ABSTRACT
If protected areas are to conserve biodiversity and promote economic development, they must be adequately funded. However, during the past decade there has been little growth in the resources available in many countries. At the same time, there has been a rapid growth in the number and extent of protected areas, the pressures upon them and the demands of management. Moreover, many countries with the highest levels of biodiversity find particular difficulty in securing the necessary funds because of the imperative of poverty alleviation.
