More than 160 people attended the bi-annual staff meeting of all Austrian National Parks, this year held at Hohe Tauern National Park, a beautiful transnational park in the provinces of Carinthia, Slzburg and Tyrol.  

During two days, rangers, park administrators and office members from 6 Austrian National Parks had the opportunity to exchange experiences, network and participate in workshops. Wilderness, education and volunteering in Parks were some of the themes discussed. 

This annual meetings are lead by National Parks Austria, the umbrella organisation of all national parks in the country. During the meeting it was also discussed the role of National Parks Austria in promoting parks. Mr. Günter Liebel, chief of the environmental section of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (BMLFUW) envisions:

National Parks Austria will in future play an even more central role in the work of the protected areas. Only through experience and knowledge, the challenges for nature conservation in practice can be met in the future.

For more information please contact:

National Parks Austria,  Mrs. Agnes Erler 0676/ 324 22 11 www.nationalparksaustria.at

Hohe Tauern Kärnten National Park , Mr. Elfriede Oberdorfer, 0664/ 620 23 95  www.hohetauern.at

“Steps in setting up wood biomass production chains in protected areas”

In the framework of the Intelligent Energy Europe, under the project BioEuParks, the Slovenian Forestry Institute launched a comprehensive manual about how to establish a wood biomass production chain, which intends to help parks administration on their decision-making process.  It introduces different options for the supply chain and identifies data and information needed before taking the final decision.

To consider the parks as main actors in a biomass supply chain means to invest in a process based on the respect for nature, and the preservation of the ecosystem and biodiversity as starting points. At the same time, this choice implies a new way of looking at the role of parks; not only as a body in charge of managing natural and protected areas, but also a key actor with the ability to trigger a new way of local development matching nature conservation, and social and economic growth.

Download the guide here and check the project’s website.

An offer of the Central and Eastern Europe Section for member organizations

One of aims of the Central and Eastern Europe EUROPARC section (CEE) is to strengthen a cooperation in the region with a special focus on an efficient nature conservation management. The most effective way how to exchange an experience is to visit each other and see different approaches in the field.

The CEE definitely supports such an activity, i.e. short-term internships of managers among our member organizations. We invite you to use the opportunity, so we share the list of contact persons responsible for internship in each participating member organization. In case of your interest, get in touch with the contact person listed below and gain information about local conditions. For a basic information about a character of the Protected Area, please check their website first. DOWNLOAD BELOW the complete list of Protected Areas and contacts.

Usually, host provides accommodation and ensures that the colleague on internship has an opportunity to experience implementation of conservation measures in the field. Nevertheless, it depends on an individual agreement.

We hope you will take advantage of this offer and get more awareness about different attitudes in our countries and Protected Areas!

Europarc Spain – www.redeuroparc.org

EUROPARC Spain in collaboration with Fernando Gonzalez Bernaldez Foundation for natural areas (FUNGOBE) announced the 16th edition of the Master of Protected Natural Areas, organised jointly by the Autonoma University of Madrid, Complutense University of Madrid and Alcalá University. The Master is addressed either to staff of protected areas who wish to develop and update their knowledge, as well as for young graduates interested on pursuing a career in nature conservation and land management. The course is organized in two terms and a field trip.

Students will learn about Planning and management; Ecosystem management; Sustainable development and ecosystem services; Public use; Management, monitoring and evaluation; GIS for protected areas; Participation and communication; Protected Areas in Latin America and the Mediterranean; Agri-environment schemes and Common Agricultural Policy.

The course begins in February and ends in December 2016. Applications are opened until the 31th October 2015.

More information (in Spanish) is available at https://www.uam.es/otros/fungobe/master.htm.