Protected areas managers from around the world met at a recent forum organized by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) in Inverness, Scotland, to share their expertise

The leaders of government organizations who manage the world’s major protected areas gathered for the 2007 World Protected Areas Leadership Forum to discuss the challenges facing national parks, world heritage sites and other protected areas.
The effects of climate change on protected areas and ideas on how to manage them most efficiently and effectively were brought up at the meeting. Conservation leaders from protected areas in Australia, Canada, Finland and Kenya, to name but a few, also discussed the importance of marine protected areas and the social and economic value all protected areas.
David Sheppard, Head of IUCN’s Programme on Protected Areas, said: “Leaders agreed that protected areas face many challenges, but their most critical role is in stemming the current global species extinction crisis and supporting sustainable development. The conservation of protected areas is becoming increasingly complicated by rapid global change, at all levels.”
The annual forum, jointly convened by IUCN and a rotating host country, brings together the chief executive officers of about 20 of the world’s major protected areas.
Ian Jardine, CEO of Scottish Natural Heritage and this year’s host, said: “The meeting was very successful in allowing leaders of protected areas agencies from around the world to discuss key issues and to share innovative approaches to these issues.”
Forum delegates agreed that protected areas need to be better related to key issues in society and applauded initiatives, such as the “Healthy Parks, Healthy People” initiative of Parks Victoria in Australia, which makes a direct link between conservation and human health.
The forum also noted the need to give a higher priority to conservation in the marine environment and a number of current activities were outlined.
It is planned to hold the 2008 Leadership Forum in conjunction with the IUCN World Conservation Congress, which will be held in Barcelona, Spain.
For more information please contact:
Kari Lahti, Programme Officer, IUCN Programme on Protected Areas, Tel: +41 22 999 0159;
Fax: +41 22 999 0025; E-mail: : kari.lahtiiucn.org; Web: www.iucn.org/wcpa/
（引自www.iucn.org    2007年11月2日）