EUROPARC is pleased to announce the first webinar of 2018, organised by EUROPARC Atlantic Isles.
Howard Wood (Chair of Community of Arran Seabed Trust) will talk about spearheading a campaign that established the first community-developed Marine Protected Area in Scotland, giving citizens a voice in a debate that has been dominated by the commercial fishing industry.
The Firth of Clyde was once known for plentiful fishing of herring, cod, haddock, and turbot. Small-scale traditional fishing provided a source of livelihood for generations of families in the Clyde and Arran, who were able to fish sustainably thanks to long-standing laws that banned practices that towed fishing gear along the seabed.
However, growing international demand for seafood and sustained lobbying by powerful commercial fishing interests in the 1980s led the British government to repeal various seabed protection measures. Coupled with technological advances in fishing, the new industry-friendly policies opened up the Firth of Clyde to the more destructive fishing practices.
Howard Wood is co-founder and chair of COAST (Community of Arran Seabed Trust) and also founder and director of SIFT. His passion for diving around the Isle of Arran in Scotland since 1974 led him to become a marine environmental campaigner. In 2015 he was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for Europe and for his services to the marine environment an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Charter Partners in Montseny Nature Park renew their commitment
The first ten companies in the Montseny Natural Park area accredited with the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas have renewed their certification
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Article issued by Elisabet Ros Garriga, Montseny Nature Park (also available in Spanish and Catalan below)
The 19th Permanent Forum of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (ECTS) met on Tuesday, December 12, in the multi-purpose hall of the Tagamanent City Council. The event was attended by 42 people, including representatives of the Park, companies and municipalities.
The main objective of the event was the recognition and validation of the renewal of the first ten companies that were accredited with the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in 2014 and to report on the current status of the ECST in the Nature Park and reserve of the Biosphere of the Montseny.
Meeting of the Permanent Forum of Montseny Nature Park, at the Town Hall of Tagamanent, Dec 2017
The session began with a presentation and approval of the strategic indicators to evaluate the impact of the ECST in the Montseny that have been developed during this last year in different work groups. The degree of involvement of the municipalities and the application of the participation criteria that will be carried out during the first semester of 2018 were also discussed.
In this meeting of the Permanent Forum, as a space for consultation and participation of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism, the new logo of the ECTS was presented, with a new corporate image, and the triptych of dissemination of the seventeen companies currently accredited with the seal of quality ECST in the Montseny.
The new logo of the ECST available at: www.europarc.org/logo-graphic-guidelines
The meeting ended with the renewal of the accreditation of the first ten companies with ECST certification:
ADEMC (Sant Esteve de Palautordera),
Hostal Bell-lloc (Riells de Montseny),
Educa Viladrau (Viladrau),
the Romaní de Breda (Breda),
Fonda Montseny (Montseny),
Apartamentos CalFerrer (Montseny),
La Morera (el Brull),
Apren Servicios Ambientales (Figaró and Montmany),
Hotel Can Cuch (Cànoves i Samalús)
Bellver-Agustí Restaurant (Tagamanent).
All of them highlighted the opportunity that has given them to enjoy this quality award, for the development of their activity and to be able to work together. They also showed the will and the enthusiasm to continue participating and encouraged the other companies to join the ECST.
From the Town Hall of Tagamanent it was explained to the assistants how it has been possible to have a municipal shop for the elaboration of agricultural products. The meeting ended with a visit to the shop since it is located in the annexed part of the room where the Permanent Forum was held. A tasting peck with local products closed the act.
Las primeras diez empresas del ámbito del Parque Natural del Montseny acreditadas con la Carta Europea de Turismo Sostenible renuevan certificación
El 19º Foro Permanente de la Carta Europea de Turismo Sostenible (CETS) se reunió el martes 12 de diciembre en la sala polivalente del Ayuntamiento de Tagamanent. El acto contó con la presencia de 42 personas, entre representantes de empresas, entidades y representantes de los municipios y del Parque Natural.
