Europarc Youth Manifesto launch at Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

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Pembrokeshire launch for Europarc Youth Manifesto

A group of young people who volunteer regularly to conserve and enhance the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park have launched a new manifesto, which they created alongside counterparts from rural areas and protected places across Europe.

National Park Youth Rangers: Cat Edwards, Matt Gillard and Ethan Tizzard presented the Europarc Youth Manifesto titled A Call for Change in Rural Communities and Protected Areas at  meeting of the National Park Authority.

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Youth Rangers recently launched the Europarc Youth Manifesto at a meeting of the National Park Authority.​
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Youth Rangers launched the Europarc Youth Manifesto at a meeting of the National Park Authority.​

Some of the Youth Rangers formed part of the original group of young people from across the continent that developed the document in workshops in Scotland and Finland. They then went on to attend the launch in the Cairngorms National Park at the Europarc Conference themed European Parks; Inspired by the Next Generation.

Following the meeting the Youth Rangers said: “Members of the Authority congratulated us on the manifesto and our presentation, but we were after something a little more concrete to help move things forward.”

“The committee then agreed to create a working group to bring some Authority Members and young people to together, in order to identify and prioritise more ideas for future action, which is what we wanted.”

Youth Rangers from the Pembrokeshire Coast were involved in the development and launch of the manifesto in the Cairngorms National Park earlier this year.
Youth Rangers from the Pembrokeshire Coast were involved in the development and launch of the manifesto in the Cairngorms National Park in 2018.

The manifesto focuses on three areas important to young people; living, learning and working in rural areas, and calls for youth empowerment and greater involvement in decision making so they can influence the policies that will impact on their lives and those of future generations.

The Youth Rangers would like young people from other youth organisations to get involved in these discussions, and are also looking for other opportunities to present and discuss the manifesto in Pembrokeshire, so if you are a member of a group that wants to hear more, or you want to hear more about the Youth Ranger scheme, please contact Tom Moses via tomm@pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk or call 07773 788205.

To download the Europarc Youth Manifesto in full visit www.europarc.org/nature/young-people/youth-manifesto.

The Best of 2018 – Protected Areas In-Sight 2018

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The annual journal of the EUROPARC Federation is out. Following the theme of EUROPARC Conference 2018 and the launch of the Youth Manifesto, we bring you an insightful look at how Parks can be inspired by the next Generation.

In a society increasingly driven by technology and geared towards rapid progress, Protected Areas offer a particularly valuable balance for young people (and the rest of us), to slow down, discover, think and become actively involved in nature.

In return, our Protected Areas can benefit greatly from their creative energy, unconventional thinking and understanding of the younger generation’s needs. We believe that young people have a vital role to play in caring for E

urope’s natural heritage.

Download your Protected Areas In-Sight 2018 in English, French or German.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Nature Conservationists

One of the highlights of this edition is the interview with Hendrikus Van Hensbergen, (a young entrepreneur himself) Chief Executive Officer of Action for Conservation, a charity focused on fostering adn supporting the involvement of youngsters in nature conservation. In this interview, Hendrikus speaks about how the charity Action for Conservation was founded, its role at local level and the possibilities that working in synergy with Parks and institutions like EUROPARC could bring.

#HabitatHeroes Pioneers

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Meet the Dartmoor National Park Junior Rangers

Junior Rangers of Dartmoor National Park are a curious, hardworking group and their Protected Area offers many kinds of habitats for rare plants and animal species to discover.

©Orlando Rutter, (Senior Learning & Outreach Officer Dartmoor National Park Authority)

Tell us all about your “natural treasure”: Which are the species or habitats Dartmoor NP Junior Rangers learn and work with in their park? What is special about them?

©Orlando Rutter, (Senior Learning & Outreach Officer
Dartmoor National Park Authority)

From blanket bogs on the highest part of the moor to woodlands in the more sheltered valleys. In between, you can find heath and grassland. But there is even more: you can find cave systems, hay meadows, granite tors, rivers and Dartmoor’s moorland core is considered the biggest in the south of England.

