community outcomes

Summary indicators scores are generated for each management effectiveness assessment, and from the scores for all the assessments it is possible to generate global and regional averages for each of the 14 summary indicators which can be compared over time.

Over 40 Management Effectiveness Evaluation methodologies have been entered into the Global Studies database. The database contains records of 7,000 assessments from more than 100 countries, covering over 5,000 protected areas (some sites have repeated assessments). Coverage of the protected area management effectiveness indicator is still patchy although new assessments are being undertaken at an increasing rate and more countries are establishing assessment systems across their protected area networks.