Today, our President Ignace Schops represented EUROPARC at the EurActiv Stakeholder Workshop “What Next for Europe in Driving Green Growth?”.

Representatives from the European Comission DG Clima, DG Environment, the European Parliament, Greenearth.travel and Sun Ark also participated in a productive discussion on how the tourism sector can be transformed into a driver of sustainable development and green growth.

EUROPARC Federation contributed with valuable insight of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas Certificate process.

The Charter provides a recognized model of governance that delivers Protected Areas as sustainable tourism destinations, as all actors in a specific region ensure the natural habitat and landscapes upon which they all depend are conserved for future generations. More than 131 sustainable destinations are certified, and over 3200 organisations are enrolled with the Charter, from Park Managers, to local businesses and tour operatores, contributing for a greener economy in Europe.

The European Comission opened applications for the 2016 edition of Natura 2000 Awards.

For the third year, all Natura 2000 sites are asked to participate and highlight their work developed under 5 different categories:

Communication, Conservation, Cross-Border Cooperation and Networking, Reconciling Interests/Perceptions and Socio-Economic Benefits.

EUROPARC Transboundary Parks and Charter Areas are good candidates for this award! Applications are open until the 1st December.

Good luck!

Public Hearing: “Investing in nature and biodiversity: challenges and opportunities” – European Parliament, October 12, 2015

EUROPARC President, Ignace Schops, will be today at the European Parliament participating at a public hearing regarding Nature and Biodiversity.

Schops will highlight  The socio-economic opportunities of investing in nature & biodiversity, based on data from the mid-term report of EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020 and on the work EUROPARC has been doing to address the challenges of Protected Areas management.

EUROPARC Federation is introduced to the Parliament as the biggest network on the natural heritage in Europe, with over 30 million hectares (38%) of Natura 2000 areas being managed by its members.

Download below the full speech of our President.

The mid-term review of the Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 describes progress made in implementing the actions and achieving the targets set out in the strategy adopted in 2011. The report demonstrates that action on the ground, supported by adequate financing, can protect and restore nature and the benefits it provides. The Mid-term review of the EU biodiversity strategy to 2020 was adopted on the 2nd October.

The  mid-term review takes stock of progress in implementing the EU biodiversity strategy against the 2010 baseline. It aims to inform decision-makers of areas in which increased efforts are needed to meet the EU biodiversity objectives by 2020.

You can access the report here, and at BISE website (The Biodiversity Information System for Europe) it is also available an interactive presentation and a leaflet.