El objetivo principal del acto era el reconocimiento y validación de la renovación de las diez primeras empresas que se acreditaron con la Carta Europea de Turismo Sostenible en el año 2014 así como rendir cuentas del estado actual de la CETS en el Parque natural y reserva de la Biosfera del Montseny.
La sesión comenzó con una presentación y aprobación de los indicadores estratégicos para evaluar el impacto de la CETS en el Montseny que se han elaborado durante este último año en diferentes grupos de trabajo. También se habló del grado de implicación de los municipios y de la aplicación de los criterios de participación que se llevarán a cabo durante el primer semestre del 2018.
En esta reunión del Foro Permanente, como espacio de consulta y participación de la Carta Europea de Turismo Sostenible, se presentó el nuevo logotipo de la CETS, con una nueva imagen corporativa, y el tríptico de difusión de las diecisiete empresas acreditadas actualmente con el sello de calidad CETS en el Montseny.
El encuentro terminó con la renovación de la acreditación de las primeras diez empresas con certificación CETS:
ADEMC (Sant Esteve de Palautordera),
Hostal Bell-lloc (Riells de Montseny),
Educa Viladrau (Viladrau),
the Romaní de Breda (Breda),
Fonda Montseny (Montseny),
Apartamentos CalFerrer (Montseny),
La Morera (el Brull),
Apren Servicios Ambientales (Figaró and Montmany),
Hotel Can Cuch (Cànoves i Samalús)
Bellver-Agustí Restaurant (Tagamanent).
Todas ellas destacaron la oportunidad que les ha brindado disfrutar de este sello de calidad para el desarrollo de su actividad y poder trabajar conjuntamente. También mostraron la voluntad y la ilusión de seguir participando y animaron las otras empresas a adherirse a la CETS.
Desde el Ayuntamiento de Tagamanent se explicó a los asistentes cómo se ha conseguido disponer de un obrador municipal para la elaboración de productos agroalimentarios. La reunión terminó con una visita al obrador ya que éste se encuentra en la parte anexa de la sala donde se celebraba el Foro Permanente. Un picoteo degustación con productos locales cerró el acto.
April 21st – Join the swarm for World Fish Migration Day 2018!
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The World Fish Migration Foundation coordinates World Fish Migration Day 2018 (WFMD) – connecting Fish, Rivers and People all over the globe through a wave of local events. Each of them aiming to create awareness on the importance of open rivers and migratory fish. Following the idea that creating awareness and connection are the first vital steps towards creating lasting commitments for making change happen globally.
Learn all about the inspiring happening in this 4-minute clip:
How does it work?
In every country, organisations host their own events – some internally, but mainly open to the public. What matters most is to create experiences that reach people and make them aware how fish migration matters to our eco-system and to communities’ livelihoods.
The idea is to inspire, share experiences and create connectedness from where joint commitment and actions can arise at global level. All of us, with our organisations are asked to spread awareness about the need for protection and development of migratory fish populations in river systems worldwide.
Why Migratory Fish Matters?
Many migratory fish species – reliant on migration to reproduce and to feed – are severely threatened by dams, weirs and sluices. Those man-made interventions interfere with rivers’ natural flow and that way with migratory routes. Migratory fish are essential to healthy and productive river systems and they play a vital role in the food chain – being an important food supply and livelihood for millions of people around the world after all.
How to get involved?
Inspire the swarm in Social Media: Check out events planned in your country and promote them using the hashtag: #worldfishmigrationday
Fish for attention & host your own event: Participating organizations organize their own event and outreach communication under the umbrella of the World Fish Migration Day (WFMD). Register and get some support guidelines by the WMFF: HERE.
Why hosting a WMFD event – and what to do? Watch this short videoclip with National Geographic Fellow Dr. Zeb Hogan reporting s from Cambodia!
Need some more inspiration? Here you can find a global map of events planned so far for 2018.
