The members of FEDENATUR – the European Association of Periurban Parks, approved this afternoon during their general assembly its integration into the EUROPARC Federation. 

“Today, FEDENATUR dissolves. Today, thanks to your and our joint effort, FEDENATUR is born again within a big project that allows us, deliberately and consciously, to bring its background of identity, expertise and its visions for the future, within the big house of EUROPARC – a big, shared house of which we are proud to become part of. What we are doing today is not the end of a path, but rather the opportunity to transfer our expertise, our professional knowledge and our visions within a wider context and within an organisation that has broader horizons”, said Roberto Della Rovere, President of FEDENATUR.

Roberto Della Rovere, FEDENATUR President (left) and Marià Martí, FEDENATUR Secretary-General (right)

Roberto also emphasizes the sustainability aspect of these territories, considering that “periurban and metropolitan parks are an example that living within the park area can be, and is most often, a resource and an opportunity. We combine respect for the environment with sustainable development”.

“EUROPARC works with protected areas, however, several parks in Europe are located in the outskirts of metropolitan areas” said Ignace Schops, EUROPARC President. “I’m happy for this decision. The largest organisation of periurban parks joins EUROPARC, bringing new advice and knowledge, but especially new visions, new voices and new values. EUROPARC is open to cooperate with other organisations that work on the same sustainable development strand”, said Ignace Schops, President of the EUROPARC Federation, re-elected this afternoon for a new three-year term.”

EUROPARC looks forward to welcoming all FEDENATUR members into our big family!