EUROPARC Podcasts

In EUROPARC Podcasts: Voices from the Parks,  you can listen to inspiring stories from across the network when you’re on the go.

EUROPARC Podcasts – Voices from the Parks

Are you tired of watching the screen and sitting at your desk every time you want to learn more about interesting but complex topics from the network? Then we have some exciting news for you! With EUROPARC Podcasts, you can sit back and relax, go for a walk or even cook your dinner – while we bring the Voices from the Parks to you.

If you want to dive deeper into topics of Nature Conservation and Park Management, just hit play on your phone or tablet. Get carried away to Protected Areas all around Europe and find inspiration from nature professionals and enthusiasts on a variety of innovative projects and ideas.

You can dive into our stories anytime and anywhere – be it on a train or in your kitchen, no need to watch the screen or sit at your desk.

Listen to EUROPARC Podcast on our Anchor.fm channel or through all the major podcast platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, and much more! You can access these platforms through you smartphone, tablet or computer.

Released episodes

EUROPARC Podcasts presentation

Welcome to EUROPARC Podcasts – Voices from de Parks.
In this series of podcast you will find unique interviews and conversations with both Park professionals and nature enthusiasts from our network. Stay tuned for new releases every now and then!

The Alfred Toepfer Stiftung Scholarship winners 2020

In this episode, we get to know the winners of the Alfred Toepfer Stiftung Scholarship 2020 and the projects that, with this support, they will carry out in different Protected Areas in Europe in the fields of nature and health, vulture rehabilitation, and sacred sites.

Sophia Pachini – Sustainable Tourism on Protected Areas and its political scope.

In this interview, Sofia Pachini, Policy Officer at the Unit D.3 Nature Protection of the Directorate-General for Environment – European Commission, speaks about Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas and Natura 2000 sites, and its importance for nature conservation. Likewise, through an overview of the existing European policies, she explains the challenges that policy makers at all levels face when designing the instruments that lay down the basis for tourism management in European Parks.

Ignace Schops – the importance of connections, social change and his presidency at EUROPARC Federation.

In this interview, we get to know a bit more about the life of Ignace Schops, environmentalist and president of EUROPARC Federation from 2014 to 2021. Ignace reflects on the importance of creating connections and networking, the social change we are going through, or must go, to achieve nature conservation goals, his experience as president of EUROPARC Federation and his plans for the near future.

Involving young people in Protected Areas – an interview with young environmentalists Ainya Taylor and Carolina Chinese.

In this podcast, we’ve taken a closer look on the role of youngsters in Protected Areas and how the EUROPARC Youth Manifesto is implemented in two Protected Areas in Italy and Scotland.
We’ve spoken to Carolina Chinese, an 18-years-old student from the North-East of Italy. She, and other members of the Youth Advisory Board in the Man And Biosphere UNESCO Reserve “Italian Julian Alps”, dedicate themselves to involving peers in creating activities and events that can improve young people’s sense of belonging to the Italian valleys and mountains. In the interview she’s joined by Ainya Taylor, a 25 year old  that works in Community Justice Policy and is involved in the Cairngorms Youth Action Team. We’ve asked them, what made them become activists for their Protected Areas, how Parks can better involve young people and why they think youth should be involved in Park management.

The time for Urban Forestry is now – An interview with Cecil Konijnendijk

Urban Forestry is an effective way to help cities adapt to climate change AND battle biodiversity loss. To learn more about this Nature-based Solution, we spoke to Cecil Konijnendijk, who counts with over 25 years of experience studying, teaching, and advising on aspects of urban forestry and nature-based solutions. He is the creator of the 3-30-300 rule for cities and widely considered as one of the world’s leading urban forestry experts. His work has been featured by leading media outlets such as CNBC and in international documentary films.

SO YOU WANT TO WORK FOR NATURE? An interview with Martina Hervat, marine biologist from Brijuni National Park, Croatia.

Our new episode brings you a story about Martina Hervat marine biologist from Brijuni National Park, Croatia.

Martina participated in one of the courses delivered by the LIFEeNatura2000.edu project. In a short interview, she shared her experiences and the positive impacts this project has had on her career development.

You will get a closer look at Brijuni National Park as well as all the useful skills Martina acquired during the LIFEedu project.

We were thrilled to hear her positive experiences and we hope her story will inspire you to join us in our LIFE ENABLE project! It will create the European training system called the European Nature Academy—the academy will be home to a range of practical courses and tailor-made learning activities, designed to help Natura 2000 & Protected Area managers in their work. A combination of face-to-face, and online possibilities will help Natura 2000 and Protected Area managers be more effective, competent and confident nature management professionals.

The full interview with Martina is available on our LIFE ENABLE YouTube channel

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*The interview was conducted in Croatian and is presented with English interpretation

EUROPARC Youth Manifesto: Back to the Source

In this episode, you will learn how EUROPARC Federation collaborates with youth to share their visions and voices with their communities and help them create a better future. One of the sources of ideas and inspiration for decision-makers in Protected Areas and rural communities to ensure the involvement and empowerment of young people is Youth Manifesto. Its implementation has started in at least 4 countries and is a top priority for EUROPARC. You can learn more here!

MAKE THE JOURNEY TO THE ADVENTURE A PART OF THE ADVENTURE: How are Outdoor Sports reducing their impact on Protected Areas?

Make the journey to the adventure a part of the adventure. This is a new motto created by the European Network of Outdoor Sports (ENOS) to raise awareness about the impacts of travel and to encourage Outdoor Sports’ practitioners to choose more environmentally friendly means of reaching their goals.

In this episode, we are talking with Mike McClure, Chairman of the European Network of Outdoor Sports and Active Outdoors Development Officer at Sport Northern Ireland. He will tell you what kite surfers, wild geese and lorries have in common, as well as highlight why communication, education and awareness about our impacts on the environment are crucial for achieving positive changes for our future.

Learn more:

ENOS Policy Position Paper on the European Green Deal

Manifesto for the outdoors

Sport Northern Ireland

Benefits of Outdoor Sports For Society

Outdoor Sport Euro’Meet 2022

European Outdoor Summit

Watersports Enhanced Together Project

Capacity building for urban greening

This podcast took place in the framework of the LIFE UrbanGreeningPlans project. In this interview, we speak to Sijtske Ouderkerken, a landscape architect working for Yuverta, a Vocational education and training provider in the Netherlands. Here, she is the project leader for the European Platform for Urban Greening Erasmus+ Project. Together with her, we looked closely at what the new training needs are if we want to green our urban areas, how we can include young people and what the role of Periurban Parks could be!

50th-anniversary special | Presidents of EUROPARC: Moments that shaped the Federation

With a grand celebration like a 50th birthday comes a wonderful opportunity to gather significant people who have influenced and shaped us. It’s a chance to showcase how far we have come by celebrating our accomplishments and successes. It’s a time of reflection and gratitude. So who better to talk to than EUROPARC Presidents? Enjoy our special podcast, which includes insights about the key moments that have led EUROPARC to where it is today. #EUROPARC50

Dynamic dune management to improve biodiversity

In this podcast, EUROPARC’s Communciations Manager Esther Bossink is joined by Myrthe Fonck of PWN. Together they explore an innovative project in The Netherlands that revitalised the dune landscape in National Park Zuid-Kennemerland, The Netherlands. Get more info here!

EUROPARC Podcasts are made possible through funding of the LIFE Programme. Views and opinions do not necessarily reflect that of the European Commission or of CINEA.