wpalf

World Protected Areas Leadership Forum (WPALF)
related: iucn, parks, world parks congress

In February 2000 the National Park Service hosted the first [|World Protected Areas Leadership Forum (WPALF)] in cooperation with the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The Forum met in Warrenton, Virginia and drew Directors and CEOs of park management agencies from 19 different countries and provided an opportunity to share common experiences about emerging issues for protected areas around the globe.

The [|World Protected Area Leadership Forum] was established during the preparations for the IUCN 5th World Parks Congress in 2003. It is a forum for the leaders of protected areas agencies to discuss the most important issues facing their agencies and to contribute towards the global dialogue on future directions for protected areas. In addition to having an important role to play in advising on programmatic direction for the next IUCN World Parks Congress to be convened in 2014, the objectives of the forum are:
 * Provide opportunities for heads of park and protected area agencies to discuss items of mutual interest and share information;
 * Identify emerging issues and trends in park and protected area management;
 * Discuss the forward agenda for parks and protected area agencies to contribute to the global conservation agenda; and
 * Enhance and expand personal networks