Exchange programmes - IUCN

Through the NPS/KZNP partnership and co-operation, the KZNP was successful in
obtaining two MCS II grants, for bison research and for hydrological studies.
Other sources
The US Embassy in Warsaw provided support for a visit by five Polish park personnel to
the United States in August 1997. The NPS also hopes to obtain assistance from the large
Polish-American community in the nearby city of Chicago to help in the future.
Lessons learned
From the experience of the Indiana Dunes-Kampinoski sister park relationship, a
number of important lessons have been learned:
� Continued communication is very important in maintaininga partnership. Language
and distance are potentially large barriers, but they can be eased with even
the briefest of notes, phone calls or emails. For example, Dale Engquist of Indiana
Dunes sends his counterpart Jurek from Kampinoski a note on Polish
Independence Day, which Jurek reciprocates on US Independence Day. They also
find it useful to exchange their respective park newsletters, magazines and calendars.
� Both partners must continually seek out funding sources. While Kampinoski can
and does apply much of their existingresources and staff to the programme, they
are in need of new funds. While the US seed fundinghas been exhausted, Indiana
Dunes has more budget flexibility which allows them to continue the project,
albeit perhaps not with as many opportunities for travel.
� A mutual respect between the two parks is a crucial component of the success of
the exchange to date. Each partner recognises the professionalism of the other, and
values its contributions. This includes respect for the other country’s culture and
history.
� Language is a critical component in effective communications. Without a common
language, communication is very difficult. Currently, the exchange relies on
the Polish partners speakingEnglish, as no one from the US park speaks Polish,
with the exception of a bison biologist. A language translation computer programme
was used, but did not work well and was abandoned.
2.6 Other exchanges
Global experiences with exchange programmes
Staff exchanges between Canada and Chile
The exchanges between Chile and Canada involved visits from protected area personnel
in Chile and Canada to each other’s country. The idea developed as a by-product of an
international meeting, when two senior level managers from Parks Canada and the
National Parks System of Chile agreed on the need for an exchange programme to
advance both systems’ knowledge and understanding of different management approaches.
An MOU was drawn up between the two agencies stipulating what types of
activities would take place, who would sponsor what activities, and when they would
take place.
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