Tourism and protected areas : benefits beyond boundaries

Over 3000 delegates gathered in Durban, South Africa (September 6ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“17, 2003) for the 5th World Parks Congress (WPC), held every 10 years by the World Commission for Protected Areas, a commission of the World Conservation Union. The decade since the previous congress has witnessed accelerated global change, rapid loss of priceless ecosystems due to deforestation, desertification, war, and innumerable other natural and human forces. The congress theme, ââ"šÂ¬Ã‹Å“ââ"šÂ¬Ã‹Å“Benefits Beyond Boundariesââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢, highlighted critical issues facing protected areas, including biodiversity conservation that extends beyond ââ"šÂ¬Ã‹Å“ââ"šÂ¬Ã‹Å“artificialââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ boundaries, national borders cutting through ecosystems, the role of society, lack of finances, increasing recognition of the many values of protected areas, and increasing confluence of cultural, social, ecological, political, and economic agendas. The main objective was forging new commitment and policy guidance for protected areas and identifying the greatest challenges, including continued loss of biodiversity, poverty, AIDS, war and civil disorder, over-population, population mobility, global warning, and increasing resource and energy consumption.