World Parks Congress 2014 – why you shouldn’t miss it!

Have you heard about the IUCN 6^th World Parks Congress being held in Sydney from 12 to 19 November this year? If not, it’s time to find out why this event is a must-do for anyone who cares not just about our parks and environment, but also about our health and that of our planet.

The Congress is a global forum on parks and protected areas held once every 10 years. The theme is Parks, Planet, People: inspiring solutions.

This Congress is taking an innovative approach to addressing global challenges by improving collaboration between the protected area and social and development sectors, including the health sector.

Whether your interest is your local parks or the state of our planet globally, your own health or human health on a larger scale, this event will offer plenty to interest you.

So, why should you come along?

In short, by attending you will learn a huge amount, build productive local and regional networks and contribute to real global action to improve the state of our parks, our environment and human health.

The Congress program consists of eight concurrent streams, one of which is Improving Health and

Wellbeing: Healthy Parks Healthy People (Stream 3). This stream is being led by Parks Victoria and US National Park Service and will involve keynote speakers and presenters from around the world who will share their knowledge and stories, lessons learnt and plans for positive change.

For a sustainable and liveable future, the wellbeing of all societies depends on healthy ecosystems. Parks can conserve healthy ecosystems and improve our health and wellbeing.

Sydney Opera House and Royal Botanic Gardens Credit: Ethan Rohloff/Destination New South Wales

The Healthy Parks Healthy People stream will explore the diverse health benefits provided by parks including mental and spiritual wellbeing, settings for physical activity and in some locations, parks support human health through providing medicines, regulating disease, and supporting local community livelihoods. The stream will also examine the health and wellbeing benefits in both urban parks and larger national parks, as well as bring together practitioners and planners from the areas of science, traditional knowledge, policy and practical park management.

The Congress will bring conservation and health sectors together to work together towards resolving some of our most significant health and environmental challenges. Win-win solutions for conservation and health are possible when we communicate with and involve both sectors.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Congress or to register to attend go to www.worldparkscongress.org Early bird registrations close on 30 June.

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