Bottom-up approach for a new periurban park in Prague

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The Institute for Planning and Development of the Prague City (IPR Prague) is setting the scene for the creation of a periurban park in Prague, in the confluence area of the Berounka and Vltava rivers. This area is of great importance in Prague, therefore there are contrasting interests from the different municipalities, businesses, landowners and other institutions acting there. Having a common understanding and involving the main stakeholders is a fundamental step, hence why the Institute started a bottom-up approach towards having a consensus on the possible implementation plan of the periurban park.

To provide a European perspective on the management and development of Periurban Parks, EUROPARC Federation and FEDENATUR (the European Federation of Metropolitan and Periurban Natural and Rural Areas – who recently joined forces with EUROPARC) were invited to share expertise and good practices from their networks.

Developing a bottom-up approach: the 1st Workshop

IPR Prague organised a 2-days workshop, on the 25th-26th November, gathering the main local actors and several international experts from FEDENATUR and EUROPARC Federation members’ network. The main goal of the workshop was to discuss the possible development of the periurban park, following a bottom-up approach. Several topics were discussed, from green infrastructures to community involvement and ecological impact. The level of participation was very high, with over 120 people attending the 1st day and over 70 on the second day, mainly representatives of the City of Prague and IPR Prague together with the local actors and city stakeholders: inhabitants, entrepreneurs, landowners, users, environmentalists and business companies from the area.

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On the first day, participants were given a more clear view about the important role of Periurban Parks, by the voice of Teresa Pastor, Project Manager at EUROPARC Federation. After Teresa’s presentation, participants have heard practical experiences from the following members of FEDENATUR:

  • Marià Martí – Fedenatur’s Secretary-General and Director of Collserola Nature Park;
  • Pierre Dhenin – former director of Espace Nature Lille Métropole;
  • Fernando Louro Alves – counsellor of the Parque Florestal de Monsanto Lisboa;
  • Riccardo Gini – Director of the Parco Nord Milano;
  • Maria Pia Sparla – Deputy director of the Parco Agricolo Sud Milano.

During the second day, the workshop was organised in form of working groups for specific subjects, with the participants taking part in one of them. Michael Hošek – vice-president of EUROPARC Federation and representing the Federation, also took part in the discussion and working groups, bringing his experience and advice to the table.

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Challenges for the creation of a periurban park

Implementing a new peri-urban park within a city – especially if it is the most populated in the country – raises several challenges. Different perspectives and economic interests overlap in the same territory by the wide range of stakeholders who would be directly impacted with the creation of a Periurban Park. Therefore, building a bottom-up consensus, through the active engagement of all interested groups and actors, is the first step. 

During the discussion, participants identified the main issues they would be facing in the area, such as:

  • it is a flood zone. During last flooding events in Prague, most households were badly affected
  • there is a food distribution hub that employs thousands of people that should not be there because of legal requirements
  • there are a golf course and sports area
  • there is a project to turn the Berounka river navigable. This would seriously alter the river ecosystem
  • a landowner has a concession to exploit a grave mine in his land. This would cause much damage to the area.

In order to have a deeper analysis of the challenges, three main areas were discussed at the working groups’ tables: Governance, Identity and Participation

Governance: At this table, it was discussed current land fragmentation, which complicates the development of the Confluence area. The lack of elements of stewardship or shared management was also highlighted.

Identity: At this table, participants discussed the current ways of land use and finding intersections of various ambitions, goals and projects of particular actors in the area. It was discussed about the possible major functions of the future periurban park (recreational, environmental, economic etc.) that will be the basis of the park´s identity.

Participation: Participants discussed how to support cooperation and partnerships between non-profit, public and private sectors for increasing values of public spaces and relationships in the area.

The workshop was the first event in a series of steps in order to set up the Confluence Periurban park project. Despite the good number of participants, not all stakeholders were presented, therefore, it was agreed that the participating stakeholders will establish a so-called platform and invite all others to participate in the joint development of the area. The first stone has been laid.

