Community Science Project: communicating, engaging, empowering

© Moors for the Future, Community Science

Published on:

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

Published on:

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

15% discount for EUROPARC Members @ World Forum on Natural Capital

http://naturalcapitalforum.com/

Published on:

THE WORLD’S LEADING NATURAL CAPITAL EVENT

23 – 24 November, Edinburgh, Scotland

The World Forum on Natural Capital will bring together the leading players and the latest developments in this rapidly evolving field.

EUROPARC Federation members can benefit of 15% discount off to the World Forum. If you are interested, please contact Barbara Pais, and she will provide you the code that should be used in the booking system.

Over two days, delegates will have a unique opportunity to engage in high-level discussions and examine how natural capital relates to their own long-term strategy. Breakout sessions can be mixed and matched across four streams: Understanding and managing risk; Innovation and toolsFocus on finance and investment; and Policy dialogues.

Connecting with other leaders, learning from real-life case studies and helping to shape the emerging dialogue, delegates will be able to immerse themselves in a collective effort to manage risks and maximise opportunities.

Thought-provoking plenaries, interactive workshops and lively panel sessions will enable delegates to:

  • Identify the high-level natural capital risks most relevant to their sector
  • Understand the financial implications of poor management of natural capital
  • Develop strategies to avoid volatility in the supply chain
  • Navigate their way through the range of natural capital tools available
  • Understand how better management of natural capital can help create competitive advantage
  • Consider the impact of changing expectations amongst consumers and shareholders

The World Forum offers a unique opportunity to hear the latest developments, learn from real-life case studies and connect with leading players to help shape the emerging dialogue. World-class speakers, facilitators and panel guests will provide practical, inspiring and thought-provoking insights and practical advice.

It is time to recognize that human capital and natural capital are every bit as important as financial capital

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General – United Nations

Jane Hodges, the renowned ecologist that won Alfred Toepfer Medal 2015

Jane Hodges awarded the Alfred Toepfer Medal at EUROPARC Conference 2015 © Jakub Kaspar

Published on:

Recently retired Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority Ecologist Jane Hodges MBE has been recognised for her work with the National Park Authority and her contribution to nature conservation.

Jane Hodges was recently awarded the prestigious Alfred Toepfer Medal for 2015 at the annual EUROPARC conference in Regensburg, Germany. This medal is awarded to those who have made a contribution to nature conservation in Europe through an extensive body of work.

National Park Authority Director of Park Direction and Planning Jane Gibson said: “When Jane started working for the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in 1981 she was, for several years, the only ecologist working for the National Park.

“She became heavily involved with a wide variety of conservation initiatives across terrestrial and marine issues, and helped to lay the foundations of the very extensive partnership-working in conservation in the National Park.

“Today the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority is regarded as a major player in nature/biodiversity conservation and action and Jane played a major part in bringing this about.”

A defining moment in Jane’s career came about in 1996 with the Sea Empress oil spill. Jane was a key member of the environment team in the Response Centre and the also task groups set up by the Sea Empress Environmental Committee in the aftermath. Jane was appointed an MBE in 1999 for Services to Ecology in Pembrokeshire.

Jane helped develop partnership working with conservation organisation and initiatives such as the Local Biodiversity Action Plan Partnership and the Milford Haven Monitoring Partnership, which link conservation, port management and the oil and tanker industry that is so closely co-located within the coastal National Park.

Jane said: “I am absolutely delighted and honoured to have been nominated for the Alfred Toepfer medal by my peers. My contribution to the work of the National Park Authority and to nature conservation would not have been possible without the help and support of my colleagues within the Authority and its partner organisations, and this award is as much a reflection of their work over the years as it is of mine.

“The award is a recognition of the importance of the work of the National Park Authority and its partners in conserving habitats and species, for which Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is of European, if not global importance.”

A EUROPARC spokesman added: “EUROPARC was delighted to award the Alfred Toepfer medal to Jane Hodges MBE. Her service to the nature and landscape of Pembrokeshire has been exemplary, not just locally, but across Wales and she has truly added to the value of the nature of Europe through her work.

“In addition, her ongoing energy and support to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and other organisations, post-retirement, shows her dedication and commitment to ecology.

“It was a privilege and pleasure to welcome Jane and her cheerful contribution to our recent conference.  We wish her and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park well in the future and look forward to the ongoing and significant contribution of the Welsh protected areas in Europe.”

Issued by Janet O’Toole, National Park Authority Communications,