EUROPARC Federation Seeks New Director to Lead European Conservation Network

From Consultation to Concrete Action for Young People and Climate Action

The process for a Council of Europe recommendation

Published on: 09/04/25

Following extensive consultations with young people from across Europe, the Council of Europe has formalised its commitment to youth engagement in climate policies. Read how Protected Areas can commit to supporting young people and bringing policy to life in our parks!

The Council of Europe has adopted a new set of recommendations on “Young People and Climate Action”, marking a significant milestone in recognising the vital role of youth in addressing climate change.

From Consultation to Concrete Action

In March 2023, the Council of Europe launched a comprehensive consultation process aimed at understanding young people’s perspectives on climate crisis. As reported in our previous news article, this initiative was in part linked to the movement to incorporate climate justice into the Council of Europe which we see through the cases brought to the European Court of Human Rights and the discussions to incorporate the Human Right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

The consultation engaged young people from diverse backgrounds, including EUROPARC’s Youth Officer, Jessica Micklem-Kolenić. It sought to understand how young people perceive the impacts of climate change on their rights, what actions they believe governments should take, and how they could be meaningfully involved in climate decision-making processes.

Key Recommendations

The newly adopted recommendations (CM/Rec(2024)6), reflect many of the concerns and suggestions during consultation phase. The document outlines several priority areas:

Fridays for future – global climate strike on the European elections in May 2019. By Markus Spiske.

Ensuring Young People’s Access to Rights

Protecting young people’s rights in a changing climate is essential including their rights to life, privacy, and property as guaranteed by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and European Social Charter. Peaceful climate demonstrations must be permitted while removing barriers to civic engagement and ensuring access to environmental judicial reviews such as environmental impact assessments. Proper training for law enforcement on responding to youth gatherings is crucial to avoid excessive force. The members of courts require additional training on the climate science and youth climate activism methods to fairly evaluate cases that involve new climate science and unfamiliar protest tactics. Examples include:

During arrest, legal support should be accessible for all
Marginalised Indigenous and disadvantaged youth deserve heightened protection
Recognition of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment in local and European courts for present and future generations

Strengthening Youth Participation

Climate policy development should incorporate young people’s perspectives on crisis impacts, merging scientific evidence with firsthand experiences. Diverse youth participation in climate decision-making requires a supportive environment at all levels. Information on climate legislation must reach young people directly, with their viewpoints integrated into regulatory processes. Capacity building and financial support are vital for youth climate initiatives. The youth climate movement deserves autonomy to be free from interference, while any decision-making processes should eliminate social and gender barriers. Educational systems from early childhood through adulthood should foster ecological awareness and environmental commitment.

Protected Areas can and are contributing to strengthening youth participation. Not only with school visits and tours highlighting the linkages of nature and climate but also through non-formal education initiatives such as the Junior Ranger and Youth+ programmes. These work towards having local young people connected to their natural heritage, understanding the local context and empowered to speak up on behalf of Protected Areas. Some Protected Areas are even able to make micro funds available to their engaged youth, who redirect it into the local community for art and storytelling activities, key tools for reaching others to ignite a passion for sustainability and climate action.

Investing in Green Jobs, Education, and Skills

EUROPARC Youth Manifesto Project, 2018.

Education frameworks need adequate funding to equip young people with climate action knowledge and competencies for all career pathways, not just those wanting to go into green careers. Additionally, we need more just transition pathways that provide opportunities for young people to develop green skills. These could be accessible micro-funding schemes for young green entrepreneurs, increased research funding in green technology for young researchers, and funding mechanisms for youth organisations running climate projects, particularly those serving marginalised communities.

There have been significant improvements in creating youth accessible pathways into green careers in and around Protected Area. The EUROPARC Youth Manifesto was one tool, used by young people and Protected Areas to reduce the barriers for young people to live, learn and work in rural areas around the Protected Areas. Protected Areas are also creating learning spaces for volunteers, interns, apprenticeships and including measurements of equality, diversity and inclusion in self-reflections and recruiting processes.

Three Junior Ranger mentors at the IJRC 2024 who were Junior Rangers themselves.

