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.
CURRENT ISSUE
Our first issue for 2025 covers an exciting array of topics related to protected and conserved areas. The issue includes an introductory letter from the new editor, 2 book reviews and 8 full articles. The articles cover a diversity of topics including terrestrial and marine OECMs, perspectives on reaching the ‘30×30 target’, the importance of rangers as first responders and their role in securing mammal populations, an innovative use of drones, recreational use of urban parks, waste management, and a critical examination of the decision-making processes of the World Heritage Committee. The contributions have a global reach, coming from Iceland, Canada, DRC, Ethiopia, South Africa, Indonesia, Pakistan and Costa Rica.
See PARKS back issues here.
Post 2011 Issues (peer reviewed)
1991 to 2008 Issues (not Peer reviewed)
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. However, the 2025 November issue will be a special, thematic issue ; the next open issue will be May 2026. Submissions should be sent to the Managing Editor via email to editor@parksjournal.com.