Apply for transboundary certification

Who can apply?

The 'Basic Standards' application process is open to European protected areas involved in transfrontier cooperation. Organisations, ministries and other partners supporting the transfrontier cooperation are eligible to initiate an application. All applications should, however, be made with the full agreement of the protected areas concerned.

How to apply

Protected areas interested in the certification firstly need to formally register their participation with EUROPARC by formally registering their interest with EUROPARC’s Cornelia Ehlers either per email to c.ehlers(at)europarc.org or by post to The EUROPARC Federation Waffnergasse 6, 93047 Regensburg.

After application the protected areas will be sent part one of a detailed manual, which accompanies the "Transboundary Parks - Following Nature's Design" initiative. The manual sets out how protected areas can work towards certification, guiding them through the basic standards and evaluation process. It contains all of the information and forms required by the applicant to complete each stage of the application and evaluation process including the following documents:

1. An introduction to the Basic Standards
2. A guide to the application process and manual
3. An outline of the evaluation process
4. The Basic Standards Criteria
5. Application form for the EUROPARC Basic Standards

The applicant should read the "Introduction to the Basic Standards" together with the "Guide to the application process and manual" and "Outline of the evaluation process" thoroughly. These documents provide background information on the process that they are about to undertake.

The next step for the parks is to work through the basic standards, assessing what has already been achieved and where action is still required to improve transboundary cooperation and meet the standards. With the information collected the protected areas should fill in the application form together and send it to EUROPARC for evaluation. At this point the small fee for the application process will also need to be transferred to the Federation

After the completed application form and the application fee have been received the transboundary protected areas will receive the second part of the manual. This contains
1. The Basic Standards Criteria and Indicators
2. Guide to the detailed forms and questionnaires
3. “Details of the partner organisations” form
4. “Details of the Cooperation” form
5. Basic Standards Criteria - Self Assessment form
6. List of supporting documentation required
7. List of terms and definitions

If EUROPARC decide that the application form is complete the evaluation procedure begins. Please see the section the verification procedure for more information on this.

Fees

Protected area administrations applying for the EUROPARC certificate of excellence for transboundary cooperation under the EUROPARC "Transboundary Parks - Following Nature's Design" initiative are required to pay an application fee to cover the basic administrative costs and the costs of the verification procedure related to their application.

In addition to the application fee payable to EUROPARC the applicant parks are required to cover all costs directly related to the field evaluation mission, except consultancy fees and international travel costs of the EUROPARC verifiers. This includes transfer costs for the verifiers to and from the nearest airport or railway to the TBPA location, their accommodation, food and local travel during the field evaluation mission within the TBPA.

In 2009 the application fee is 2,500 €. This should be payed at the beginning of the verification procedure. If the protected areas applying do not get passed the preliminary evaluation study requiring the application to be deferred the amount of EUR 2,000 earmarked for covering the further costs of the procedure (e.g. the field evaluation mission) will be returned to the applicants.

For more information about fees or applying please write to Cornelia Ehlers.