Every year, EUROPARC Conference is hosted by one of our members. In 2017, we had Portugal organising an amazing 5-days Conference in the Magic Mountains region, hosted by ADRIMAG. During the final session, EUROPARC proudly announced the next Conference Destination, and Portugal handed over EUROPARC flag to… SCOTLAND!

The Cairngorms National Park will welcome EUROPARC members between the 18-21st September 2018.

After discussing the “New Voices, New Visions and New Values for Nature and People in Europe”, in Scotland we will be “Inspired by the Next Generation”, with a Conference focusing on the important role of Youth and Youngsters!

The European Commission – DG Environment was represented at the highest level at EUROPARC Conference 2017. Read about the important message they brought to EUROPARC members by three members of the DG Environment.

A welcome message from Karmenu Vella

Due to Agenda incompatibility, Mr. Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, sent us an important video highlighting the need for a better connection between nature and people. Mr Vella stressed that

protected areas raise awareness of the value of nature and they deliver multiple benefits. But we need a better connection to nature and for t, at we need good city plans, that integrate nature and green spaces.

After a first welcoming video-message at EUROPARC Conference 2016, the Commissioner highlighted the work of EUROPARC “in the promotion of protected areas and development of sustainable tourism”.

The EU Action Plan for nature, people and the economy

Presentation by Humberto Delgado Rosa, Director for Natural Capital

Following the inspirational video-message of Mr Vella, Humberto Delgado Rosa, Director for Natural Capital on the Directorate-General Environment, shared with us how the EU is working towards a positive leap for the future of nature and people in Europe. The recently launched “Action Plan for people, nature and the economy” was the main topic of his presentation.

Mr Delgado Rosa briefly described the Fitness Check Process (that the basis of the Action Plan), detailed the 4 priority areas of action, highlighting the “essential role of regional and local authorities” in implementing the Action Plan and EUROPARC’s key-role has a partner in delivering the Action Plan.

Download the presentation here

Humberto Delgado Rosa, Director for Natural Capital – DG Environment, European Commission at EUROPARC Conference 2017, Arouca, Magic Mountains, Portugal © Eduardo Realinho

Practical workshop by Micheal O’Briain, Deputy Head of Nature Unit

Managing Natura 2000 sites EU Action Plan for nature, people and the economy: how it helps Protected Area managers, and vice versa? was the title of Mr. O’Briain presentation on Workshop 6: The Laws of Nature. During the workshops, participants got a practical insight practical on how Protected Areas are expected to contribute to the Action Plan objectives and the tools the EU is developing to smoother the process for all involved stakeholders.

Download the presentation here and read more about the outcomes of the workshop here.

Cooperation with DG Environment

For the past years, EUROPARC office in Brussels has been nurturing a strong relationship with the Directorate-General Environment. Several meetings have been held with the Commissioner Karmenu Vella and , where we represented our members needs and provided direct input from the field on the achievement of the EU Nature Directives. Moreover, in June, we organised the first  Cpmmission a view fwith several meetings and events organised in partnership

Ignace Schops was re-elected President of the EUROPARC Conference yesterday afternoon, at EUROPARC General Assembly 2017. For his second mandate as President, Ignace assured that sustainability and expansion of the network will be the main focus of the Federation.

“The next three years will be important to achieve stability and enlarge the EUROPARC network. We want to be the common home of nature, regional, national, marine, periurban parks, and support them in the sustainable development of their territories, based on an active involvement with their local communities”.

New Council Members elected

Every three years, EUROPARC members are asked to elect new Council members and the President the Federation. 

The final list of Council members are:

Michael Hosek (CZ), Enzo Lavarra (IT), Nele Sober (EE), Paulo Castro (PT), Pete Rawcliffe (UK) and Olaf Holm (FR).

The General Assembly took place in Sao Pedro do Sul, Portugal and marked the beginning of the first day of EUROPARC Conference 2017.

During the coming days, conservation and the well-being of communities will be analysed by over 300 participants from several countries, at EUROPARC Conference. See all the programme at europarc2017.montanhasmagicas.com.pt

The members of FEDENATUR – the European Association of Periurban Parks, approved this afternoon during their general assembly its integration into the EUROPARC Federation. 

“Today, FEDENATUR dissolves. Today, thanks to your and our joint effort, FEDENATUR is born again within a big project that allows us, deliberately and consciously, to bring its background of identity, expertise and its visions for the future, within the big house of EUROPARC – a big, shared house of which we are proud to become part of. What we are doing today is not the end of a path, but rather the opportunity to transfer our expertise, our professional knowledge and our visions within a wider context and within an organisation that has broader horizons”, said Roberto Della Rovere, President of FEDENATUR.

Roberto Della Rovere, FEDENATUR President (left) and Marià Martí, FEDENATUR Secretary-General (right)

Roberto also emphasizes the sustainability aspect of these territories, considering that “periurban and metropolitan parks are an example that living within the park area can be, and is most often, a resource and an opportunity. We combine respect for the environment with sustainable development”.

“EUROPARC works with protected areas, however, several parks in Europe are located in the outskirts of metropolitan areas” said Ignace Schops, EUROPARC President. “I’m happy for this decision. The largest organisation of periurban parks joins EUROPARC, bringing new advice and knowledge, but especially new visions, new voices and new values. EUROPARC is open to cooperate with other organisations that work on the same sustainable development strand”, said Ignace Schops, President of the EUROPARC Federation, re-elected this afternoon for a new three-year term.”

EUROPARC looks forward to welcoming all FEDENATUR members into our big family!