Communities of Practice Beyond our Borders:
Building an International Program at Yosemite National Park
By Don L. Neubacher, Superintendent, Yosemite National Park
Mike Gauthier, Chief of Staff, Yosemite National Park Jodi Bailey, Administrative Support Assistant, Yosemite National Park
April 2, 2015 George Wright Society Conference
Oakland, CA
Yosemite Inspires the World
• 50 international delegations each year • World Heritage Site • Capacity: 1100 staff members • 25% international visitors • Visited by 33 Countries • Large Concession Operation • Major philanthropic Partner • Over 50 partners
JOINING THE INTERNATIONAL PARK COMMUNITY
Visiting Delegation From NEPAL
• Share the same vision for protection of world’s heritage
• Centennial, time to give back
• Landscape Planning and cooperation world wide is critical
Why Engage the Global Park and Protected Area Community
• Direct Benefits to Staff Morale • Innovation • Share ideas and issues • Different Perspectives • Learn new ways to communicate • Staff development • Many issues are global • NPS has tremendous resources
YOSEMITE’S INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PROGRAM -- FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS
• Commitment at all Levels—2020 Vision
• Collateral Duty
• Partnerships
YOSEMITE’S
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PROGRAM
Sister Parks
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Delegation Hosting
Technical Exchanges
VISITING DELEGATIONS
Technical Exchanges
• Short-duration
• Issue- specific
• Sharing expertise
YOSEMITE AND THE SISTER PARKS
Current Sister Parks - Planned Sister Parks -
CURRENT SISTER PARKS
Huangshan National Park Jiuhaigou National Park
China
CURRENT SISTER PARKS
Chile Germany
Torres del Paine National Park
Berchtesgaden National Park
PLANNED SISTER PARKS
Mount Aspiring National Park, New Zealand
Parks Nepal
Sagarmatha National Park Langtang National Park
Chitwan Park
Planned Sister Parks
Lake Hovsgol National Park, Mongolia
Cumbres de Monterrey National Park, Mexico
PLANNED SISTER PARKS
Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, Tanzania
Wadi Rum National Park, Jordan
LESSONS LEARNED
• Capitalize on existing talent • Takes time to develop
relationships • Voluntary participation, find
champions • Coordinate closely with
WASO and State Department • Be cognizant of security
issues • Use IA to advance park goals
SUMMARY KEYS TO SUCCESS
• Commitment
• Partnerships
• Funding
Logos for DNC and YC this corner?
For Further Information:
Don L. Neubacher, Superintendent [email protected]
Mike Gauthier, Chief of Staff
Visit our website: nps.gov/yose
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