George Wright Society :: Parks, Protected Areas Cultural Sites

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The George Wright Society champions stewardship of parks, protected & conserved areas, cultural sites, and other kinds of place-based conservation by connecting people, places, knowledge, and ideas. By uniting people from many different backgrounds around a common passion for protecting Earth’s natural and cultural heritage, we create the collaboration needed to meet today’s greatest conservation challenges.

INNOVATING ACROSS BOUNDARIES FOR
Parks • Cultural Sites
Protected / Conserved Areas

University of Montana, Missoula • October 20–23, 2025

Plan to join us as we launch a new series of annual workshops exploring the latest in place-based conservation!

Registration now open — register early and save!

Still accepting proposals for Posters and 3MR presentations

GWS ParkForum 2025 1-min Intro

GWS ParkForum 2025 1-min Intro

Play Video

Check out the latest issue of our open-access journal, Parks Stewardship Forum

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INSPIRED BY GEORGE MELÉNDEZ WRIGHT

The first-ever biography of our namesake — the visionary who revolutionized management of America‘s national parks

“Emory’s enumeration of Wright’s accomplishments—including a survey of wildlife in Western parks, the first of its kind—is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Highly recommended for nature lovers and park enthusiasts.” LIBRARY JOURNAL

Watch our virtual chat
with author Jerry Emory!

Parkwire, GWS’s daily global digest

of park news • Follow on FB

Latest top headlines • 28 April 2025

Conservationists fear that Trump's move to open up a Pacific marine NMon to commercial fishing bodes poorly for MPAs in general. https://buff.ly/0ESx3XN

Amid persistent reports that USNPS staffing levels will be considerably lower this summer, Grand Teton and Yellowstone NPs are saying that their numbers will actually be slightly higher over last year's. https://buff.ly/svAslQm

Trump intends to cut down the size of 6 NMons to open up the land to energy development, according to the Washington Post. https://buff.ly/HMf2qsr

Burgum announced that DOI would try to largely bypass NEPA, ESA, and other laws to fast-track fossil fuel and other energy projects on federal lands under the guise of Trump's so-called energy emergency. Environmental groups vowed to fight the move in court. https://buff.ly/4PIzBhZ

Trump/Musk' dismantlement of USAID has halted successful conservation projects, including management of NPs and other PAs, around the world. https://buff.ly/38c8Zgh

A leaked draft strategy for DOI prioritizes energy production, suggests selling off some public lands, and hints that NMons may be downsized. https://buff.ly/sEyBw20

Eighty percent of the world's coral reefs have been damaged since 2023 as part of the worst global bleaching event on record. https://buff.ly/aypO1hq

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