Hosting Large Events in Periurban Parks
In this webinar, we delved into the environmental impacts of hosting leisure, sports, and recreation events in periurban parks across Europe. Park managers, especially in peri-urban contexts, are at the forefront of balancing the socio-recreational benefits these spaces offer with the pressing need for ecological sustainability. The continuous influx of visitors leads to significant environmental impacts, both obvious and less apparent, along with uncertainty about the long-term effects and species’ recovery capacities.
Our guest speaker Quentin Drouet, presented his recent benchmark study gathering insights from parks and event managers from four European countries, highlighting the challenges and measures taken to tackle the impact of climate change and large number of visitors. We discussed the importance of strategic compromises among stakeholders to ensure the sustainable management of these vital green spaces.
The programme
Introduction to the EUROPARC Network and the Periurban Commission
- Anna Castelli, Project manager at EUROPARC Federation
To the Periurban Commission Presentation and Recommendations
Introduction of the benchmark study and selected examples
- Quentin Drouet, Geographer
Bois de Vincennes, Paris, France
Englischer Garten, Munich, Germany
Bois de la Cambre, Brussels, Belgium
Grand Parc Miribel Jonage, Lyon, France – Grand Parc Miribel Jonage – Video from the Park
To the Case Studies Presentations
Q&A session
- Participants
Recommendations and concluding remarks
The speaker
Quentin Drouet – Geographer
Quentin holds a PhD in Geography (2024) and a Master’s degree in Spatial Planning (2012). He has developed land-use planning solutions for local authorities in both urban and mountain areas of France addressing issues such as agriculture, environmental protection, sustainable tourism, housing strategies, energy efficiency, and eco-mobility.
In recent years, he has collaborated with the Slovenian consultancy ZaVita, d.o.o., contributing to environmental impact assessments and supporting a transnational cooperation project on ecological connectivity. His work included a benchmark study on biodiversity protection in urban parks during large-scale cultural and sporting events. Currently employed by the Slovenian NGO Focus (Focus Association for Sustainable Development), he focuses on projects promoting a green and just transition. He is also member of CIPRA Slovenia and AlpPLan network.