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For further information about the creation of the periurban park in Prague please contact EUROPARC Federation, we will then forward your request to the correct person.

European Habitats Forum meeting in Brussels

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EUROPARC attended in Brussels the EHF – European Habitats Forum meeting, which gathered representatives from several European Environment NGOs who are following closely the development and implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy. 

A very fruitful meeting, that counted also with the presence of Stefan Leiner and Nicola Notaro from the European Commission – DG Environment gave the opportunity to address and discuss some priorities that concern from close Protected Areas across Europe. Among those:

  • Fitness Check of Nature Directives

with a political decision still expected by the college of Commissioners. (The delay of the process seems to be unjustified at this stage. But after the meeting EUROPARC recently had with the Commissioner Vella, we remain confident and expect a positive decision by the end of the year).

  • Agriculture

with the need to improve the sustainability of the CAP and start working towards a substantial reform for post 2020; (in 2017 there  will be a mid term assessment).

  • Invasive Alien Species

as the second main driver of biodiversity loss after habitats degradation, will have new measures in place.

  • Natura 2000 management and financing

with still lot of progresses to be made for the successful achievement of the EU targets.

  • Green Infrastructures (GI)

with the development of a Trans European Network for GI in Europe.

  • LIFE programme

with more funding for projects being allocated for 2017.

For more information, please contact Federico Minozzi  f.minozzi @ europarc.org

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Learn more about the EHF here.

Charter Verifiers Training 2016

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Verifiers play a crucial role in the process of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas: they assess and check the application and verify the veracity of the strategy and action plan being proposed.

In 2016, following the recent updates on the Charter methodology – which included a revised structure of the Charter, with new principles and key topics – EUROPARC organised a new training for Verifiers in November. During 2 intense workshop days that took place in Gut Siggen (Germany), in the Alfred Toepfer Stiftung Seminar Center. 20 participants learned about the Charter Process and worked through the new materials.

Photos of the Verifiers Training are available here.

Being a Charter Verifier

ECST Logo_EN-01The European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas is a practical management tool that enables Protected Areas to develop tourism sustainably. Protected Areas applying to become a  Sustainable Destination submit a completed application form, which includes the Sustainable Tourism Strategy and Action Plan, that will be checked by an appointed verifier. Following, the appointed verifier will visit the area and check if actions indicated have taken place and give advice and experience to bear to an individual park.

The objective of the visit is to discuss with the Protected Area’s authorities and all the other stakeholders about the major issues of tourism and to see how the entire territory addresses them,

said Jovan Ljiljak, who is one of the new trained Charter Verifiers, adding thet “(the verifier) is basically the correspondent between EUROPARC Federation and the Protected Area.”

Further, the verifier recommends the future inclusion of a park in the Charter Network through a report that will then be assessed by the Evaluation Committee.

Verifiers Training 2016

Verifiers are experts in sustainable tourism and protected areas and may not specifically, “represent” the EUROPARC Federation through their verification visit but they certainly reflect its values and seek to secure maintenance of the standards that are expected of a charter area. 

The previous Verifiers Training was organised in 2011, since then the Charter Network has been expanding and the methodology evolved, hence why the need for a new training in 2016.

For the first time, EUROPARC joined in the same training new verifiers, experienced verifiers and members of the Evaluation Committee. “It was a good opportunity to share experiences and get some important tips”, said Jovan Ljiljak.

During the Training, participants analysed in detail the Charter application and re-application forms, with the guidance of the Charter Evaluation Committee.

charter, ecst, charter verifiers training 2016

Josep Maria Prats and Richard Denman, members of the Charter Evaluation Committee, explaining the reporting process.

Knowledge was put into practice with different dynamic activities which included identification of all the stakeholders involved in the Charter process; simulation of visits and various activities to improve communication skills.

