Hamed Mirkarimi - College of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran
Colin Arrowsmith - School of Mathematical and Geospatial Science, RMIT University, Australia

Natural areas have been reserved for thousands of years. However, the reasons for reservation have changed with time. Natural areas management objectives have changed from personal/individual human needs to environmental protection. Unlike old protected areas, new protected areas have multiple management objectives. The management objectives changed from protection for now to protection for the future. And it changed from a human benefit perspective to a philanthropic perspective. Through a historical overview, the paper argues that changes in landscape, human needs and awareness are the main driving forces behind changes in management objectives of protected areas through time. By looking at the past and present for protected areas management aims, this paper will argue that the first management aim of protected areas had led to isolating landscape of protected areas from their surrounding areas. However, through time, the aims were changed and therefore, methods of protected areas planning have changed towards reconciliation with surrounding landscape. Though, through a case study approach it is discussed that the purpose of contemporary management plans for protected areas could be different in various countries.

Protected area, National Park, Management objectives, Landscape change