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
Safeguarding Essential Information
Honoring & Supporting Public Service
Call for Proposals coming January 2026
University of Montana, Missoula
October 20–23, 2025
Explore the Virtual Workshop Library
with 50+ presentations
Parkwire, GWS’s daily global digest
of park news • Follow on FB
Latest top headlines • 11 December 2025
Trump officials helped squelch language in a new UN global environment report that called for action on climate change, biodiversity loss, and more. https://buff.ly/aSkFF5N
NPCA is sharply criticizing Trump's order to USNPS to review materials in NP gift shops (including books) that don't align with his politics. https://buff.ly/ig0cxKK
Bison are being reintroduced to a PA in Coahuila, Mexico, after being gone for more than 150 years. https://buff.ly/KFiHdLZ
Kenya has expanded the Tsavo West Rhino Sanctuary, making it the largest of its kind in the world. https://buff.ly/KwUlULz
Trump's decision to end free admission to NPs on Martin Luther King Jr Day and Juneteenth — and instead allow it on his birthday, which coincides with Flag Day — is drawing criticism. https://buff.ly/J4cNxeF
The elephant conservationist and anti-poaching leader Iain Douglas-Hamilton has died. He worked in NPs and other PAs throughout his storied career. https://buff.ly/iNv7YHQ
A new online course explores OECMs — Other Effective Conservation Measures that supplement protected areas. OECMs are now part of IUCN's portfolio of place-based conservation strategies. https://buff.ly/bQThHZ5
Conservation organizations are criticizing Trump's nominee to lead USBLM, citing his past advocacy for selling off public lands. https://buff.ly/0vqZ0XB
DOI is ordering NP gift shops to flag any sales items that don't comport with Trump orders to sanitize history and promote only positive images of America. https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2025/12/interior-memo-orders-nps-staff-flag-gift-shop-items-dei-references
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
