Ecosystem Services: Trading for protected areas

Workshop - Ecosystem Services, 16/17 November 2015 © EUROPARC Germany

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Europarc Low Countries, Europarc Germany and Eurosite organized a workshop to discuss the possibilities of trading systems on the voluntary carbon market as a potentially new way to finance management in protected areas in Europe. 24 participants from the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Latvia and Belarus discussed this issue on 16 and 17 November in the office of EUROPARC Deutschland. The goal was to look in some detail into the carbon market and to discuss already existing trading instruments for the voluntary carbon market. The seminar incorporated a series of presentations on the general characteristics of the carbon markets in Europe, the UK Woodland- and Peatland Code (partly in place, partly under development), the Moor Futures Scheme in Germany and of the motivations/ experiences and expectations of private companies like Coca Cola, First Climate, Forest Finest and Adelphi to support or participate in these kind of schemes.

The questions resulting from these presentations were inventoried and discussed in plenary and reshuffled to questions for two discussion groups on the second day. These questions were about which business (products/ services/ added values) can be sold by protected areas and which technical and institutional aspects will have to be settled if a protected area is willing to start a project with a valuable buy inn for companies. It became clear that these kind of trading projects will have to be credible and reliable and as simple as possible. Therefore it will be wise to start on a small scale and to grow from experience. The potential for this niche market is not in a faraway country but will be found in the region near the doorstep of the locations of the (potentially) buying companies.

At the end, there was too little time to discuss the pro’s and con’s of a trading system which can be shared by the protected areas in Europe. The next step for the joined working group on Economics and Ecosystem Services will be to look into the possibility of comparing existing and developing systems in some detail and to combine the strong points in a proposal for a system which can be discussed and eventually shared between protected areas.

We hope to come back to this question somewhere in the next months. For further information contact Jan Veenstra (j.veenstra_at_staatsbosbeheer.nl) ”

Text issued by Jan Veenstra and Hans Schiphorst

Community Science Project: communicating, engaging, empowering

© Moors for the Future, Community Science

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The Moors for the Future, Community Science Project  was one of the Highly Commended Case studies of our Natura 2000 Communications Award.

It unfolds the community potential in preserving our protected areas and provides us excellent ideas on how to wisely engage, by making good use of the latest technologies. It is more than merely communicating, it is about giving people an active role!

Implemented in 2013 for the protection of the South Pennine Moors Special Area of Conservation, at the Peak District National Park, UK, it has been designed for “inspiring and engaging local communities and visitors with their moorlands through providing opportunity, training and materials to enable wide spread ecological and environmental monitoring to take place.”

Mobile App © Moors for the Future, Community Science

Mobile App © Moors for the Future, Community Science

For the past 2 years, volunteers, tourists, schools and locals have been engaged in several conservation actions, within and innovative approach.

“Citizen science offers a fantastic opportunity to communicate and connect communities with their natural environment; empowering people to positively contribute to the protection of their environment by teaching new skills and sharing knowledge, changing public perceptions and taking ownership of the evidence which guides those who manage the world we live in.”

Learn more about the project by visiting their site, facebook or twitter and download below the complete case study.

The creative and dedicated team surprised us with this photo! Thank you very much for sharing it, and keep on inspiring us with your great work!

The team © Moors for the Future, Community Science

The team © Moors for the Future, Community Science

Charter Award Ceremony – Brussels November 7

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On the 7th of December, in Brussels, we will celebrate another year of successful candidatures of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas 

The 2015 Award Ceremony will take place at the European Parliament, kindly hosted by MEP Igor Šoltes (Greens/EFA Group) and MEP Therese Comodini Cachia (EPP Group), members of the Intergroup on European Tourism Development.

It will be a great opportunity to present the new and the re-awarded “Charter Parks”  and to show how protected areas are working effectively with tourism businesses and tour operators across the network.

Take the chance to share news and ideas on nature and sustainable tourism, as well as better understand and underline, through good practices examples, the role that the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism plays for tourism, environment and regional development.

The event is open to Parks, Charter verifiers, tourism experts, Charter partner businesses and other interested organizations, but places are limited and the priority will be given to the representatives of the protected areas that will receive the award. The event be held in English and registrations can be done here.

Download the complete programme below (english, italian, french and spanish versions available).  For further information please contact:
Stefania Petrosillo, charterawardceremony2015 @ gmail.com