Greifensee-Stiftung, Switzerland
Protected Areas provide Benefits to us
Protected Areas bring numerous benefits to our society, such as:
- Protect and restore nature that underpins much of world economy
- Mitigate and help us adapt to the effects of climate change
- Contribute to disaster risk reduction through natural solutions, such as flood control
- Support local and regional sustainable development through socio-economic development and maintenance of vibrant rural areas
- Contribute to sustainable agriculture and fisheries and food security
- Provide places for sustainable tourism and outdoor recreation thus increasing livelihood options locally
- Educate and inspire us about nature and ways how we can learn to live sustainably and in harmony with nature
- Promote healthy environment necessary for human health and well-being
- Promote a spirit of cooperation among local inhabitants, authorities, stakeholders and businesses to solve common challenges for sustainable development
- Connect us to our heritage and give us a sense of belonging and involvement.
Protected Areas contribute to implementation of policies
Due to their importance for our society, Protected Areas make a valuable contribution to implementation of policies that form the basis for the functioning and values of the said society.
At a global level, Protected Areas contribute to the implementation of e.g. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Convention on Biological Diversity and its Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Convention on Wetlands and World Heritage Convention.
Across Europe, the work of Protected Areas makes a valuable contribution to several European policy areas, such as conservation and restoration of nature and biodiversity, sustainable and rural development and climate change adaption and mitigation.
There are many links to different areas of work that involve Protected Areas, such as agriculture, regional development, tourism, fisheries, health, climate change, cross-border cooperation, youth, culture and education.
For specific policies in the European Union, Protected Areas are important and for some crucial to the implementation of e.g. the Birds and Habitats Directives (also known together as Nature Directives), EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, Nature Restoration Regulation, Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Framework Directive for Marine Spatial Planning, Water Framework Directive, European Climate Law, Common Agricultural Policy, Common Fisheries Policy and Farm to Fork Strategy as well as the European Green Deal.
In the wider European context, Protected Areas are valuable in the implementation of the Bern Convention (Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats) under the Council of Europe and the Council of Europe Landscape Convention.
EUROPARC and policies
EUROPARC represent members’ interests at European level and actively contribute to the development of relevant European Union and wider European policies, providing expertise, facilitating the exchange of experiences and driving the flow of information from and to our members.
In order to do this, EUROPARC fosters and maintains direct links with European Institutions, such as European Commission, European Parliament, European Committee of the Regions, and the Council of Europe.
“EUROPARC and its wide network of Protected Areas are ready and willing to play their role to contribute to effective implementation of European policies for the benefit of European nature and people.”