SPECIAL PARKS ISSUE “PROTECTED AND CONSERVED AREAS: THEIR IMPORTANCE TO NATURE AND PEOPLE“ TO BE LAUNCHED AT THE WORLD CONSERVATION CONGRESS (WCC), OCTOBER 2025
This year’s gathering of the WCC in Abu Dhabi will tackle five crucial themes that are intended to push the transformative changes needed to secure a sustainable future for nature and people: Scaling Up Resilient Conservation Action; Reducing Climate Overshoot Risks; Delivering on Equity; Transitioning to Nature-Positive Economies and Societies; and Disruptive Innovation and Leadership for Conservation. To embrace this opportunity, we are launching a special volume of PARKS at the WCC to showcase the integral role of parks and protected areas in delivering these themes.
Welcome to PARKS, The International Journal of Protected Areas and Conservation.
The International Journal of Protected Areas and Conservation is published by IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA). It is published twice a year as an online, open-access and peer-reviewed journal.
We’re excited to share a sneak preview of our special issue for the WCC! This preview contains a Guest Editorial and 10 of the 12 highly anticipated articles addressing the importance of Protected and Conserved Areas to Nature and People. The articles vary from thought pieces on ecocide, climate and water policy to practical guidelines on connectivity and measuring the oft overlooked benefits of wildlife to people. Others delve into the crucial roles that marine, fresh water and urban parks play in benefiting nature and people and provide reflections on the social implications of 30 x 30 and PCAs in a changing world. All contributions are relevant to the key themes of the WCC that are intended to push the transformative changes needed to secure a sustainable future for nature and people. Look for the full volume to be published in November.
See PARKS back issues here.
Post 2011 Issues (peer reviewed)
1991 to 2008 Issues (not Peer reviewed)
FUTURE SCHEDULE
PARKS publishes two volumes a year – in May and November. The deadline for papers for the May issue of the journal is end of January and for the November issue is end of July each year. Submissions for the May 2026 issue should be made using the red submission icon below.