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Vth World Parks Congress - 7-17 September 2003, Durban, South Africa

The Homepage www.iucn.org/wpc2003/ contains a brief introduction as to what the WPC is and links to the main sections -
This section contains information about the WPC, ranging from the concept of parks congresses with a historical overview of previous congresses, to logistical information such as details of the congress location, dates, organizers, and a brief description of the WCPA
Outputs of the Congress
This is where new documents are posted and news disseminated. As well it host the daily coverage of the congress events and gives useful updates in the build up to the WPC. It includes links to the PARKS newsletter and a section for the Media, covering press releases, media briefs and details of media accreditation
All you ever wanted to know about the people behind the WPC, from IUCN and WCPA staff to people in South Africa National Parks, the South African Ministry for the Environment, the Congress Patrons and other partners. This section also provides useful links
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OUTPUTS OF THE CONGRESS

   World Parks Congress Outputs from the Transboundary Protected Areas Task Force of the IUCN-WCPA

Transboundary Synthesis Publication
Development of the Global Transboundary Protected Areas Network

Global interest in Transboundary Protected Areas (TBPAs) has continued to mount in the past several years. Along with this enthusiasm and exploration of the issues comes an increased need to share information and knowledge, and to synthesize our current understanding of how TBPAs can and should operate. Because the World Parks Congress acts as the focal point for the global dialogue on protected areas, it is thus the perfect staging ground for transboundary initiatives and proposals. In an effort to coordinate the global exchange of ideas and to create a platform for new TBPA initiatives, we are happy to announce the launch of the Transboundary Protected Areas Global Programme.

This TBPA Global Programme responds to the need expressed by protected area managers, governments, researchers and stakeholders involved in TBPAs worldwide. In particular, the efforts by IUCN , ITTO, BSP, EuroParc Federation, UNESCO and InWent have contributed to the identification of the needs and opportunities.

The World Parks Congress will inform the scope and form of the Global Programme substantially itself, so we can't tell you all that it will entail - yet. But you can be sure there will be many important outcomes over the course of the next year. In the mean time we can tell you about two direct outcomes of the Congress; one to be unveiled there and the other to be published by January 2004.

These are:

A synthesis publication of TBPA perspectives from meetings leading up to and including the World Parks Congress; and
The Global Transboundary Protected Areas Network

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Transboundary Synthesis Publication

This initiative includes the gathering of all papers and perspectives presented at the World Parks Congress and at the Mountains Workshop prior to the WPC and synthesizing this information into a single printed publication. The publication would also be made available both in compact disc format and online through the transboundary website (see below). The electronic versions of this publication will include all of the PowerPoint presentations and full text versions of the presented papers and posters.

In addition, translations into French and Spanish of key elements of the existing IUCN Protected Area Management Guidelines will be made, and broadsheets on specific TBPA initiatives and themes will be prepared.

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Development of the Global Transboundary Protected Areas Network

The development of transboundary protected areas is proliferating in the world. Since 1990, the total number of transboundary protected areas doubled and many others are set to launch within the next few years. As a result, protected area managers are confronted with entirely new issues that they are ill equipped to deal with effectively. Because these new issues are set within a context of international relations and global politics, the more localized communication systems by which protected area managers currently share expertise and knowledge are not adequate to meet their growing demands. The demand among managers for this type of information is well documented through workshops and conferences (e.g., the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002). Other audiences in need of TBPA guidance and knowledge include conservation donors, researchers, educators, students, and policy makers, though the extent and types of information they need is not very well understood.

Since the growing interest in TBPAs in the early 1990s, many workshops, conferences and meetings have covered many different aspects of this topic.

TBPA research and management guidance sponsored by the IUCN , the Biodiversity Support Program , EuroParc Federation, International Tropical Timber Organization , Conservation International and InWent (among others) have been published both online and in printed form. Because these organizations all have differing systems of publication distribution that reside all over the world and all over the Internet, locating good TBPA resources can be extremely difficult, especially for the uninitiated - those most in need of this information.

The growing demand for TBPA information cannot currently be met through existing organizations as none currently have programs with TBPA information dissemination mandates. Also, the individuals most well versed in TBPA issues do not have full institutional support to answer inquiries or present at conferences, workshops and other meetings as they are fully committed to other projects.

Therefore, there is a growing demand for TBPA information by protected area managers and many other audiences that cannot be met through existing institutional arrangements. We therefore are developing a "Global Transboundary Protected Area Network" that will act as a clearinghouse for all TBPA information and would allow for communication across diverse audiences and vast distances. We will physically locate this office in Cape Town, South Africa as this is the physical home of the TBPA Task Force and considerable TBPA work is being done in the region.

The Global Transboundary Protected Area Network will fulfill the following functions:
" Provide both a virtual and a physical hub of TBPA knowledge that is responsive to the needs of the emerging TBPA community.

Act as a point of contact for the TBPA community and field questions from the public
Contain a comprehensive database of TBPA publications
Present known TBPAs worldwide in list, database and map form for download.
Develop a global communication and dialogue system that will allow managers to communicate with other managers, and all other audiences to communicate with one another.
Provide an extensive contact list of NGO's and individuals involved with TBPA work.


Other outputs of the World Parks Congress, still in the planning stages include:

Specific commitments and agreements on transboundary protected areas to be made by governments and organizations at the Congress
A transboundary peace climb in the Maloti-Drakensberg mountains prior to the Congress

World Parks Congress Outputs from the Transboundary Protected Areas Task Force of the IUCN-WCPA - PDF Document - 126KB

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This section contains a breakdown of the programme per day, details of the workshops, side events and short courses. It also provides information about the exhibition, the field trips and pre / post congress tours.
Les résultats prévus au COngrèsLos resultados previstos del Congreso
The Durban Accord is a high level vision statement for PAs in the 21st Century - a message to the world from the Congress.
The WPC Recommendations are 30 stand-alone recommendations linked to WPC workshop streams and cross cuts themes.
The Inputs into the CBD process will provide input from the WPC to the Conference of the Parties (COP) 7. This COP will be held in Malaysia in February, 2004, and will focus on protected areas.
WPC Emerging Issues
Strengthening Protected Areas: Ten Target Areas for Action in the Next Decade
A number of other outputs are planned, which will relate to Tourism, Transboundary initiatives, Protected Area Categories Review, Extractive Industries, the Spiritual values of Protected Areas, Mountains and African protected areas.
Managing Protected Areas in the 21st Century will be a handbook for PA practitioners collating the learning from Durban. Rich in case studies, models, lessons learned and drawn mostly from the IUCN World Parks Congress Streams and Cross Cutting Themes, it will be the 'User Manual' for the Durban Accord.
Non Material Values of Protected Areas Outputs
PALNet - Protected Areas Learning Network
The United Nations List & State of the World's Protected Areas (PAs) Report will be the global report card for the world's PAs.
World Parks Congress Outputs from the Transboundary Protected Areas Task Force of the IUCN-WCPA

For more information, please contact
David Sheppard,

Head, Programme on Protected Areas, IUCN

 
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