What are Junior Rangers doing to learn more and protect their natural treasures?

Together with park rangers they learn what makes the Dartmoor NP special as a habitat and cultural landscape and help to look after it: Getting their hands dirty to maintain footpaths and repairing spillways or reaching out to help educate visitors and inspire peers are just a few examples of all the hard work the young rangers have done during the last months.

©Orlando Rutter, (Senior Learning & Outreach Officer Dartmoor National Park Authority)

Their activities went from leaf clearing to coppicing to maintaining historical sites and to participating in local events. In such events, Junior Rangers act as ambassadors of the Junior Ranger programme and the importance to look after nature – sharing the joy being active in the outdoors brings! The young rangers even managed to get friends and other young people involved in the programme – and some former Junior Rangers returned to mentor the next generations.

©Orlando Rutter, (Senior Learning & Outreach Officer Dartmoor National Park Authority)

The perks of being a Junior Ranger…

The Dartmoor Junior Ranger group of 2018 has officially “graduated” from the programme in the end of this year. On top of that, the Habitat Heroes of Dartmoor NP received an exceptional honour: In November they won the Group Award at the National Parks UK Volunteer Awards 2018 for their outstanding work in supporting the conservation of Dartmoor’s nature and inspiring peers to do the same! Well done! In this short video the Junior Rangers explain their activities and you can get a glimpse of them in action:

Learn more about Dartmoor Junior Rangers on their website.

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How to learn more and keep track of #HabitatHeroes campaign activities?

Over the rest of 2018 and throughout 2019 we will “map the field” and raise awareness for the great work Junior Ranger groups are currently doing for threatened flora, fauna and habitats in Protected Areas and Natura 2000 sites in particular.

  • Visit the “Habitat Heroes” campaign website: For now, we are thrilled to introduce you to our Habitat Hero campaign pioneers – groups already taking action in 2018. You will find a growing map and overview of all Junior Ranger groups joining the campaign  over 2019.
  • Besides, you will meet our “Habitat Heroes” over the upcoming months in dedicated articles – make sure you follow our news!
  • Keep an eye on social media – the #HabitatHeroes will provide you with exciting updates from our Junior Ranger groups that take part in the campaign. Don’t forget to share their actions!
  • European Day of Parks – 24th May 2019 – will  be all about “Our Natural Treasures” and our Junior Rangers are all invited to run a “Habitat Heroes” conservation activity dedicated to the natural treasure of their Protected Areas.

Want to join the campaign? We are happy to learn about your conservation action – just drop us a mail: f.minozzi_at_europarc.org

Greece hosts the XI Charter Network Meeting 2019

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Every two years, the EUROPARC network of Sustainable Destinations applying the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas comes together to exchange experience and best practice.

In 2019, we will celebrate the XI Charter Network Meeting in Greece between the 9-11th April, with a special post-conference excursion until the 14th April!

The XI Charter Network Meeting is kindly hosted by the Tzoumerka, Acheloos Valley, Agrafa and Meteora National Park, who will ensure an amazing Greek experience.

The social and cultural impacts of tourism: Exploring a Sustainable response

With visitor pressure increasing in many European Protected Areas, we need to look at tourism with a different mindset. How to manage visitor flows? How to increase the social and economic benefits to local communities? The programme will be launch in January, but we can reveal that there will be inspiring keynote speakers in the plenary session, intense (and very practical) workshops and amazing fieldtrips in the Park.

This edition, Tzoumerka National Park is offering a special 2 day post-conference between the 12-14th April for those who would like to have the chance to visit Meteora.

Where is it and how to get there?

The meeting will take place in the Pramanta town, municipality of North Tzoumerka, Region of Epirus. The National Park will kindly provide transfers on the 8th April from:

  • Thessaloniki Airport
  • Athens Airport
  • For those arriving by ferry from Italy, a transfer will be arranged from Igoumenitsa Port

Transfers will be ensured on the 12th am and 14th am (for those joining the post conference excursion).

Registrations and all information you need in this Page.