Evaluation, Verification, Certification

EUROPARC's 'Transboundary Parks - Following Nature's Design' initiative is a special verification and certification system that aims to promote and facilitate transboundary cooperation between European protected areas.

There are three elements to the system: the unique EUROPARC Basic Standards Criteria for Transfrontier Cooperation, which protected areas strive to fulfil, an evaluation process carried out by external verifiers, and formal certification as a "EUROPARC Transboundary Area" at the end of the process if enough basic categories are fulfilled.

The 'Basic Standards' application process is open to European protected areas involved in transfrontier cooperation.

Together the Basic Standards, the evaluation and certification process provide a unique support system for protected areas engaged in transboundary cooperation in Europe. The system sets the standard for transboundary cooperation, to which all TBPAs should aspire.

Find out more about the evaluation procedure by clicking on the links in the text above. If you still have questions about the programme or the evaluation system after reading this please contact Richard Blackman at r.blackman@europarc.org.