Investing in Tailored Support to Youth Workers

Youth workers play a fundamental role in mobilising environmental advocates and require proper sector funding. Resources for implementing youth-focused climate projects are essential, along with comprehensive training on climate topics for effective knowledge sharing. Multilingual, accessible resources help include all young people in climate action. Climate Advocacy benefits from peer learning exchanges across local to European levels.

The mentors of Junior Ranger and Youth+ programmes are often rangers and environmental education staff, but occasionally are also volunteers with diverse backgrounds. Protected Areas can ensure that these youth workers are sent to regular training or opportunities where they can exchange and learn from others such as at the International Junior Ranger Camp or EUROPARC’s e-Networking meetings. Similarly, the engaged young people and young professionals can be sent to events such as the EUROPARC Conference as a learning and networking experience at the international level.

Ensure Access to Healthcare and Targeted Youth Services

The impact of climate change on young people’s physical and mental health requires mitigation through targeted measures. Eco-anxiety and other climate-related health effects demand research to develop specialised services. Awareness campaigns should educate professionals, parents, and youth about eco-anxiety, with training provided to recognise symptoms. Specialised health services with properly trained providers are necessary for young people experiencing eco-anxiety, with youth involvement in the service design. Healthcare quality and accessibility for disadvantaged groups can improve through strategic investments.

Protected Areas can join the Healthy Parks Healthy People Europe programme, and implement initiatives that tackle eco-anxiety by promoting the message that “nature is a good medicine”. An example of how is the promotion of the Five Ways to Wellbeing in Nature (5WWW), a set of evidence-based actions that promote good mental health and well-being. These five actions — Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning, and Give — are especially effective when practiced in nature, helping to alleviate eco-anxiety and improve overall mental well-being. Another tool is the use of green prescriptions, which encourage individuals to spend more time in nature and engage in outdoor activities to boost mental health. Green prescriptions leverage the therapeutic effects of nature to help people cope with mental health issues, including anxiety related to environmental problems.

Access to Information and the Right to be Informed

Reliable, youth-friendly environmental information based on reputable research should be widely available, primarily through digital formats. Accessibility in various languages, including minority ones, prevents reinforcing existing inequalities. Misinformation on environmental matters requires legal safeguards while maintaining freedom of expression and democratic principles.

There are two ways in which Protected Areas can make information more accessible to young people. Firstly, by engaging with them through youth programmes or the European Youth in Parks Day, an initiative to bring young people and parks together through fun activities, youth dialogues, social media takeovers or highlighting all the efforts to engage with young people over the year. This celebration is for all and can be used to further intergenerational collaboration. The second is by setting up a youth council or youth advisory board which can be involved in decision-making processes, sharing the youth priorities and perspectives to make information more accessible and transparent. These young people are bridges to the local youth and broader community.

Taking Discrimination and Ensuring Intergenerational Equity

Climate justice principles must guide responses to climate change effects, especially for marginalised youth populations. Many young people in rural areas count as marginalised, often coming from low socio-economic backgrounds, and those interested in rural jobs face significant difficulties. Framework development for creating permanent social resilience should include diverse young environmental defenders from all backgrounds, recognizing that youth are not homogenous — young rangers, young farmers, and young entrepreneurs have different aims and perspectives. Intergenerational equity in climate action might be strengthened through dedicated institutions like a commissioner for future generations, encouraging politics with long-term protection for future needs.

The communities in and around most Protected Areas in Europe are classified as rural and even those in periurban areas have young people with refugee, asylum seeker or migrant backgrounds, all of which come with additional difficulties to thrive. Protected Areas can play a large role, recognising the interconnectedness of social issues and environmental issues and tackling them in a holistic and empathetic manner. In addition, Protected Area can be the helping hand for young farmers, entrepreneurs and nature conservationists to restore and protect nature now and in the future.

Loch Lomond Youth Committee receive the Best Engagement Project award at the UK National Parks Conference.

The road ahead

The Council of Europe will work with member states to implement these recommendations through its various programmes and initiatives. National governments are encouraged to develop specific action plans that reflect their unique context while adhering to the core principles outlined in the recommendations. Youth organisations, environmental NGOs, and other stakeholders are invited to participate in the implementation process and contribute to monitoring progress.

