Support for World Parks Congress, September 8-17, 2003, Durban, South Africa

The Parks Congress is the largest, most important and authoritative gathering of conservation professionals that is instrumental in setting the policy for the world’s PAs. 44,000 protected areas cover 10% of the Earth’s land surface. They provide people around the world with live-sustaining material, spiritual, and recreational values. They provide water, protect soils, and filter air. They offer materials from nature to meet the needs of local communities. They hold the promise of improving foods and medicines from their unexplored genetic resources. And they help balance the Earth's climate, provide nutrients to the production of food and fibre, and mitigate the impacts of major storms and other catastrophic natural events.Protected areas are of critical importance to all regions and countries, but particularly to developing countries, because of the benefits they provide (which can have a more significant impact in a developing country where individuals may be more closely tied to or immediately dependant on the local ecosystems for sustenance and survival, and where the economy may also be closely tied to these ecosystems).The Congress is the world’s premier event for protected areas, and is held only every 10 years. This is the first time it will be held in Africa. Since 1962 all previous Congresses have been extremely influential in relation to the establishment and management of the world’s protected areas. Parks Congresses have a record of achievement in reviewing protected area trends and setting future global directions for the crucial areas on earth. The Vth World Parks Congress will examine the challenges and opportunities facing protected areas in coming decades. The goal is to secure the multiple values of the global system of protected areas through the application of our best science, information and experience. The Congress will explore and propose new and innovative policies, strategies, and practices for adapting these areas to a world of rapid change. Particularly, the objectives of this project are to support the participation of developing countries in the Parks Congress, through a variety of mechanisms including:● Convening of regional and national meetings● Preparation of case studies● Preparation of exhibits● Training on information technology● Forming a network of protected area managers● Supporting participants from developing countries to participate in the Congress