Current transboundary news

Network of transboundary parks grows

Two new transboundary park partnerships were awarded the “Transboundary Parks: Following nature’s design” certificate during the EUROPARC 2009 annual conference in Strömstad:

* Bavarian Forest National Park (D) together with the Šumava National Park (CZ)
* Transboundary Ecoregion Julian Alps comprising Triglav National Park (SI), the Prealpi Giulie Nature Park (I) and the Julian Alps Biosphere Reserve (SI)

The award comes after a rigorous verification process earlier in the summer, which included site visits by independent experts. Certification is given for exemplary cross-border cooperation.

Involving analysis of the current level of cooperation, this EUROPARC certification system includes assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of cross-border partnerships at all levels of administration, and identifies fields of work where practical action is required. It is designed to encourage best practice and facilitate daily cooperation between European protected areas at borders.

With certification of these parks, eight transboundary park partnerships involving protected areas in eleven countries have now been certified. The network known as TransParcNet is growing and the group will meet in the spring of 2010 in the Neusiedler See – Seewinkel National Park in Austria.

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