Interreg projec for Tourism Development in the Nordic-Baltic
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For the period 2014-2020. Interreg V-A South Baltic Cross-border Cooperation Programme is implemented project „Best practice in tourism development, marketing and sustainable management of Attractive Hardwoods“
EUROPARC member, Žemaitija National Park, together with the Swedish Forest Agency (SE), Blekinge region (SE), Blekinge County Administrative Board (SE), Gdansk regional SFE (PL) and the Pomeranian Tourist Board (PL) launched the European Union 2014-2020. Interreg V-A South Baltic Cross-border Cooperation programme project “Best practice in tourism development, marketing and sustainable management of Attractive Hardwoods“.
Project duration: 2016.07.01 – 2019.06.30
The project will aim to establish six new tourism products:
- installation of bird-watching location to the length of the lake;
- to create a mobile application on the service provided Žemaitija National Park;
- to create a 10-minute film about Žemaitija National Park;
- built two information terminals;
- certified new guides;
- create an exhibition.
In addition to these works will be carried out, and many others such as the Administration Web site update, strategies, Liepijų forest management, seminars, study tours organization and others.
The project aims to:
• to bring together the local community, individuals and legal entities to work together;
• develop new tourism products and services;
• develop a common strategy will be to increase and promote cross-border tourism, solid hardwood forests around the southern Baltic Sea region and the activities of the project will be carried out in carefully selected areas.
Linking biodiversity to national economic and social priorities – 1st workshop
As part of a major study for the European Commission, on ‘Linking biodiversity to national economic and social priorities in the EU Member States’, the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) and partners are organising a series of regional workshops across the EU.
These workshops are inviting participants from regional and national authorities and other stakeholders to come together to discuss how biodiversity and nature protection can support socio-economic objectives like jobs, growth, urban and regional development, public health or social cohesion.
To learn more about the project download the Project Summary
1st regional workshop, Barcelona
Teresa Pastor, project and policy development manager, represented EUROPARC at the first of these workshops, that took place in Barcelona on 3 May 2017.
The workshop featured presentations on several practical cases from the Mediterranean. They covered areas such as sustainable fisheries and coastal management, agro-ecology, ecotourism, and green infrastructure for public health and climate change adaptation.
The workshop included interactive group discussions on drivers and barriers to using nature-based solutions. The final is to identify policy needs at regional, national and EU levels to unlock nature’s potential to contribute towards socio-economic objectives.
Three other workshops have been programmed:
- For Northern & Eastern Europe in Helsinki (May)
- For Western & Central Europe in Berlin (June)
- Horizontal workshop in Bruxelles: – Focus on European Semester and EU funding (September)
The main outcomes of the meeting will be shared soon, in the meantime, we leave you the background report, that was the basis of the discussion during the meeting.
Study trips for Protected Area professionals: education & alternative funding strategies
Field trip, Esparc 2016
EUROPARC Germany is organising 2 interesting study trips for Protected Area Professionals, in the framework of the project “International exchange of competences of players in protected areas” (ANNIKA). The project supports the international exchange of know-how, experiences, and working practices between European protected areas. The intention is to strengthen cooperation and promote the exchange of good practices between the participating European parks. Deadline for applications is the 15th May.
Study trip 1 “Alternative funding strategies for protected areas”
MoorFutures, Barnim Nature Park and EUROPARC Germany Head Office, Germany
10 – 14 October 2017
This four-day study trip to selected protected areas in Germany offers colleagues from foreign protected areas an intensive exchange of experience and know-how in the field of alternative funding strategies for protected areas. It also looks at aspects of volunteer management. If you – as a member of staff or a volunteer in a protected area – are working in economic projects, we cordially invite you to apply for a place in this study trip. The study trip has been devised for specialist staff rather than for park directors.
Together with approximately six participants from across Europe you will get to know various funding initiatives of German protected areas. The hosts are keen to show you their successful partnerships, projects and working practices in alternative funding strategies. Field trips, lectures and workshops with experts and practitioners on-site (see detailed programme) will give you insights into best-practice solutions of the visited parks and projects, support peer learning and joint processing of new strategies for your home park.
Please note:
Basic English skills are essential to take part.
We expect a summary of “lessons learned”, approx. 3-5 pages plus photos, from each participant within three months after the study trip. Participants need to pay the costs for their journey to/from Berlin, as well as for board and lodging. Costs for lodging (including breakfast) in a single bedroom will amount to approx. 270, – Euro in total. Lunch and dinner can be individually chosen and will cost approx. 8 to 12 Euro per meal. Costs for transport, entrance fees, speakers etc. will be covered by EUROPARC Germany’s project fund. Participants need to arrange their own liability, health and accident insurance.
Download the Programme and Registration form.
Deadline for application: submit the registration form by 15 May 2017 via e-mail.
Study trip 2 “Education for sustainable development in protected areas”
Harz National Park and Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve, Germany
19 – 23 July 2017
Junior Ranger camp at Biebrza National Park 2016
This four-day study trip to selected protected areas in Germany offers colleagues from foreign protected areas an intensive exchange of experience and know-how in the field of education for sustainable development in protected areas. It also looks at aspects of volunteer management. If you – as a member of staff or a volunteer in a protected area – are working in educational projects, we cordially invite you to apply for a place in this study trip. The study trip has been devised for specialist staff rather than for park directors.
