A participatory management approach needs to be put in place to reconcile conflicting activities and to ensure that the benefits from protected areas are shared on a sustainable equitable basis. Ongoing financial support, training and other resources are required to ensure that both rangers and communities can work together effectively. Central to this task is building partnerships that are based on trust, mutual respect and a common understanding of the role and benefits of protected areas. In discussion of protected areas, ecotourism and business, it was noted that there are diminishing financial resources available to protected areas. There are, however opportunities that exist in creating income from ecotourism, as well as the potential for increasing efficiency through outsourcing non-core functions.
Rangers recognise their general lack of capacity in business management.
They are also concerned that the primary role of biodiversity conservation may be negatively affected by business interests. The overall consideration is the integration of ecotourism and business into conservation management in a way that protects the resources on which these economic benefits can be attained. Resolutions Having noted its changing context, the IRF recognised the critical role of rangers in protected area management. It reaffirmed its mission to empower rangers to deal with new and significant challenges. The IRF must continue to act as a catalyst for continual improvement in protected area management by expanding its current networking function.