The adoption of these recommendations represent a significant step forward in recognising young people not just as victims of climate change but as crucial agents of change. It acknowledges their right to participate in decisions that will shape their future and provides a framework for ensuring their voices are heard. This is something EUROPARC is committed to promoting and implementing within the network, for example through the Youth Council.

These recommendations offer a roadmap for inclusive and intergenerational approaches to addressing one of the defining challenges of our time. EUROPARC is committed to promoting the implementation of these strategies at Protected Areas level, and promoting the work that is already being done which contributes to international goals and policies.

For more information, the full text of the recommendations can be accessed here.

Read the full report here!

How Can Protected Areas Become Hubs for Education for Sustainable Development

Published on: 08/04/25

For the last year, the Alfred Toepfer Natural Heritage Scholarship supported the work of young conservationists in Protected Areas across Europe. Lucia Cușnir was one of the winners of the Scholarship in 2023 and travelled to Slovakia, Denmark, Hunary and within Romania to learn more about how Protected Areas can implement Education for Sustainable Development.

How Can Protected Areas Become Hubs for Education for Sustainable Development

Protected areas are no longer seen just as conservation zones to protect our natural and cultural heritage — they are increasingly being recognized as dynamic learning classrooms for people of all ages. These landscapes provide powerful opportunities for education, offering immersive, hands-on experiences that connect individuals with nature, culture, and sustainability in meaningful ways.

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in protected areas serves as a bridge between conservation efforts and community engagement, ensuring that people not only understand but actively participate in protecting our natural and cultural heritage.

Learning from the Field

This study tries to explore best practices, challenges, and opportunities in implementing ESD initiatives & activities across European protected areas, drawing insights from study visits to Tatra National Park (Slovakia), Lille Vildmose Centre (Denmark), Hortobágy National Park (Hungary), and the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (Romania).

Through qualitative research methods, including field observations, stakeholder interviews, and participatory engagement, the study highlights the diverse ways in which protected areas integrate ESD initiatives and activities into their management. Interpretive visitor centers, educational and interpretive trails, guided tours, Junior Ranger programmes, and hands-on conservation activities serve as key tools in fostering environmental awareness and responsibility. Additionally, local engagement through festivals, volunteering initiatives, and citizen science programs reinforces the role of communities in ESD.

Protected areas that prioritize community voices, cultural relevance, and local ownership are more likely to foster long-term conservation engagement.

Tatra National Park, Slovakia, photo by Lucia Cușnir

Challenges and Opportunities in ESD

Despite strong local leadership and inspiring examples, many protected areas struggle with the same challenges: underfunding, staff shortages, and rigid policies that don’t reflect field realities. Rangers and educators often work beyond their mandates, driven by passion but lacking support.

However, there are also opportunities. Cross-sectoral partnerships with other protected areas, NGOs, educational institutions, and local authorities can enhance the reach and impact of ESD efforts. By sharing resources, and learning from each other’s experiences, these collaborations can create more resilient and innovative education programs.

Lille Vildmose Centre, Denmark, photo by Lucia Cușnir

The Way Forward

For ESD to truly thrive in protected areas, it must be supported by policies that reflect real field experiences, and designed with flexibility in mind. Protected areas must also recognize that every ranger on patrol, every school visit, and every community gathering is a moment of education — and an opportunity for stewardship.

As this study shows, education doesn’t just happen through formal strategies. It lives in stories, gestures, trails, shared meals, and simple conversations on the field. ESD isn’t just about delivering information — it’s about sparking curiosity, sharing stories, and leading by example. When people meet the passionate educators and rangers behind conservation, they don’t just learn — they care.

Dive deeper into this topic through the report below!

Read the full report here!

Nature for all: A study into how Europe’s Protected Areas are engaging with refugee and asylum seeker communities

Published on: 31/03/25

For the last year, the Alfred Toepfer Natural Heritage Scholarship supported the work of young conservationists in Protected Areas across Europe. Hayden Bridgeman was one of the winners of the Scholarship in 2023 and travelled to Greece to learn more about how Protected Areas can better engage with marginalised communities such as refugee and asylum seekers.

