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Partnership & Exchange Programme
Protected areas all over the world
are subject to many pressures, and as well as protection need skilled
management which is flexible and responsive. To strengthen the management
of protected areas, the EUROPARC Federation set up a partnership programme
to span the globe, draw together a host of experiences and build expertise.
Between 1994 and 1998 the EUROPARC Partnership & Exchange Programme facilitated
technical co-operation between protected areas in Europe, Asia and
Latin America, with financial support from the European Commission.
| Achievements from the programme exceeded expectations. They include: |
| • | 15 long-term partnership agreements between European protected areas and their counterparts in Asia and Latin America. |
| • | Protected areas in Asia and Latin America sent 198 staff for study visits and on-the-job training to their European partner park and hosted 192 Europeans for expert advice and training. |
| • | 17 training seminars were organised, mainly in Europe, tailor-made for 262 park managers and technical staff from Asia and Latin America, involving 86 European park experts. |
| • | A set of seminar reports, guidelines and information brochures/leaflets were published (see publications), and a portable project exhibition displayed in many European countries. |
Directory of Partnerships >>>
Résumé of the Project (article in pdf format) >>>
The partners' own assessments of the project were overwhelmingly positive as regards partnership benefits, capacity-building impact, relevance of practical co-operation between protected areas and support received from the Partnership & Exchange Programme.
In the future, the partners wish to further their co-operation, and hope for continued support from the European Commission and EUROPARC. Many feel that the Programme could become a valuable instrument of international co-operation for the European Union and bilateral development agencies.