The aim of the workshop on the economics of protected areas was to present the state of the art in assessing the economic contributions that protected areas make to society, and to address the policy and institutional changes that are required to enable protected areas to enhance their economic contribution to society (for example, changes in ownership and land tenure). The workshop covered both terrestrial and marine environments, and included efforts at different levels (that is, local, regional, national, and international levels). The papers in this volume are grouped into three sections: 1) economic policy and incentives; 2) economic valuation and protected areas; and 3) ecotourism and funding mechanisms. Twenty-six papers and nine short interventions were presented. Three smaller groups discussed economic analysis, multiple use strategies, and economics of tourism, respectively.