From protecting communities against natural disasters, providing clean water and food security, and helping to alleviate poverty, national parks serve humanity in many more ways than simply helping to preserve wildlife, according to a 10-year global study released by WWF today.<\/p>\n
The new book presents a decade of research as a compilation of case studies from around the world demonstrating the importance of protected areas for human wellbeing.<\/p>\n
Arguments for Protected Areas: Multiple Benefits for Conservation and Use was launched in Melbourne today at the Healthy Parks, Healthy People Congress by former NSW Environment Minister Bob Debus, and concurrently at WWF’s global headquarters in Gland, Switzerland.<\/p>\n
"Critics often say protected areas lock-up resources and detract from human wellbeing but this comprehensive study shows quite the opposite is true," Mr Debus said.<\/p>\n
"Parks give back to society many times over what we put into protecting and managing them in terms of clean water and clean air and the many billions of dollars in nature-based tourism spending every year.<\/p>\n
"In Australia, for example, the Australian Government’s Indigenous Protected Area and ranger programs have greatly improved social and economic conditions for participating Indigenous communities."<\/p>\n
Organisations that have contributed to the study include the United Nations Development Program, the World Bank, the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, the World Health Organisation, and the IUCN-World Commission on Protected Areas.<\/p>\n
Major benefits documented in the study include:<\/p>\n
Bob Debus was Minister for the Environment in NSW for eight years from 1999 to 2007 when he entered federal parliament and served on the Rudd cabinet. He recently announced his impending retirement from politics. Mr Debus is available for interviews from 10am on Tues 13th April by arrangement with the media contacts shown below.<\/p>\n
Many partners have been involved in WWF’s Arguments for Protection project over the past 10 years including: the United Nations Development Program, The World Bank, the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, the World Health Organisation, Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC), University of Birmingham, IUCN-World Commission on Protected Areas, The Nature Conservancy, and the Wildlife Conservation Society.The study is also being launched globally in Switzerland by WWF’s Director General, Jim Leape.<\/p>\n
Also present and available to talk at the Melbourne launch are lead authors Nigel Dudley and Sue Stolton of Equilibrium Research, Chair of the IUCN’s World Commission on Protected areas (WCPA) Nik Lopoukhine, and Vice Chair for Oceania Penelope Figgis AO, Chair of Australia’s Indigenous Advisory Council Chrissy Grant and senior parks agency officials from Colombia, Tanzania and Canada.<\/p>\n
The study represents a synthesis of seven reports developed in WWF’s Arguments for Protection see here<\/a>.<\/p>\n