Finite generation of the algebra of type A conformal blocks via birational geometry

We study birational geometry of the moduli space of parabolic bundles over a projective line, in the framework of Mori's program. We show that the moduli space is a Mori dream space. As a consequence, we obtain the finite generation of the algebra of type A conformal blocks. Furthermore, we compute the H-representation of the effective cone which was previously obtained by Belkale. For each big divisor, the associated birational model is described in terms of moduli space of parabolic bundles.