"Protected areas are genetic storehouses that promise a healthier future for the planet and its peoples. Safeguarding these precious areas means safeguarding our future."

Nelson Mandella, 2003. Fifth IUCN World Parks Congress, Durban, South Africa.

---

The environmental value of parks is immense and increasingly significant in our urbanised world. Our networks of diverse parks protect and conserve unique species, ecosystems, landscapes, marine environments and geological features. Parks also supply us with resources. As climate change takes hold, parks will grow in value by protecting carbon-storing vegetation and buffering habitat.

Parks Provide a protective buffer against the assault on the world's biodiversity. Much of the work within our parks is about protecting endangered species of plants and animals.

They also support primary industry, provide a range of ecosystem services, and have a significant impact on environmental amenity in urban areas, including cooling our cities.

For more detailed information about the environmental values of parks, view our Value of Parks document below: