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Global Financial Survey of Natural Protected Areas September 2006 I am writing to you to notify you of the launch of the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) protected area financial survey and to seek your participation in providing data related to (country).Over the past 30 years WCPA has kept under review the trends in protected area expenditure and revenue as part of its global charter. In 2006 it is proposed to undertake for the first time a global financial survey and to better understand how funding is allocated, earned and spent within management agencies. This initiative has its origins in the World Parks Congress 2003 Action Plan and from the Convention on Biodiversity COP 7 2004 Recommendations. Both the Action Plan and the Recommendations strongly urge that more information be obtained on protected area financing in order to promote and enhance nature conservation outcomes. When compiled, the information will provide a valuable source of information about the global financial situation of protected areas. This information will complement the physical records collected through the World Conservation Monitoring Centre and provide a more comprehensive factual understanding of the current situation. Importantly the information collected from the survey will also assist in better understanding the process of how protected areas are resourced and the methods of funds distribution within agencies leading hopefully to longer term improvements in budget and expenditure strategies and adoption of global best practice. I am now taking the opportunity to you to seek your assistance in providing the information necessary to complete the questionnaire for (country). A number of protected area management agencies have already indicated their support for this project and I am hoping that your organisation can also respond positively. To assist you and your staff in completing the questionnaire you will find attached Guidelines which outline the way the survey is to be completed and how to respond to the questions. The questionnaire has been kept to the least number of questions consistent with the information required. However I recognise that it may take a little time to gather the information sought and trust that this will not be an undue burden. Since this is the first time WCPA has undertaken the survey on a global basis, a conscious decision has been made to deal with the management agencies at the national level. Accordingly I am requesting that to the extent possible you coordinate with all other PA managing agencies in (country) to obtain and collate full information. Should this be a problem would you please contact Mr Lee Thomas who is the leader of the Sustainable Financing Task Force at lee.thomas2@bigpond.com in order to alert us to the issues and to find a solution. To assist in dealing with other agencies a copy of this letter and the survey documentation is accessible at the WCPA Web Site http://www.iucn.org/themes/wcpa/ The information collected from the survey will be analysed and assembled into a report to be completed in 2007. A copy of which will be provided to all respondents and WCPA members. The report will be an important step in developing global awareness on PA financing and adoption of the best long term strategies. I would like to ask that the questionnaires be completed and returned by 31 October 2006. The Mailing Address is WCPA Protected Area Financing Survey Alternatively the survey results can be emailed to Ms Delwyn Dupuis at IUCN whose address is ded@iucn.org . I look forward to your participation in this initiative and receiving your information.
Yours sincerely
Nik Lopoukhine
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