Toward sustainable development

Protected areas around the globe - national parks, wildlife reserves, biosphere reserves - will prosper only if they are supported by the public, the private sector, and the full range of government agencies. Yet such support is unlikely unless society appreciates the importance of protected areas to their own interests, and the protected areas are well-managed and contribute to the national welfare in a cost-effective way. A crucial foundation for success is full cooperation between individuals and institutions. Based on papers presented at the IVth World Congress on National Parks and Protected Areas, Expanding Partnerships in Conservation explores how new and stronger partnerships can be formed between managers of protected areas and other sectors of society. It describes a range of activities currently underway in many parts of the world that are intended to improve conservation efforts at the international, national, and local level. The book will be a valuable resource for anyone involved with establishing new protected areas, improving the management of existing areas, and building more positive relationships with the people who live in and around the protected areas.