IUCN WCPA Publication Project Proposal Form
Please transmit one copy of this form to the IUCN Global Protected Areas Programme for review. The Proposal will be forwarded to the IUCN WCPA Executive Committee to be considered for approval. All sections should be completed.
Project Proposal: Best Practice Guidelines for Healthy Parks Healthy PeopleSubmitted by: Ian Walker, General Manager for Environment and Heritage, Parks Victoria
E-mail: / Date: 17 April 2013
Title of the proposed publication (This can be provisional if the final title has not yet been decided) / HEALTHY PARKS HEALTHY PEOPLE
Full names of the author(s) and/or editor(s) / Ian Walker, Parks Victoria - Project Manager and in conjunction with John Senior and the HPHP taskforce.
Is this an IUCN publication or a co-publication with another organization/publisher? / X = IUCN publication ? Co-publication
Note: This publication will seek CBD and WHO support as contributing parties.
Is this publication part of a series? / X= Yes No
If yes, please give the series title: Best Practice Protected Area Guidelines Series
What are the objectives of your publication? / To provide a Best Practice Guideline for introducing and maintaining the Healthy Parks Healthy People approach in parks.
Adoption of this approach will contribute solutions to global challenges associated with ensuring healthy ecosystem, water, food, disease regulation, medicines, mental/physical/cultural well-being and adaptation to climate change. It is underpinned by six principles:
· Parks are integral to healthy people and a healthy environment
· Human health and well-being depends on healthy ecosystems
· Parks conserve healthy ecosystems
· Contact with nature can improve human health
· Parks contribute to economic growth and well- being
· Parks contribute to cohesive, vibrant and healthy societies
The approach has already been introduced by a number of park management agencies. By providing explanation of the desirability and benefits of this multi-faceted approach; examples of how it has been successfully introduced (in both developed and developing countries), and information on supportive views of other sectors (like health), it is considered that park decision-makers and managers will be both inspired and assisted to further extend the Healthy Parks Healthy People approach at the local and regional level, not only in protected areas, but also in urban parks
Which IUCN Quadrennial Programme Area and IUCN Global Protected Areas objective does your publication support? / This Guideline will support aspects of all three IUCN Quadrennial Programme Areas and the associated GPA objectives, but particular Priority Goal 2. In addition it will contribute to related CBD targets, Aichi goals and IUCN Motions from the World Conservation Congress 2012.
Who is/are the target audience(s)? / Guidelines are predominately aimed at the both park managers, local government and the health sector at a practical and policy level. Other mechanisms will be used for HPHP messaging to target political decision-makers, local communities
What is the message? / That, in addition to, and because of, their biodiversity values, parks play an essential role in significantly contributing to improved human health, economic growth, climate change adaption and community wellbeing. Better understanding of this will result in greater community support, funding and increased relevance of parks.
What process will you use to ensure the publication reflects broad and expert global perspectives by IUCN networks and other groups? / The publication will be developed through considered input by the HPHP Task Force (expanded) and invited input/comment from across WCPA and related international and global bodies (eg WHO and CBD) through formal workshops, direct invitation and on-line opportunities.
Please provide an abstract
(Attach an extra sheet if necessary) / There is a growing global awareness of the importance of green space and nature to cohesive healthy societies. For the first time in history, more than half of the world’s population live in cities. This Healthy Parks Healthy People Guideline will promote the value of parks for sustaining both human and ecosystem well-being and will profile the related potential solutions associated with water, food, disease regulation, medicines, adaptation to climate change and mental/ physical/spiritual well-being. The Guideline is considered to be very relevant to urban park as well as protected area management bodies for the local, regional and system-wide application.
By providing explanation of the desirability and benefits of this multi-faceted approach, the Guideline will encourage those from the environment and parks sectors to work together with those from health, wellbeing, tourism, community development, transport, urban planning, agriculture and education sectors to provide better outcomes for society at local, regional and national levels. It will foster the exchange of ideas, build partnerships, review achievements and develop new alliances between diverse sectors on the role of healthy ecosystems in supporting human health and well-being and will profile leading examples and case studies from developed and developing countries.
It will especially summarise the supportive attitude of the health and well-being sector and include key references and sources of more detailed evidentiary information.
In which media will you produce your publication? / X = Print CD-Rom X = PDF Electronic
X = Other: Use will be made of the HPHP Central website as a source of information and to promote the on-going exchange of ideas, facilitated networking, contemporary initiatives,
What items do you plan to include in the final product? / X = Photographs X = Illustrations ? = Maps Other
Please describe: Fundamental rationale, key references (from both academic and practical sources), case studies (from both developed and developing countries).
In what language(s) do you plan to publish? / ENGLISH
What is the timetable for your project?
(List any external time constraints, i.e. meetings, donor requirements, media launch) / · November 2013 - Early outline for workshop at Asia Parks Congress in Sendai City, Japan
· February 2014 - First draft distributed for comment/input including case study examples
· June 2014 - Advanced draft for workshop at Healthy Parks Healthy People Congress in Atlanta, US
· September 2014 - Advanced draft released for peer review, further comment and to facilitate discussion at WPC
· November 2014 – final review/discussion during HPHP Stream at World Parks Congress in Sydney, Australia
· November 2014 – Formal announcement of status at WPC
· December 2014 – Consideration of inclusion of any additional aspects raised at WPC > initiate final peer review.
· February 2015 – final version submitted to IUCN approval process
· Mid 2015 - Final release including media launch
· 2016 (on-going) – Review, evaluation and revision (actions beyond March 2015 will be conducted by the Healthy Parks Healthy People Task Force.
What is your planned print-run? / To be decided – Steering Committee comment requested
How do you plan to promote your publication? / Formal announcement at the World Parks Congress 2014 in Sydney, Australia .and via IUCN website, newsletters etc.
How do you plan to distribute your publication? / Through normal IUCN processes together with those agreed with related global bodies eg WHO and CBD. In addition it will be promoted through national park associations (mainly concerned with urban parks).
Is your publication planned for sale? / No
What is your budget? / US $125,000
How will your publication be funded? Have you already secured funding or do you need to fundraise? / Seed funding will be provided by Parks Victoria who will source additional funding partners during 2013 & 2014.
What indicators will you use to evaluate the success of your publication and how will you measure them? / · Feedback/response during development stages, including discussion at WPC.
· On-going process for receiving enquiries.
· Late 2016 (18 months after publication) – a formal survey of IUCN member bodies and WCPA members as to the usefulness and use (take-up) of the Guidelines as well as the degree to which they have contributed to IUCN Programme objectives.
· During 2017 a review and revision of the Guidelines as necessary.
IUCN WCPA Steering Committee Meeting 2013 – HPHP Publication Proposal 3