13.3.3.1 The Pan Parks Foundation

The Pan (Protected Area Network) Parks Foundation (Pan Parks) is a joint creation of the nature conservation organisation WWF and the Dutch tourism company Molecaten B.V. The alliance was established in 1997 and it launched its first project in 2001. Currently, it manages 11 projects. The main goal of Pan Parks is to establish a network where protected areas and businesses can work together both to conserve nature and support local communities in a sustainable way.1 Pan Parks focuses on developing high-quality eco-tourism products based on the nature characteristics of the particular protected area. This innovative project pursues the ambition to develop partnerships with the private sector and investors to facilitate sustainable development and raise additional funds for nature conservation. The scope of Pan Parks focuses on the European natural landscape. Pan Parks allocates resources through the 'Pan Parks Small Grants Fund' to support 'Certified Pan Parks'.2Interesting factors of this set-up are that Pan Parks has a WWF sub-branding which adds value from a business perspective. Secondly, Pan Parks follows the wilderness management concept,' meaning that an area can only qualify as a protected area' if there are at least 10,000 hectares designated for untouched nature, hence it adds to nature conservation. Thirdly, Pan Parks indicates that it offers high-quality tourism which includes local services and facilities provided by local partners. Pan Parks has begun to shift from a non-profit conservation organisation into a more business model structure. According to its 2007 report, Pan Parks aims to pursue a financially sustainable approach and to seek diverse sources of income. It has the ambition to attract institutional investors. As yet, no data are available on the success of this venture.