Nature for all: A study into how Europe’s Protected Areas are engaging with refugee and asylum seeker communities

My name is Hayden Bridgeman and I am a Ranger for the New Forest National Park Authority and a winner of an Alfred Toepfer Scholarship Award. Through this scholarship I have studied how we are engaging with one of our most vulnerable communities in society – refugees and asylum seekers. We, as a society, are so aware of how crucial access to nature is for good mental health and wellbeing, yet those that need it most are often unable to access it. I want to continue to make sure we are doing all we can to change that across our protected landscapes.

I would like to preface my studies by saying I do not have lived experience, but I am an advocate and a friend to this community and want to ensure we are doing all that we can to build cohesive, inclusive communities with nature and mental wellbeing at the heart.

It is vital to remember how important the language we use is in relation to society’s most vulnerable communities. Not only this but it is important to remember that there is a legal difference. Using the wrong terminology can be extremely damaging to communities of displaced people and can have a detrimental effect on their mental health and wellbeing and their journey in acclimatising to a new life.

Asylum Seeker

An asylum seeker is an individual who is seeking international protection. In countries with individualised procedures, an asylum seeker is someone whose claim has not yet been finally decided on by the country in which he or she has submitted it. Not every asylum seeker will ultimately be recognised as a refugee, but every refugee is initially an asylum seeker.

Refugee

A refugee is a person who has fled their country of origin and is unable to or unwilling to return because of a well-founded fear of being persecuted because of their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.

Migrant

An economic migrant is someone who leaves his or her country of origin purely for financial and/or economic reasons. Economic migrants choose to move in order to find a better life and they do not flee because of persecution. Therefore, they do not fall within the criteria for refugee status and are not entitled to receive international protection.

It is imperative that governments/communities/media understand the distinction. Countries have specific responsibilities tied to legislation to help anyone seeking sanctuary and fleeing war and persecution – refugees. It is not the same for migrants.

Through this project I visited three charities in Greece working in both urban environments and National Parks to support refugees and asylum seekers in the outdoors and was able to share in their learning and progress. I was also able to talk directly to individuals that are part of the displaced community and have been able to gather an extensive list of the barriers faced for refugee and asylum seekers accessing nature – it’s important to identify the barriers so that we can find solutions.

It’s an extensive list:

Expensive or non-existent public transport
Racial profiling
Safety concerns
A lack of family support and often women having to be the sole care giver for children
Lack of time due to having to navigate lengthy legal processes, acquiring medical assistance and housing
Low mental health and feeling unwelcome

These are all barriers for everyday life for this community but when accessing nature. As protected area practitioners we can help to remove some of the barriers.

Some brilliant work is taking place with nature connection sessions aiding mental wellbeing and learning how to grow your own food being successful, engaging and beneficial sessions. Something else that was really successful is enabling individuals to carry out citizen science and be a part of community conservation. However transport is and continues to be the biggest barrier to accessing these opportunities.

There are some key take aways on how to make engagement in the outdoors successful:

Actively listen, ask questions and don’t assume. When creating itineraries for trips and visits ensure you’ve asked what works for the group and what doesn’t. Experiencing nature is not a ‘one size fits all’ mentality, not everyone benefits from a 10km hike, simply being able to sit and talk to others in a green space is enough.
Start by working in a space that groups know and trust. Take your protected area to this community – whether it’s into a refugee centre, or a local church they meet in to have English lessons.
Work in partnership with charities that are a trusted contact for this community. This is important for building trust and understanding. Talk to a contact
Be flexible in your approach and be prepared to rearrange visits if the group need to due to low mental health and anxieties, it can take longer to plan sessions
Have an outdoor ‘kit library’ from wellies to raincoats that can be a shared and used by multiple groups
Using google translate to navigate the language barrier as well as having printed photos of the wildlife that’s being talked about in the outdoor environment
Tea and coffee and picnics are a valuable ice breaker and chance to relax and create a good atmosphere where people feel more comfortable
Put sustainable and affordable transport at the top of every agenda. If we are to open green spaces to all they must be easy and affordable to navigate through

Whether you are an educator or a policy maker this report aims to help Protected Area professionals continue to create change by not only demonstrating practical tools that can be used but also providing tangible advice and hearing directly from this community themselves on how we can do more and be better in continuing to open green spaces to all.

There is also a network being built for those wanting to swap notes on best practise – please email me to learn more.