Together with approximately six participants from across Europe you will be guided through the Harz National Park (states Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt) and take part in the Junior Ranger Camp of the Naturwacht Brandenburg (ranger organisation in the 15 large scale protected areas of the state Brandenburg), hosted in the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve this year. The hosting parks are keen to show you their successful partnerships, projects and working practices in education for sustainable development. Field trips, lectures and workshops with experts and practitioners on-site (see detailed programme) will give you insights into best-practice solutions of the visited parks, support peer learning and joint processing of new strategies for your home park.
Please note:
We expect a summary of “lessons learned”, approx. 3-5 pages plus photos, from each participant within two months after the study trip. Participants need to pay the costs for their journey to/from Berlin (optional Hannover or Leipzig), as well as for board and lodging. Costs for lodging (including breakfast) in a single bedroom will amount to approx. 190, – Euro in total. Lunch and dinner can be individually chosen and will cost approx. 8 to 12 Euro per meal. Costs for transport, entrance fees, speakers etc. will be covered by EUROPARC Germany’s project fund. Participants need to arrange their own liability, health and accident insurance.
Download the Programme and Registration form.
Deadline for application: submit the registration form by 15 May 2017 via e-mail.
For any further information, please contact Anne Schieberenberg – EUROPARC Deutschland at anne.schierenberg @ europarc-deutschland.de.
The project is financed by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) with funds of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB).
EU’s Action Plan “for nature, people and the economy”
New water surfaces for species protection (c) Maas-Swalm-Nette Nature Park
Following the long evaluation process of the Natura 2000 Birds and Habitats Directives and the conclusions published at the end of last year, the EU Nature Directives are fit for purpose, although substantial improvements in their implementation are needed. Following this result, the European Commission has just launched an Action Plan “for nature, people and the economy”. The aim of the Action plan is to provide guidance for better implementation of the Directives, towards reaching the EU’s biodiversity targets for 2020 of halting and reversing biodiversity loss and improve climate resilience and mitigation.
The action plan covers 4 priority areas and its divided into 15 concrete actions. Although most of the actions will be performed by the European Commission and Committee of the Regions, support from member states and relevant stakeholders will be needed. The Commission believes that “the action plan will lay a solid foundation for reconciling and building bridges between nature, people, and the economy.” The EU Action Plan will be presented at a conference on the 6th June 2017 in Brussels.
Downloads
Overview of the Priorities
Priority A: Improving guidance and knowledge and ensuring better coherence with broader socioeconomic objectives
Actions included in this priority aim at dissolving tensions between nature protection and socioeconomic activities, through smarter participatory processes. This will be achieved through greater involvement with landowners and users; better access to information and data for the implementation of the Directives; and recognition of how healthy ecosystems contribute to wellbeing and economic development.
Priority B: Building political ownership and strengthening compliance
This priority involves completing the Natura 2000 network, strengthening Member’s states compliance with the Nature Directives and developing action plans for threatened species and habitats.
Priority C: Strengthening investment in Natura 2000 and improving synergies with EU funding instruments
There is a massive gap between costs of implementing Natura 2000 (around 5,8 billion/year) and the benefits arising from it (estimated in 200/300 billion/year). This priority previews in one hand a strong reinforcement in nature – through the support of State members in their financial plans; increase of LIFE programme budget and Horizon 2020; and stimulation of the private sector to take part in nature conservation activities. On other hand, previews better synergies between the Common Agricultural Policy and the Fishery policies; and support on the implementation of green infrastructures and connectivity.
Priority D: Better communication and outreach, engaging citizens, stakeholders and communities
The European Commission together with the Committee of Regions will use all available platforms to raise awareness and promote local involvement and exchanges of knowledge. This priority previews also a higher recognition on good management practices in Natura 2000 areas and the development of the European Solidarity Corps.
EUROPARC’s contribution
EUROPARC, through the work of its Commissions, will be the voice of Protected Areas and Natura 2000 sites, sharing good practices from our network and promoting the important role of Protected Areas for a healthier, greener and economically viable Europe. Moreover, EUROPARC will seek to support Natura 2000 managers increasing efficiency in the management of their Protected Areas, through the development of digital learning tools – such as webinars and toolkits – and the organisation of networking events across Europe.
What is the status of Europe’s Biodiversity?
According to the European Commission communication from the 27.04.2017: only around half of the birds and a smaller proportion of the other protected species and habitats in the EU have good conservation status today. The Natura 2000 network is now largely in place on land but important gaps remain in the marine environment. Only 50 % of all Natura 2000 sites have management plans with conservation objectives and measures.
However, the Fitness Check has shown that where targeted action takes place on a sufficient scale, the status of species and habitats improves, sometimes leading to remarkable recoveries. Moreover, there is increasing recognition that our natural environment underpins various sectors of our economy such as tourism. Conserving and using it sustainably are more important today than ever before.