By now, 12 % of the Earth's surface is protected! An area the size of the United States and China combined! There are 100-times more protected areas (PA's) than back in 1962. But, does this mean that natural areas and wildlife are any safer? What happens to our natural heritage outside these PA's? PA's are a tool to gain public attention and money: this is well known for many decades, but what is the benefit for the people living with, in and around these areas? Do they regard PA's as a burden or rather as a benefit?

 

During the 5th IUCN World Parks Congress (2003), 2.700 representatives of governments, NGO's, private sector, scientific community and indigenous groups, coming from all over the world, were expected to find answers to these questions.

 

Participants realized that the Congress does not recognize the importance of appropriate forms of wildlife utilization to generate revenues for conservation. Instead, overemphasis is still placed on non-sustainable external funding. Thanks to the initiative of the CIC these concerns resulted in further action.

 

CIC pointed out the role hunting plays for sustainable financing of PA's and - in a much broader sense - to rural development. The FAO regarded this initiative very important and provided its full support to the final document (see below), which was adopted by the Congress.