INVESTING IN THE FUTURE: YOUNG LEADERS
AND PROTECTED AREAS
Honouring Mandela’s Wish
In 2003 when Former South African President Nelson Mandela addressed the Vth IUCN World Parks
Congress, the primary global gathering of protected areas and nature conservation experts, he
admonished delegates saying there were “too many grey hairs in the room”. His inspiring speech
challenged us all to engage with young people, to build their capacities, channel their enthusiasm and
inspiration into the global challenges of sustaining life on earth , safeguarding its most beautiful and
inspiring places while respecting and building social equity. This document outlines how we hope to
honour Mandela’s wish during the next great gathering of the world’s conservation community, the
World Conservation Congress in Barcelona this October.
IUCN
IUCN, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature brings together nearly 1,100 State,
government agencies, non-governmental organisations and affiliate members and some 10,000
scientists and experts from 181 countries. Together, these agencies and individuals exist in a unique
partnership that leads the globe in meeting international sustainable development goals, ensuring
biodiversity conservation, ecological integrity and promoting sustainable use for the benefit of current
and future generations.
The notion of Sustainability or the “ability to meet present needs without compromising future
generations” lies at the very heart of IUCN’s mission. IUCN monitors global trends, emerging issues
and status of the conservation agenda on a regular basis to fulfil this mission. It also mobilises its
network towards action on critical areas of need and opportunity.
Every four years, IUCN convenes the largest international gathering of conservation professionals to
set this agenda and inform a plan of action as part of the World Conservation Congress (WCC). The
WCC is divided into two major events, the World Conservation Forum, a platform for sharing, debating
and capacity building around innovative ideas and solutions in conservation and sustainable
development and the Business Assembly, or global environmental parliament, where member
organisations decide on a detailed programme of work for the Union for the next four years. Unlike
any other, the WCC offers an invaluable opportunity for delegates to engage thousands of peers and
leading figures from governments, non-governmental organisations, business and the scientific
community from around the world.
This year, more than 8000 delegates are expected at the event in Barcelona from 5-14 October to
discuss the growing challenges in conservation and sustainability. It will be the largest Congress yet
and present one of IUCN’s most cutting edge programmes of work. It will also present an unparalleled
opportunity for younger delegates to explore and contribute to the ideas, network and agenda that will
shape the future of sustainability and their careers.
Progress to date
At the Parks Congress IUCN was not only challenged by
Mandela but by international leaders, old and young alike, to
prioritise enhanced capacity and engagement of youth and
young conservation professionals in its work. One of these
voices was issued by a youth ranger from the International
Ranger Federation, who reminded us that young people would
inherit the world we are shaping and have to cope “when you
are all dead”.
These calls were supported at the last World Conservation
Congress in Bangkok (2004) where members issued a
mandate to the Director General of IUCN ‘to establish a Young
Professionals
Programme
within
IUCN,
coordinate
opportunities for professional development, learning,
leadership and mentorship that engages members and young
professionals from developing countries’.
Following on these calls, the World Commission on Protected
Areas launched a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing
young professional engagement within the work of the
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Commission and Programme on Protected Areas. These included a commitment to increase
numbers of young professionals in the world’s single largest network of protected area professionals,
the WCPA, from 4 to 10% (see text box) and two awards for excellence and training in protected
areas management for young people. Together, these set the stage for the achievement of goals set
out for IUCN and the WCPA while demonstrating a tangible commitment to involve and benefit from
the knowledge and drive of young professionals.
Barcelona will provide a forum for members, partners and experts to track IUCN progress on young
professional engagement and capacity goals. Many of those concerned with promoting young people
feel that despite progress, there is still a great deal more which can and should be done to encourage
and engage young people both at these great meetings and in IUCN member countries, agencies and
institutions.
Given that young people by definition are often less senior and less able to access support and
funding, one fundamental challenge remains resources to get young people together to share their
experiences and build their expertise.
Protected Areas: A Cool Vision by Hot Young Leaders
One action we are planning in Barcelona is a workshop aimed at younger professionals with emerging
careers and involvements in protected areas and conservation programs more broadly, to encourage
the next generation of leaders in this crucial field.
An Alliance Workshop at the IUCN World Conservation Congress
The diversity of life on earth is protected in over 100,000 sites, or over 12% of the globe in Protected
Areas. The extent of this protection has been lauded globally as a major win for conservation.
However, there remain a number of challenges facing the continued expansion, planning and
management of these areas. Capacity and resources are limited and many countries are lagging
behind in the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Program of Work on
Protected Areas (POWPA). In order to ensure that protected areas are serving their intended
purpose, it will be critical that the wealth of expertise and experience developed over the last 50 years
is harnessed to respond to ongoing challenges. One critical aspect of this, recognised as a priority by
the WCPA, is the need to transfer knowledge, experience and expertise between current protected
area leaders, many of whom are on the brink of retirement, and future leaders. This transfer of
institutional memory and a space for innovation and progression will provide the foundation for
enhanced biodiversity conservation in the long-term.
As part of this process, the WCPA and future leaders from the IUCN network will host an Alliance
workshop to discuss emerging issues and needs in protected area management and conservation in
the period ahead. The workshop will also draw on the results of a global survey of protected area
professionals and inspire delegates with stories of how young leaders are making a difference in
communities, management, research and policy in a rapidly changing world.
Among those we would like to showcase:

