Exchange programmes - IUCN

Recommendations for protected area
exchanges in East Asia
3.1 Proposed planning process for exchange programmes
The final section of this report draws on the lessons learned from the evaluation of
previous exchange programmes in Part 2. It sets out a suggested planning process to help
develop exchange programmes in East Asia. It includes recommendations on a strategy
for exchange programmes within the region. It concludes with a brief action agenda for
WCPA in East Asia.
Several common success factors can be identified from the global review of exchange
programmes in Part 2. The key to success is to be found in the planning process used to
develop the programme. As the EUROPARC experiences have been the longest-term,
busiest and perhaps most successful exchange programme, their planning model has
been particularly scrutinised. When combined with other experience, it provides the
basis for the following recommended planning process.
This planning model has been developed to work at different scales. In particular it is
relevant to protected area managers working at the protected area or site level (e.g.
individual protected area staff members or park directors), and protected area administrators
working at the protected area system or policy level (e.g. senior staff in
government agencies or ministries, university staff, or heads of conservation NGOs).
Throughout the text, tips for both types of these potential users are provided.
There are ten stages in the proposed planning process described in this section:
Stage 1 Plan well in advance
Stage 2 Set clear objectives
Stage 3 Review and identify potential partners
Stage 4 Identify type(s) of exchange(s)
Stage 5 Generate political and community support
Stage 6 Finalise the exchange agreement and programme
Stage 7 Obtain funding
Stage 8 Undertake the exchange(s)
Stage 9 Monitor and evaluate the exchange(s)
Stage 10 Post-exchange activities
Of course, this planning process is provided as a general guide only. It will need
adaptation to the needs of different individuals, protected area agencies and countries.
However, previous experience has shown that pursuing each of the activities contained
in the ten planning stages will improve the chances of creating a successful exchange
programme.
47