Call for Papers for a Special Issue of Parks - Tourism and the Targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity

University of Alberta - Canada - · Initial abstract deadline: January 10, 2012. · Submission of full article deadline: March 7, 2012. · Submission of revised article deadline: June 1, 2012. · Special issue publication: September, 2012.

Dear Fellow WCPA members:

Please consider submitting a paper proposal for a special issue of Parks on "tourism and the targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity".

We hope to have this special issue ready for the next World Conservation Congress to be held in Korea, in September, 2012.

thanks, Glen and Liz

Guest Editors

Glen Hvenegaard, Ph.D.

University of Alberta

glen.hvenegaard@ualberta.ca

Elizabeth Halpenny, Ph.D.

University of Alberta

elizabeth.halpenny@ualberta.ca

The objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) are to conserve and sustainably use biological diversity and to equitably share the benefits arising out of its use. The CBD’s Strategic Plan for Biodiversity (2011-2020), agreed upon by the conference of the parties in Japan in October 2010, include 20 Biodiversity Targets. These Targets, to be achieved by 2020, are designed to motivate parties to the Convention to accelerate their efforts to protect the world’s remaining biological diversity (http://www.cbd.int/sp/targets/).

Target 11, for example, sets an objective of 17% of the earth’s terrestrial surface within formally designated protected areas, an increase from 12% in 2010. Much of this increase will have to come from places that are already inhabited by people, and thus require new strategies, innovative programs, and creative approaches to integrating people and protected areas in order to achieve the necessary social acceptability and political support needed for designation. Similarly, Target 1 calls for increased awareness by people of the values of biodiversity and the need to conserve and use it sustainably. Target 14 requires the restoration and safeguarding of ecosystems for essential services, with consideration to marginalized people and communities.

Recreation and tourism can play a significant role in achieving these policies.

This special issue will bring together a group of people to discuss the implications, opportunities, and challenges the CBD’s Targets present to conservationists, scientists, and activists. It will specifically explore the role of recreation and tourism in helping achieve the Targets, probe barriers foreseen in implementation of various Targets, raise questions about how tourism can be effectively managed, and develop the conceptual and practical competencies managers will need in addressing accelerating tourism and visitation. We anticipate the issue becoming a foundation for a dialogue over the role of tourism for the next several years.

The special issue will begin with a description of the CBD’s Targets, what they mean, and the potential role of tourism and visitation in achieving them. We expect rigorous, disciplined discussions that would serve as reference for protected area managers and scientists alike. The issue will be launched in time for the World Conservation Congress in 2012. Possible issues and questions that might be addressed include:

What financial benefits flow from tourism in protected areas and how are those benefits distributed to local, regional and national constituencies? What is meant by fair and equitable according to the CBD? See Target 16.

What is the tourism and economic development potential of additional lands protected to help meet Target 11? Given that those lands may be already occupied, inhabited, or used, what is the role of tourism in convincing local residents to support protection?

How might tourism, particularly solid and liquid waste byproducts, be better managed to reduce impacts on biodiversity? See Target 8.

Recreational hunting and fishing are often significant activities in many protected areas. How might they be better managed to reduce impacts on biodiversity? See Target 6.

Given increased demand for tourism, according to the UNWTObetter manage tourism and visitation to reduce impacts? What tourism experience opportunities, activities, and uses are most appropriate in protected areas? What frameworks might be useful for managers? See Target 5.

Given that many protected areas exist within a highly competitive tourism marketing environment, how can managers enhance opportunities for high quality visitor experiences? How can visitor opportunities be better marketed? Potential authors might want to take a look at Parks volume 16 issue 2.

Guidelines

We encourage multi-authored pieces in order to incorporate a wide variety of perspectives.

Potential authors must first contact the guest editors by January 10,

2012 to express interest in submitting an article and provide a 200-300 word abstract outlining their proposed article. Abstracts should be sent to both guest editors via email.

· Upon review, authors of successful applications will be invited

by January 20, 2012 to contribute to the special issue.

· Full articles must be submitted by March 7, 2012, via email to

the guest editors.

· Please use APA style (http://www.apastyle.org/) and see the

journal’s style guidelines

(http://www.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/wcpa/wcpa_puball/wcpa_parksmag/wcpa_parkseditorialpolicy/)

· Manuscripts should be 3,000-4,000 words long.

· All articles will be subject to a blind peer-review process and

the standards of quality that are customary for this journal.

Important Dates

· Initial abstract deadline: January 10, 2012.