A young indigenous leader from Australia who is part of managing indigenous owned lands
and seas not only for conservation outcomes in one of the world’s great remaining natural
areas but to lift their communities out of extreme deprivation.

A young community leader from Nepal with a background in social work and advocacy aimed
at reducing the conflicts between communities and protected areas

A conservation hero with distinction from Russia who has played a critical role in establishing
capacity building and training networks in Eurasia

An outstanding member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organisation Youth Forum
Experiences in protected area conservation will be shared and exceptional stories of leadership will be
profiled. We also plan to work together with sister events aimed at leadership development and
intergenerational capacity with a view to forming a consortium of organisations within the IUCN
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network who will work together to enhance the opportunities for younger people to contribute to global
conservation.
Our aspiration is that meeting delegates will come from a wide range of conservation professionals
and decision-makers interested in the rejuvenation of protected area models, management and
leadership. While the focus will be on providing a platform and opportunity for younger and developing
country delegates, we are hoping to persuade the IUCN to deepen its commitment to achieving a
culture which nurtures the next generation of conservation leaders.
The main objectives of the workshop are:

To generate support for a sustainable programme of professional engagement and
development opportunities for future leaders within the IUCN family and WCPA in particular

To enhance our understanding of challenges and opportunities facing protected areas and the
roles being taken by young leaders

To share the results of a global survey on protected area priorities
The expected outputs/outcomes of the workshop:

A summary of key action items arising from a global survey of protected area stakeholders
and practitioners

Feedback on the results of the survey and strategic themes in protected areas

A clear message to IUCN, possibly through a statement to the plenary to support a
rejuvenated and youth-defined initiative/programme of work for protected areas

Recommendations to protected area authorities including IUCN’s WCPA and PPA
Workshop Organisers
WCPA Young Professionals Core Group comprising of representatives from the following
organisations: World Commission on Protected Areas, IUCN Secretariat; Conservation International,
Australian Parks Agencies
Expected Participants
Meeting delegates will come from a wide range of conservation professionals and decision-makers
interested in the rejuvenation of protected area models, management and leadership. A great deal will
depend on mobilising adequate resources to assist younger people to attend.
While the focus will be on providing a platform for younger voices, these messages will be shared with
current leaders and all those interested in innovation and the future of conservation.
We feel strongly about honouring Mandela’s wish to see more young faces
leading in the great challenges of conservation – will you invest in the future
leaders?
For more information please contact kristy.faccer@iucn.org and Penelope figgis
figdon@ozemail.com.au
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