In September 2003, IUCN-The World Conservation Union hosted the world's largest conference on protected areas in Durban, South Africa. This was the fifth World Parks Congress, an event that takes place every ten years. The theme for 2003 was "Benefits Beyond Boundaries" and highlighted the contributions protected areas can make to people's well-being in their everyday lives.

Because so many George Wright Society members attended this conference, volume 20: number 4 of the George Wright Forum is devoted to members' reflections and observations from the conference. One article, Voices from Durban: Reflections on the 2003 World Parks Congress is available here (PDF format* - 494 KB).

The George Wright Forum is a publication of the George Wright Society, an organization dedicated to the protection, preservation, and management of cultural and natural parks and preserves through research and education. Publications such as the George Wright Forum and the biennial conference of the George Wright Society are an important part of the exchange within the national and international conservation community.

For other articles from this publication, please visit http://www.georgewright.org.

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