“One Site, One Plan. Integrated Conservation Management”

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Eurosite workshop

Amersfoort, the Netherlands, 7-8 June 2017

Eurosite, together with Natuurmonumenten, Staatsbosbeheer and Natural England are organising a workshop to share a new approach to the management of conservation sites. The Dutch and UK national conservation organisations have been working closely together on this approach that:

  • It is adaptive and integrates planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation;
  • It is scalable, integrating the management of individual sites with the management of site networks;
  • It harmonises conflicting interests by integrating all land interests into a single, dynamic site plan;
  • It is software supported, integrating mapping, data and documents to create a one-stop information system;
  • It shares learning enabling organisations to integrate information from other sites and into their site management.

The approach has been adopted on over 1,000 sites managed by public and charitable sector organisations, who will now share the benefits and challenges of this evolving approach. During the conference there will be presentations from practitioners, practical workshops and site visits to see how it works in the field on Natura 2000 and other sites.

Above all, the conference was designed for delegates to share their ‘real-world’ practical experiences (the good and the bad) of adaptive management so participants can take home new ideas for their organisations and nature sites.

Who should attend?

Anyone with working in the field of conservation, in particular: site managers, site planners, responsible conservation staff members, habitat and species surveyors, information management specialists and ICT managers.

For more information, please visit Eurosite website:

http://eurosite.org/events/eurosite-workshop-one-site-one-plan-integrated-conservation-management/

Course of Photographic Activities in Protected Spaces – EUROPARC Spain

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EUROPARC Spain and Fernando González Bernáldez Foundation have open the registrations for the 2017 edition of the

Course of Photographic Activities in Protected Spaces

This course offers both a reflection and practical aspects of the great potential that photography has as a tool for the conservation and communication of nature in protected areas. The course aims to give to the participants the ability to design and implement basic activities in photography through which they can contribute to the multiple objectives of protected natural spaces.

Registrations are open until 5th of May. The course will be taught in Spanish language either through a combination of face-to-face and online classes, or completely online, and will take place from the 16th of May to the 11th of June 2017. The face-to-face sessions are scheduled for the 29th and 30th of May and will take place in Madrid.

Reduced fees for students and unemployed are available, as well as for technicians of the administrations of EUROPARC-Spain. Discounts can be obtained through the Tripartite Foundation.

The course counts with the collaboration of the Spanish Association of Nature Photographers, AEFONA, and the Photography and Biodiversity Association.

Get further information and registrations, and a course brochure at the Fernando González Bernáldez Foundation website.

Rangers Congress – Exploring new approaches to conserving nature

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From the 9th to the 13th May, Rangers will be gathered in Czech Republic for the 4th European Ranger Congress of the International Ranger Federation. With the theme “Exploring new approaches to conserving nature” Rangers will have a full-packed congress with keynote speakers, field trips, practical workshops and several opportunities to network with their peers from across the globe.

Rangers will be looking at important topics such as health care, environmental education, Natura 2000 and other legally framed protected areas, training for rangers, cooperation, financial challenges, working with volunteers and digital media.

The full Congress programme can be downloaded here.

In 2010, EUROPARC and IRF signed a memorandum of understanding to better engage the two networks. EUROPARC, since then, as been actively promoting IRF activities and supporting the work of Rangers across Europe. Hence, the EUROPARC Junior Rangers programme will also be highlighted in the Conference in 3 moments:

  • Sára Elion Svobodová, a Junior Ranger from the Litomerice region (CZ) will share her personal experience within the programme
  • Carol Ritchie, EUROPARC Executive Director, will make a presentation on Wednesday and a lead a workshop about the programme

Congress Website: www.erc2017.org

Congress venue: Culture Hall, Na Valech 2028, 412 01 Litomerice; Web: www.mkz-ltm.cz

Deadline for registrations: 21st April

About IRF

The International Ranger Federation (IRF) is a non-profit organization established to raise awareness of and support the critical work that the world’s park rangers do in conserving our natural and cultural heritage. In 2010, the EUROPARC Federation and IRF have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote the

Founded in 1992, the IRF has a membership of more than 70 ranger associations from more than 50 countries, on six of the seven continents. The role of the IRF is to empower rangers by supporting their national or state ranger organizations, or assisting in the establishment of local ranger associations in countries where they do not currently exist.

