What does 2011 have in store?

Happy New Year! Ein frohes neues Jahr! Bonne Année!

2011 looks to be an exciting and of course a jam packed year for the EUROPARC Federation and its members. A number of new projects began at the end of last year, which we are looking forward to working on this year. In addition, there will be a number of informative EUROPARC events for protected area practitioners: Preparations for the EUROPARC Conference 2011 are well under way and a second Siggen event will be organised in July. We are also organising the international Junior Ranger Camp, a verifiers training for our European Charter for Sustainable Tourism and Transboundary Park programmes, a Charter Network meeting and a TransParcNet seminar. In addition, our sections will be active with a number of exciting events and activities, not to mention the possibilities to learn more about topics to do with nature protection through the different projects that we are currently working on. You will find more on all of this on selected pages on this website in due course.

Other initivatives that EUROPARC will be strongly supporting this year are:

International decade of biodiversity

In 2010 we celebrated the International Year of Biodiversity. One of the higlights of the year was the COP10 conference in Nagoya in October. Following one of the recommendations that came from heads of state in Nagoya the United Nations officially named the years from 2011 to 2020 the UN Decade of Biodiversity on 29th December 2010. The aim is to stop the loss of biodiversity by 2020. To do this new personal and finances should be secured by the COP11 in India in 2012.

European Year of Volunteering

"Volunteer! Make a Difference" is the title given to the European Year of Volunteering 2011. EUROPARC and its members will be participating through the European Day of Parks this year and contributing to improving volunteering in protected areas through a new GRUNDTVIG Life Long Learning project 'Volunteer Management in European Parks'.

"A Eurobarometer study in May 2010 revealed that 3 out of 10 Europeans claim to be active in a voluntary capacity. There are many different definitions and traditions concerning volunteering. A common thread throughout these activities is that wherever people come together to help each other and support those in need, both society as a whole and the individual volunteers benefit. Through volunteering, people gain knowledge, exercise skills and extend their social networks, which can often lead to new or better employment opportunities, as well as personal and social development [...].

To highlight volunteers’ work, encourage others to join in and address the challenges they face, the 2011 European Year of Volunteering has four main objectives:
- lowering obstacles to volunteering in the EU;
- empowering volunteer organisations and improve the quality of volunteering;
- rewarding and recognise volunteering activities;
- raising awareness of the value and importance of volunteering.
To meet these goals, the Commission will encourage the exchange of good practices between Member States' authorities and volunteering organisations. The focus will be on training volunteers, accreditation and quality assurance, and efficient and effective match-making between potential volunteers and volunteering opportunities. The Commission will encourage new Europe-wide networking initiatives to encourage cross-border exchanges and synergies among volunteer organisations and other sectors, especially with businesses. Throughout the Year of Volunteering, hundreds of activities and projects will be highlighted and promoted..."

Source: Press release European Union, 1st December 2010

The International Year of Forests

The United Nations General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. Preparations for the observance of Forests 2011 are taking place at the national, regional and international levels.

EUROPARC encourages its members and supporters to take part in all of the initiatives above. Use them to promote the work of protected areas and their important values and benefits.