Become a supporter organisation – help WFMD swimming upstream: The WFMD is supported by many organisations around the world, who help communicate and reach out to others. Have a look at other supporting organisations – could you be one of them?
In 2017, EUROPARC welcomed 18 new members in the network! However, many more are to come… Despite the official merge with FEDENATUR in September 2017 in Portugal, FEDENATUR members will officially join EUROPARC in 2018. Stay tuned, as we will be announcing them one by one…!
For now, discover the new members that joined us in 2017…
Nalibokskiy Landscape Reserve, Belarus – Park Archive
From Belgium
The Landscape Park Bulskampveld lies in the Hinterland of Bruges, one of the woodiest areas in Flanders. The Landscape Park is the largest connecting forest area in the province and covers no less than 90 km², offering over 150 kms of hiking trails. Besides, picturesque polder villages, charming cities, medieval castles and abbeys, and local produce delight the many tourists that visit the region.
Bulskampveld Landscape Park, Belgium – Archive Brugse Ommeland
From Denmark
Imagine a park that encompasses forest, meadows, marshlands, dunes, beach, and sea… that is the Wadden Sea National Park of Denmark (Nationalpark Vadehavet in Danish). See for yourself:
Bothnian Sea National Park, Finland – Säppi – photo by Anssi Riihiaho, Metsähallitus
From Germany
In 2017, we welcomed 2 National Parks from Germany. In the Black Forest National Park (Schwarzwald Nationalpark in German) with its forests, bogs, grinds and lakes you can experience attractive contrasts: sometimes nature is gentle and lovely, sometimes wild and untamed.
Black Forest National Park, Germany – Buhlbachsee – photo by Arne Kolb
The Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park is home to a large community of wildcats, shy animals that need lots of tranquility. Peace and quietness is exactly what Hunsrück, with its long, expansive forests, offers this species. In addition to the nature, the National Park offers a unique insight into cultural and historic relics from the Celtic and Roman eras.
From Luxembourg
The Our Nature Park is characterized by the vast plateau and the narrow, romantic rock valleys that have the rivers Our and Clerve have dug. Valuable habitats for many endangered plant and bird species have been preserved in the wetlands and remote areas of the river valleys.
Our Nature Park, Luxembourg – photo: Park Archive
From Spain
The Girona Provincial Council (Diputació de Girona in Catalan) supports the municipalities of the counties of Girona with the aim of providing all citizens with quality public services. The Council is responsible for the management of natural areas, where Montseny Nature Park is included.
Montseny Nature Park, Spain – photo: Park Archive
From Switzerland
By encompassing in its territory large areas of forest, a valley with marshes and peat bogs, mountains and ridges covered with wooded pastures and, at their foot, a plateau consisting mainly of agricultural areas … The Park Jura vaudois is full of life! This diversity of landscape offers many habitats for a particular flora and fauna, and the Park has a fundamental role to conserve local biodiversity, whilst promoting traditional economic activities. The Park Jura vaudois was also the host of EUROPARC Conference in 2016!
In Portugal, during EUROPARC General Assembly, members voted to invite as honorary members those awarded the Alfred Toepfer Medal. Therefore, we are pleased to announce that the following holders of the Medal are now Honorary Members of EUROPARC:
Antonio López Lillo, Spain – holder of the Medal in 1994
Arthur Mitchell, UK – holder of the Medal in 2012
Gordon Miller, UK – Holder of the Medal in 2009
Josep Maria Pratz, Spain – holder of the Medal in 2002
Lassi Karivalo, Finland – holder of the Medal in 2010
Malcolm Payne, UK – holder of the Medal in 2001
Patrizia Rossi, Italy – holder of the Medal in 2006
Rauno Väisänen, Finland – holder of the Medal in 2017
Would you like to be part of the biggest network of Protected Areas in Europe?
The idea is to inspire, share experiences and create connectedness from where joint commitment and actions can arise at global level. All of us, with our organisations are asked to spread awareness about the need for protection and development of migratory fish populations in river systems worldwide.