EUROPARC Webinar: Visitor Management in Transboundary Parks

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 26th April – 15:00

Visitor Management in Transboundary Parks

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER   

Tourism is a relevant factor in many European Protected Areas, including Transboundary Parks, with major environmental, social, and economic benefits for people and communities in often very remote regions. In this context, cross-border improvements are needed if we are to ensure low impact on protected area resourcesbenefits for park neighbours and local communities, and at the same time enhance visitors’ experiences. 

On this EUROPARC webinar, we will further explore developments in the field of tourism in transboundary protected areas with key actions taking place, for a high-quality, ecologically compatible and environmentally friendly visitor management.

The webinar will be presented by Luís Monteiro, PhD student at the Czech University of Life Sciences with the thesis “Assessing, managing and monitoring tourism and related impacts in protected areas”. In the past, Luis has worked in the Průhonice Park management department, an UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Czech Republic, where he helped to improve the trail system orientation and interpretation programmes. He is member of the Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group from the IUCN WCPA and he is currently conducting an internship at the EUROPARC Federation. He will give an introduction and overview to the topic of visitor management and cooperation across borders framed by the Transboundary Parks Programme.
Two case studies from the TransParcNet, EUROPARC’s network of cross-border protected areas, will be presented:

In the Bavarian Forest National Park (Germany), there around 500 kms of marked trails! photo by Maria Husslein

Case Study 1

Plans for a future common visitor monitoring in Bavarian Forest and Šumava National Parks

by Florian Porst, Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany

The area of Šumava and Bavarian Forest National Park is characterised as the largest forest region without human intervention in central Europe. The first Transboundary Certificate between the Bavarian Forest and Šumava National Parks was handed out in 2009.

In the context of an INTERREG (ETZ Bayern-Tschechien) project, both parks will develop a cross border visitor monitoring. The Project runs for a period of three years from 1st January 2017 to 31st December 2019.

Bavarian Forest National Park (DE) has done a basic visitor survey in 2013-2014. Within the project, an equal survey will be done in Šumava National Park (CZ) so it will be possible to compare and merge the data Furthermore, the parks will develop five common survey modules with different themes and each survey will be repeated in a five years regular circle in the future. In addition, it will be established a permanent cross border visitor counting in the whole area of both national parks with automatic counters.

After Studying human geography at Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (graduation in 2014), Florian Porst started working for the Bavarian Forest National Park Administration in the department of visitor management and visitor information. 

Triglav National Park is the only national Park in Slovenia © Triglav NP archive

Case Study 2

Towards a more sustainable tourism in the Julian Alps: Application of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in a transboundary area

by Mojca Smolej, Triglav National Park, Slovenia

Cooperation between Prealpi Giulie Nature Park (IT) and Triglav National Park (SL) dates back to 1996, when the Italian park was established. Partnership between the two protected areas was reinforced by EU projects, which supported relationships among cross-border partners.

In 2009, the Transboundary Julian Alps Ecoregion, which also includes Slovenia’s Julian Alps MAB UNESCO Area, was officially awarded the EUROPARC Transboundary Certificate. Last year, the Parks wanted to give a step further in their cooperation, regarding sustainable tourism and visitor management, so they have applied the Charter Methodology and were awarded with the European Charter of Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas, becoming the first Transboundary Sustainable Destination. Mojca will tell us about their experience in managing tourism across borders and the outcomes of their joint application of the Charter.

Mojca Smolej, is the focal point for Transboundary cooperation in Triglav National Park, for over 10 years. Mojca has been always involved on tourism development: in the creation of info centers, implementation of tourism-related strategies and promotional actions.

Webinar powered by

Special series of EUROPARC Webinars on Sustainable Tourism

As a celebration of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, declared by the United Nations for 2017, EUROPARC is organising a series of 3 webinars on the topic of Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas.

We will showcase the important role of Protected Areas in the development of sustainable tourism practices that deliver socio-economic benefits to local communities whilst protecting our natural heritage.

In the 3 webinars, good practices from our network of Sustainable Destinations – that have been awarded with the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas (ECST) – and from our TransParcNet – the network of Transboundary Parks – will be shared.

We will look at practical examples on visitor management, engagement and cooperation with local partners, and outcomes of the implementation of the ECST methodology in several countries.

April: Visitor Management in Transboundary Parks

May: Engaging with local partners for Sustainable Tourism strategies

June: Sustainable Tourism in Marine Protected Areas