Forgotten Parks Foundation

We aim to identify large and globally significant wilderness areas that are struggling to survive and form partnerships with national governments, local communities and experts to rehabilitate, restore and manage the habitat and wildlife and make conservation a driver for a sustainable local wildlife economy and a source of national pride.

Our mission: To enhance the management of ‘forgotten’ National Parks and Protected Areas in partnership with governments and local communities, and to empower people to protect wildlife and wilderness around the world.

Our vision: A world where national parks, biodiversity and healthy ecosystems are valued and protected, and considered an integral part of the lives and well-being of a global society.

Goals:
1. Rehabilitate and secure the wildlife and habitat to healthy ecosystems that provide the goods and services for life
2. To nurture the talent, leadership capacities and capabilities of park staff
3. To support those living in and around protected areas to become the principal leaders and beneficiaries of wildlife and wilderness areas and drivers of sustainable local green economies
4. To protect and support wildlife and bring back species that traditionally roamed these landscapes and defined the ecological systems
5. To inspire the rewilding of ourselves to reconnect with nature as individuals and communities and to nurture our well-being

Three elements we feel are important to achieving long-term impact in protected area management and that we seek to address through this action are:
• Strong protected area institution: building the long-term institutional competence and capacities to provide the operational platform needed for sustainable growth of conservation and development activities and effective partnership
• Funding: solid financial management and delivery to leverage the finance needed to meet the target funds per km2/year needed to effectively develop a protected area
• Coordination & accountability: coordinating all protected area activities under a unified planning/ budgeting framework, including through the formation of a joint donor & partner coordination committee.

Our values
• Pioneering: we seek to find solutions in challenging contexts and we are purposefully optimistic in all we do.
• Disciplined: we turn up on time and do what we say.
• Respectful: We look after and nurture our staff and treat with respect our colleagues and partners. We strive to create an institutional environment that brings out the best in each of us and champions the responsible stewardship of nature.
• Excellence: we strive to embody best practice and recognize that to achieve this we must continuously learn and partner with others.

Our mission is achieved through six primary areas designed to enhance the management effectiveness of National Parks.

Management: Establishment of modern management systems in forgotten parks based on international standards. This will include strengthening management systems, strategic land-use planning, park performance monitoring, infrastructure, human resources, administration, accounting, budgeting and communications. We seek to support decision-making and inform policy decision makers at different scales to support long-term biodiversity conservation through protected areas.

Protection: Design and implementation of appropriate protection strategies in response to threats and needs. Activities may include: ranger training, operations and deployment, equipment, vehicles and rations, rapid reaction anti-poaching units, intelligence and investigation units, K-9 units, and aerial surveillance capacity.

Monitoring, Research and Technology: Development and implementation of a wildlife monitoring program. Where appropriate special projects relating to ecological restoration and species conservation may include wildlife re-introductions, invasive species control, and wildlife habituation. We seek to provide a platform for innovative applied research to characterize the wildlife and social-ecological systems, as well as develop and test tools for assessing trade-offs. We increase capacity, knowledge and understanding of conservation and sustainable use of wildlife and wild places among academics, managers and policy makers. Embracing technology to achieve this.

Community Conservation: Establishment of revenue sharing mechanisms and implementation of special development initiatives that improve the livelihoods of local communities and contribute positively to the sustainable development of the region. We particularly target opportunities to be a catalyst for promoting education, well-being and nature-based enterprises. Support the establishment of participatory management processes for the legal and sustainable management of subsistence hunting/fishing in rural areas where bushmeat is an important component of food security, cultural identity or income.

Tourism Development: Assessment, design and development of park-based tourism activities, including products, infrastructure, permits, protocols, park fees, best practices, community engagement, and resources management.

Sustainable Financing: Development of sustainable financing mechanisms through the creation of partnerships with the private sector, high net-worth individuals, foundations and bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors. Support may include the formation of specific park-based alliances, fundraising initiatives, and the development of a trust fund.

The principles underpinning our approach to identifying and investing in forgotten parks are summarized below:
• Globally significant biodiversity values in large wilderness areas. We are focused on identifying those protected areas at risk, which have the potential when rehabilitated to be of international importance. We focus on large areas that will inspire the human spirit and that can provide a refuge for megafauna and support complete ecological processes and ecosystems.
• Political legitimacy with a clear long-term mandate. A strong relationship and integration with the national authorities for protected areas is fundamental. Before starting work on the ground we commit to a long-term agreement with the government for devolved management responsibility and an integrated governance structure. We take a leadership role that is embedded in government, reporting directly to the national government authority responsible for the protected area system. Taking on management responsibility makes us fully accountable to the government and to donors for how money is spent and for achieving results.
• Partnering with long-term investors. Large protected areas need significant investments over time to create an impact, we seek to engage individuals in the public/ private sector.
• Excellence in the basic operational functions. We prioritise establishing the basics well, with expertise in implementing robust and effective administration, finance, communications and logistics systems and the necessary access and operational infrastructures. This provides the platform for all protection, conservation and development activities.
• Identify and nurture in-country talent. We proactively work to build the core protected area management teams of national citizens, providing mentoring and training as required. Wherever possible we strengthen and improve the sustainability of our actions by working through local implementing partners.
• Partnering with global leaders in their field. We partner with leading institutions and experts from the private/ public sectors and civil society, to develop the conservation area and mentor the core protected area management team. No one organization can deliver all that is required, together we are stronger.
• Customised to the unique context. No two places are the same and strategies for rehabilitation and development will build on their unique values and opportunities. For example, some protected areas may focus on wildlife reintroductions and tourism, whilst others on exploration and science.
• Field-based and practical. We operate on the ground, with agile and flexible teams that are proactive in problem solving and delivering quality protected area operations.

Development of the Upemba and Kundelungu national park complex protected area management plan.
Enhanced security and law enforcement capability within the Upemba and Kundelungu national park complex through the recruitment and training of 50 ICCN park rangers and the procurement of vehicles for effective monitoring and surveillance around the park.
Infrastructure development of the park through the refurbishment of several buildings and outposts within the park.
Enhanced monitoring and security of the remaining ~200 elephants within the park.
Human Wildlife Conflict mitigation plan and community conservation initiative.
Provision of technical consultancy and capability to several conservation nonprofit partners throughout subsaharan Africa.