Presentation made at the CBD/IUCN TAPAS Group meeting on "Tourism partnerships and concessions in protected areas: Cooperating for success" meeting in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park
2. Friends Groups
โขโฏ Common in museums, art galleries, and
historic sites.
โขโฏ Many park agencies encourage the
development of non-government
organizations, called Friends Groups.
โขโฏ These are membership organizations that
work through a contract with a park.
โขโฏ A registered charity, with legal non-pro๏ฌt
status.
3. Activities
โขโฏ Provide guiding, interpretation, and
environmental education programs to park
visitors.
โขโฏ Operate environmental and cultural festivals.
โขโฏ Some operate entire parks.
โขโฏ There are Friends Groups operating in 25 of
the 110 provincial parks in Ontario, Canada.
9. Park Management Responsibilities
โขโฏ Head of๏ฌce has one staff person with the
responsibly to encourage and assist these
NGOs.
โขโฏ Some are provided with start-up funds.
โขโฏ Each park has a staff manager with NGO
contact responsibilities.
โขโฏ Largest Friends Groups have full time staff.
10. โจ
Alternative to Concessionairesโจ
โขโฏ Friends groups are an alternative to for-pro๏ฌt
concessionaires.
โขโฏ All income of the Friends Groups return to
park activities and programs.
โขโฏ Flexibility gives park manages alternatives
and an ability to respond quickly to
opportunities.
โขโฏ Very important in giving citizens an
opportunity to be involved in a park.