In the decades since the first World Parks Congress in 1962, our thinking about and approach to protecting lands has evolved a great deal. Evidence of this is the growing contribution the private sector has made to land conservation through such approaches as private reserves and land conservation easements. Instead of being rivals, the private and public sectors in Latin America have been working together to conserve natural areas.
On March 25, 2004 ELI held an Associate Seminar to explore the unique legal framework in Latin American countries, which fosters these public and private partnerships. Byron Swift (Senior Attorney; Environmental Law Institute), author of Legal Tools and Incentives for Private Lands Conservation in Latin America: Building Models for Success, discussed the use of legal tools and incentive mechanisms for the conservation of private lands in Latin America and assessed their implementation record. He offered recommendations for an improved framework for private lands conservation, and presented model laws for the creation of private reserves and conservation easements.