Exchange programmes - IUCN

Implementation of an Exchange Programme for Protected Areas in East Asia
face-to-face contact, and teams could work independently. This saves money and
reduces the need to travel.
Monitoring and evaluation
There is no institutionalised monitoringfor evaluatingthe successes and failings of the
partnership, and each park is responsible for its own activities. The evaluation process is
informal and involves the preparation and review of trip reports for exchanges as well as
regular consultation via email and fax. Periodic conference calls between staff to discuss
how things are progressing in their respective parks and to solicit suggestions for
improvements are important.
Funding
Modest fundingonly was required to maintain communications and provide park
facilities when the visitors arrived, but much more was required to fund the actual visits
and the implementation of joint projects. The US estimates expenditure of approximately
US$8,500 per year. The Co-ordinator for the NPS, Dale Engquist, hopes to
secure up to US$10–15,000 annually to keep the programme going and provide for more
regular staff exchanges (pers. comm.).
Core funding
No specific source of fundingor “core funding” is available in either country. The NPS
Division of International Affairs (DIA) has funded expenses for US travel to Poland.
Originally, DIA provided approximately US$25,000 as seed money for the project, most
of which was used for travel in providingtechnical assistance for Kampinoski’s exhibit
centre. These funds have been spent and Indiana Dunes is usingtheir own park funds to
continue the programme until other funds can be identified.
Cost-sharing
The NPS/KZNP agreement simply states that activities are “subject to the availability of
funds”. In other words, both parties of the sister park agreement recognise the need for
reliable funding to sustain the agreement and agree that they will assist each other to find
funds. It also states that “it is generally understood that when personnel of one park visit
or are detailed to the other, the park sendingthe employee will be responsible for the cost
of travel to and from the receivingcountry and the receivingpark will generally be
responsible for travel and livingexpenses in their country” (note that this arrangement is
common to all the exchanges summarised in this report). For example, Kampinoski
housed the US visitors in sleepingfacilities in the park, provided all travel within Poland
and assisted with meal expenses; US visitors paid their own travel expenses to Poland.
Private grants
Private grants are provided to support the Indiana Dunes-Kampinoski partnership (as
well as that between the Badlands and Vashlovani partnerships). The US-Poland Maria
Sklodowska-Curie Joint Fund II (MCS II), named after the pioneeringPolish scientist
Madame Curie, offers a special fund for environmental projects between the US and
Poland. Approval for a grant requires applications to be submitted from both countries.
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