The verification visits for 2017 are expected to start in April 2017 and with this Verifiers Training, EUROPARC seeks to harmonise the approaches and interpretation of the questions;

charter, ecst, charter verifiers training 2016

charter, ecst, charter verifiers training 2016

Transboudary Parks Awards 2016

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In 2016, two Transboundary Parks renewed their commitment of cooperating across borders. At EUROPARC Conference 2016,  Krkonoše National Park (Czech Republic) and Karkonosze National Park (Poland) were re-awarded, along with Oulanka National Park (Finland) and Paanajärvi National Park (Russia).

EUROPARC’s Transboundary Parks Programme initiative is a special verification and certification system that aims to promote and facilitate transboundary cooperation between European Protected Areas. There are four elements to the system:

  • the unique EUROPARC Basic Standards for transfrontier cooperation,
  • a verification process carried out by external verifiers,
  • the formal certification as a “EUROPARC Transboundary Area” if the application was successful and
  • the renewal of the Certificate every five years.

 Transboundary Parks Awards 2016

Krkonoše-Karkonosze Transboundary Parks (CZ/PL)

Krkonoše National Park and Karkonosze National Park have been cooperating since 2004, when they were awarded the Transboundary Parks Certificate for the 1st time. After that, they renewed their commitment in 2011 and repeated this year. Since 2013 – when the Czech Park celebrated its 50th anniversary – Parks agreed on having a joint logo. Now, across borders, the same image is reinforced in Visitor’s mind, so they understand how important is the cooperation between the Parks.

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However, they cooperation goes further beyond branding: Parks have been working together in several projects, such as:

Management of natural resources

  • systematic monitoring of birds, bats, butterflies and red deers (2013-2015)
  • Safe Krkonose Mts.I and II – training of both NPs staff (rangers, foresters, educators, etc) and Identification of so called trauma-points in field – i.e. places of importance for mountain rescues
  • GIS: harmonising the GIS layers that differed in both countries (2010-2014)

Education & Information

  • cross-border educational programmes (2013-2015)
  • joint education of KRNAP and KPN staff, including language skills, short-term internships in the partner park, annual meetings
  • Campaign “Same mountains, same forests” (2011-2012)

Tourism

  • publication of visitors’ rules for both parks and joint logo
  • tourism infrastructure – reconstruction of monastery garden in Vrchlabi (CZ) for educational purposes and creation of a new environment education center in Karpacz (PL) (2010-2013)
  • Barrier-free Krkonose Mts. Identification of trails in field, accessible for handicapped people (including wheel-chair bounds)

The Parks have acknowledged that working together brings mutual benefits, such as a broader view of the territory, through the regular sharing of information, experience and views; better access to EU fundings (especially INTERREG); improved coordination in practical management of natural ecosystems; improved language skills and better communication.

Oulanka-Paanajärvi Transboundary Parks (FI/RU)

The cooperation between Oulanka and Paanajärvi National Parks dates back to the early 90’s. Their already close cooperation was then again boosted by the two year Interreg project “Oulanka-Paanajärvi – wilderness, experiences and well-being”, which they ran from 2005 onwards. The aim of the project was to improve the preconditions of nature-based tourism by developing the services of the park pair. Also in 2005, both parks became members of the EUROPARC TransParcNet by receiving the Transboundary Certificate for their model cooperation across borders. The twin parks of Oulanka and Paanajärvi National Parks form an internationally unique wilderness area and an important destination for nature-oriented tourism.

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The projects they have been developing together focus on:

Management of natural resources

  • sustainable management of trout fisheries for the transborder Oulanka river system (2013-2014)
  • sustainable management of salmonid fisheries (2015-2016)

Ecotourism

  • development and promotion of sustainable and high-quality nature and culture tourism, and improvement of communication (2012-2014)
  • investments on infrastructures and facilities at both National Parks

Parks acknowledged that participating in protected area management outside one’s own country “increases understanding of international character of nature protection work; and, at personal level, increases the feeling of partnership with colleagues across the border”.

For more information about the cooperation between Oulanka-Paanajärvi can be found here.