On the 2nd of February the European Parliament has approved –  with a very large majority – a report on the Mid-term Review of the EU Biodiversity Strategy.

The Parliament calls for a more effective implementation and better enforcement of the Birds and Habitats Directives and express its opposition to a possible review of the two directives.

In order to halt the biodiversity loss, the Parliament expresses also the need for more adequate financial resources, better coherence and integration with other legislations and improvements in conservation and management measures. 

EUROPARC welcomes the result of this important vote which shows a concrete ambition to effectively implement and strengthen nature protection in Europe.

The report is available here.

On the 2nd May 2016, experts from protected areas of Central and Eastern Europe will gather at Hortobágy National Park (Hungary) to share their practical experience on how to combat invasive/alien species in protected areas. The workshop is organised by the Central and Eastern Europe Section and is based on a simple idea: to organize cost effective workshops for „our own” experts to collect relevant experience on nature protection practices.

Therefore, the Section is currently inviting international experts from protected areas within the CEE region to join the event and share their practical experience on how to combat invasive/alien species in protected areas.

We are looking for „practical management/field experience” type presentations and experts. Participants will have 20

Registration is free, but due to limited places, the first round of provisional registration is until 15.03.2016.

Download below the invitation with the full description of the workshop.

EUROPARC-España, in partnership with Fundación Fernando González Bernáldez and Altekio Iniciativas hacia la Sostenibilidad is developing a project about the role of Women in Spanish Protected Areas. It aims to raise increase the involvment of women in the governance of protected areas, and find new opportunities for the economic and social development of rural areas. The project is designated “Women, drivers for economic diversification of the rural areas and for the improvement of governance in nature protected areas” (“Mujeres, motores para la diversificación económica en el medio rural y para la mejora de la gobernanza a través de los espacios naturales protegidos) and all information is available here.

Women are still a minority in the corridors of power and decision-making in the management of Spain’s protected areas. It is estimated that there are 34% of women in executive and co-ordination positions versus 66% of men. In technical jobs, women represent 42% versus 58% of men. The project offers the first diagnosis on the role of women in Spain’s protected areas and an analysis of the entrepreneurship opportunities linked to the values of natural areas. Protected areas are key sites settings for the conservation of nature. They are also territories in which to live and work, which combine social and economic development with the enjoyment of their heritage values. 

The first report is already available in english, and can be downloaded below.

“Parks of the Future – Protected Areas in Europe Challenging Regional and Global Change” is the most recent book of 2016 in the field of protected areas. It was published in the beginning of January and has just arrived in our office.

The book was edited by the NeReGro group (New Regional Development in Protected Areas), which is composedby 4 professors from the universities of Bern, Oldenburg, Rapperswil and Vienna. “Parks of the Future” focuses on the societal challenges of our protected areas, by introducing theoretical approaches and practical experiences from more than 20 authors. Carol Ritchie, EUROPARC Federation Director also contributed with an article regarding the promising future of European protected areas.

Parks of the Future by Carol Ritchie © “Parks of the Future – Protected Areas in Europe Challenging Regional and Global Change”

“How do parks address the pending challenges and what successes have they had thus far? Which forms of park management and governance are most promising? Which tasks will be assumed by parks in the future?” This are some of the questions highlighted across the book.

Soon, the book will be available for purchase at www.oekom.de.

Parks of the Future – Protected Areas in Europe Challenging Regional and Global Change

Editors: Thomas Hammer, Ingo Mose, Dominik Siegrist and Norbert Weixlbaumer