WWF Danube Carpathian Programme

Since early in 2007, EUROPARC and WWF have worked closely together on this programme which will help ensure that:

• the Carpathian protected areas are supported by a network of skilled professional protectedarea practitioners;
• we can achieve an increased participation of key stakeholders in protected-area design, management and benefit sharing;  
• critical gaps in the protected-area network are filled, with a particular focus on the creation of large intact blocks, freshwater eco-systems, wilderness and trans-boundary protected areas.

A significant part of the work is sub-contracted to EUROPARC Consulting and Consulting’s involvement in the Carpathian Eco-region continues to progress vigorously.

The work in 2009 consisted of organising the main Spring Seminar for budding Training Champions. This time, the village of Szarvasko, on the edge of the Bükk National Park in Hungary, was the venue. The Training Champions Programme is designed to develop the skills of a core group of trainees from protected areas in the Carpathian Ecoregion, particularly in training and communication, management planning, sustainable tourism and community involvement. This is being achieved through a series of training events led by two programme leaders from the EUROPARC Consulting team, Rosie Simpson and Keith Buchanan, supported by guest trainers. Jacques Descuinières supported the core team in Hungary. It also included a second seminar in Vanatori Nature Park, Romania, in September 2009. More work will follow in the coming year.

WWF DCP - Protection and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in Ukraine Carpathians

The Danube and Carpathian regions of Ukraine belong to the priority eco-region for the WWF network in general and for WWF-DCP (World Wide Fund for Nature – Danube Carpathian Programme) in particular. Building on work in several other countries of this eco-region, we were privileged to start two new programmes earlier this year in Ukraine:

• Communication and awareness-raising activities for three focal protected areas
• Work for capacity building for protected-area staff from the same region

The first part of the programme deals with improving communications, interpretation and outreach and is in the hand of a team of four, two from the UK and two from Ukraine. The team is strongly supported by excellent local WWF representatives. Already, after only two meetings, the team has succeeded in creating excellent connections and deep network.

The second part explores existing skill gaps and examines how to overcome them. In July this year it culminated in a study tour by nineteen senior officers from the three key protected areas to the Bavarian Forest and Šumava National Parks. This study programme was a resounding success and received enthusiastic feedback. Both our team and our colleagues from the Bavarian Forest National Park had worked closely together to provide a programme of excellence and depth. Being so near the Federation head office was, of course, a great help too. We are now preparing a easy-to-use manual on how to use the lessons learned in the fields of communication and interpretation. We have also prepared a report analysing possible skills gaps and ways of overcoming them.

For more information please contact EUROPARC Consultings Director, Wilf Fenten