Help shape the future of Protected Area Management Effectiveness!

The call for pilot sites in the LIFE PAME-Europe project is now open. This exclusive opportunity will ensure that you can help shape the future of Protected Area Management Effectiveness in Europe!

The LIFE PAME-Europe project is pleased to announce the official Call for Pilot Sites. Protected Areas across Europe are invited to apply and become part of a landmark initiative to strengthen Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) for Europe’s Protected Areas. The application process is open until 12th of December 2025!

Why Become a Pilot Site?

By using and applying the Framework, Protected Areas, National Authorities and EU Member States will be enabled to better know how to improve the management of their sites, protect biodiversity, report its condition, and evaluate the effectiveness of conservation measures against conservation objectives

Pilot sites will have the unique opportunity to:

• Apply and test the LIFE PAME-Europe Framework for Management Effectiveness Evaluation between March and December 2026.
• Contribute to shaping a European-wide tool to assess, improve, and report on the management of Protected Areas.
• Join a co-learning community of PAME practitioners and benefit from tailored training, guidance, and access to the European Nature Academy (ENA).
  Receive financial support for training-related and local pilot activities.
• Gain visibility as leaders in Management Effectiveness: selected pilot sites will be recognised as “Protected Areas of Excellence in ME Assessment”, with 5–10 outstanding sites awarded at the end of the project.

Who Can Apply?

Eligible sites include:

• Natura 2000 sites
• National Authorities with responsibilities for designated Protected Areas reporting to the European Environment Agency (EEA)
• Sites located in the EU27 or wider Europe (e.g. Parties to the Bern Convention, pre-accession countries)

Applicants must commit to:

• Participating in the online Induction Meeting (10.30 to 12.00 CET on 29 January 2026), the Training Seminar in Prague (10–11 March 2026), and online training sessions between March & December 2026.
• Testing & applying the PAME-Europe Framework and EEA IT tool.
• Providing feedback via an online evaluation questionnaire.
• Signing a Commitment to Participate agreement, counter-signed by their organisation.

All applicants must designate at least one staff member (with B2 English proficiency or higher) to lead participation in the pilot process.

The deadline for registrations is 12th of December. Carefully read all information on the following page and apply!

All information for LIFE PAME-Europe pilot sites

Join LIFE PAME-Europe as a Pilot Site and help shape the future of management effectiveness in Europe’s Protected Areas. By participating, you will be able to self-assess how effective your management actions are to achieve progress towards your conservation objectives and outcomes. Importantly though, you will be actively contributing to building a robust, inclusive, and practical ME framework that will benefit biodiversity across Europe.