Since 2017, EUROPARC has successfully organised the Seminar Dialogue. On 14 November 2024 EUROPARC, Protected Areas representatives and the European Commission met for a dialogue.
Partnerships for Biodiversity – European Policies and the role of Protected Areas
By bringing together representatives of the European Commission and Protected Area professionals, EUROPARC aims to spotlight the contribution of Protected Areas to the achievement of European policy goals, whilst giving the European Commission a clear insight into the work done and challenges faced by professionals in the field.
‘Seminar Dialogue’ is an opportunity to give a voice to nature within the European Commission and highlight the importance of Protected Areas.
In 2024, EUROPARC and the Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV) organised a hybrid event focused on the following key areas:
- Protected Area Management Effectiveness
- Protected Area designations
- Biodiversity financing and funding
A summary of the report can be found below:
Overview of EU Strategic Priorities Related to Protected Areas and Nature Conservation
Seminar Dialogue 2024, picture by Federico Minozzi.
The new European Commission will focus on implementation of current EU policies and legislation regarding nature conservation and Protected Areas. In order to achieve the EU and global biodiversity targets, the next five years are crucial. The strategic priorities presented by the DG ENV are:
- Achievement of the biodiversity targets
- Securing of biodiversity funding and financing
- Implementation of the Birds and Habitat Directives (BHD) and the Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR).
We are keen to support DG ENV in the achievement of the strategic priorities. Furthermore, EUROPARC can mobilise its network to provide inputs at different levels when needed.
Protected Area Management Effectiveness
EUROPARC’s e-Forum “Effective Management, Better Parks” was also discussed. The e-Forum covered Protected Area Management Effectiveness from various angles.
Furthermore, EUROPARC is leading a new project called LIFE PAME Europe. The project aims to develop a methodology for Protected Area Management Effectiveness evaluation in the European Union. The methodology will be tested on pilot sites. The project will work closely with DG ENV and the European Environment Agency (EEA) that will develop an IT tool for PAME.
Evaluating management effectiveness is very important for Protected Area managers in order for them to know how they are doing in their areas. EU funding instruments would be needed to fund management effectiveness evaluations.
Additionally, capacity building is an important part of LIFE PAME Europe project in order to engage and support MS and PA managers.
Currently, only 13% of LIFE Nature projects give attention to capacity building!
Capacity building should be a component in all LIFE and other EU-funded projects.
Protected Area Designations
Seminar Dialogue 2024, picture by Federico Minozzi.
The EU Biodiversity Strategy aims for at least one-third of protected areas (10% of EU land and sea) to become strictly protected. In November, DG ENV hosted an event on strict protection, with a report to follow.
Two new National Parks were established in Wallonia, Belgium, including Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse, focusing on nature protection and socio-economic development. In France, the 59 Regional Nature Parks are officially recognized as Protected Areas, with local stakeholders playing a key role in their establishment. Across Europe, over 900 Nature Regional Landscape Parks focus on protecting nature and cultural landscapes.
Effective Protected Area designation requires both top-down strategies to ensure biodiversity priorities and bottom-up engagement with local stakeholders. A system-level approach and varying degrees of protection are essential to address diverse conservation needs.
Biodiversity Financing and Funding
EU funding for biodiversity is expected to decline as financial priorities shift, and the continuation of LIFE funding remains uncertain. It’s recommended to apply for projects before the current EU Multiannual Financial Framework ends.
While private funding is available, its use is challenging. Protected areas need to become “investment-ready” to attract private investors concerned about biodiversity loss and the climate crisis. EUROPARC proposes a feasibility study to test a model for private funding in protected areas.
Four key components to unlock financing for biodiversity are:
- Generating demand
- Supportive policies and legislation
- Nature-specific frameworks and tools
- An investable project pipeline
In the UK, Palladium’s REVERE initiative partners with National Parks to fund restoration projects, partly through carbon markets that attract investors seeking to offset carbon emissions. More information can be found in the report!
See the programme and download the presentations below.
Presentations Seminar Dialogue 2024
EUROPARC – Capacity building for management effectivenesss
EUROPARC – Innovative financing in Protected Areas, EUROPARC’s perspective
Since 2017, EUROPARC and DG ENV have successfully organised the annual Seminar Dialogue. With this initiative, the EUROPARC members have a new chance to sit with the European Commission to share mutual initiatives, concrete experiences & needs.
EUROPARC thanks all the presenters and participants! A special thanks is also extended to the European Commission for the co-organisation of this event. There will be another Seminar Dialogue in 2025 to which all EUROPARC members are invited.
The Seminar Dialogue is open to staff from registered EUROPARC members only.
