Covering over 18% of the EU’s land area and more than 7% of its marine territory, the Natura 2000 network is the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world: the network includes the most valuable and threatened species and habitats of Europe. Although considerable progress has been made in the implementation of the measures legally required by the Nature Directives, ensuring effective management of individual Natura 2000 sites remains a challenge in most EU countries. In particular, deficiencies in practical implementation and inconsistencies of approach are widely recognised as adversely impacting on the practice and quality of Natura 2000 site management.

What are the core competence needs of Natura 2000 and Protected Area managers? How can we build practical capacities and know-how through innovative methods? Within the LIFE e-Natura2000.edu project, EUROPARC and its partners will deliver 3 blended-learning opportunities for Natura 2000 & Protected Area Managers in 2020. The first building block of the project has just been launched: an analysis of the competencies needed for the effective management of Natura 2000. The learning opportunities will open at the end of 2019… Stay tuned!

The challenge of effective Natura 2000 management

The outcome of the Fitness Check of the Birds and Habitats Directives made clear that they are ‘fit for purpose’ and demonstrate EU added value. The Directives have generated many important benefits for nature conservation and sustainable development overall. They provide a balanced and workable framework for addressing the varying interests of stakeholders while respecting nature conservation objectives. Overall the costs of implementation are reasonable and outweighed by the benefits, although they do impact some stakeholders more than others.

However, the evaluation also reveals problems with the pace and extent of progress that stem from implementation. While some problems have decreased over time as a result of experience, others require future action. From the perspective of improving Natura 2000 management in practice, implementation improvements are required in such areas as:

• management planning,
• provision of more and better information,
• increased guidance, more integration and joined-up delivery with other policies,
• increased awareness and involvement of stakeholders.

The evaluation study highlights that Natura 2000 sites do not exist in isolation: not only are they part of an ecological network which spans the EU, each site has different human and economic contexts which must be included in nature conservation decision-making. Therefore, not only do Natura 2000 managers need to know how to assess the condition of their site(s) and put in place the measures necessary to achieve conservation objectives, they also need to know their stakeholders and how to work with them to achieve those objectives.

Capacity Building workshop at EUROPARC Conference 2018, Scotland

There is a clear need to build capacity amongst Natura 2000 site managers in relation to, for example, the development of technical knowledge along with ways to ensure effective stakeholder engagement: the implementation of necessary site conservation measures, including the development and implementation of management plans, is after all fundamentally a participatory process which requires skilful working with nature and people at the same time.

How can we respond to that?

With the LIFE Preparatory project: ”Supporting e-learning and capacity building for Natura 2000 managers”, a three-year project that explores the potential of new approaches and methods to improve specific competencies and build practical capacity required by Natura 2000 site managers across the EU. The project aim is to strengthen the implementation of Natura 2000and contribute to the successful realisation of the EC’s Action Plan for People, Nature and the Economy.

This LIFE Preparatory project aims to contribute to closing the gaps between the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of Natura 2000 management. The project focuses on building practical capacities and know-how across a set of core competence areas identified as being fundamental to the work of Natura 2000 site managers from diverse backgrounds and operational contexts. The results from Action A1 form the ‘backbone’ of the project to be further developed across the other project actions.

1) Identification and assessment of competencies for management of Natura 2000

As part of Action A1, “Identification and assessment of competencies for management of Natura 2000”, a first technical meeting was held in Brussels. The project team and invited experts analysed the IUCN Global Register of Competencies for Protected Area Practitioners. The main objective was to identify a set of priority competencies specifically required by Natura 2000 site managers and for which the project will develop a set of innovative learning tools.

Download the Report: Identification and assessment of competencies for management of Natura 2000

This report summarizes the results of project Action A.1 and the contents represent the result of collective inputs from all project partners and external experts invited to the first technical workshop of the project. It provides:

1) an analysis of functions required to be performed by site managers for the efficient implementation of Natura 2000, based on the results of the Fitness Check of the Nature Directives (2016) and on the Nature Directives’ legal requirements;

2) a methodological framework for the development of a coherent, competence-based approach to capacity building for Natura 2000 site management;

3) a defined list of key competencies identified as being particularly relevant for Natura 2000 site managers across Europe – these lie in the fields of:

• Communication and collaboration, including the development of strong, inclusive participatory processes recognising the vital role of local communities and respect for cultures;
• Awareness and Education, including working with local communities and cultures;
• Natura 2000 policy, planning and projects focused on biodiversity conservation practices.

Summary of technical activities and functional areas of expertise required by Natura 2000 site managers

2) Understanding Natura 2000 implementation in different EU Member States

The Nature Directives require all Member States to provide the capacity necessary to secure a positive impact for Natura 2000 and establish a framework for effective implementation based on competent management practices. However, management of Natura 2000 sites is organised and approached differently by each Member State: in many countries, Natura 2000 sites are managed by governmental institutions acting at different levels of territorial responsibility; in other countries, management responsibilities for Natura 2000 are devolved or delegated to various entities. This diversity means that capacity needs to fulfill the specific management responsibilities for Natura 2000 are highly variable across the EU.

Below you can have an idea of how Natura 2000 is being managed in the countries of the project partners:

Natura 2000 Management in Austria

Natura 2000 Management in Croatia

Natura 2000 Management in Italy

Natura 2000 Management in the Netherlands

Natura 2000 Management in Romania

Natura 2000 Management in Spain

Natura 2000 Management in Sweden

3) Build a competence-based approach

In the IUCN ‘Global Register of Competencies for Protected Area Practitioners’, there are 15 competence categories, each of which covers specific skill and knowledge requirements to indicate what a Protected Area practitioner should know and be able to do.

Competence derives from the combination of knowledge, skills and attitude (K-S-A). A competent individual can clearly demonstrate that he/she has knowledge on the theoretical and technical aspects of a specific task, is able to perform that task reliably and consistently and complete it conscientiously. Competence-based approaches to capacity building are based around proven acquisition of the skills, knowledge and attitude needed for effective implementation of tasks and functions.

Competence is at the crossroads between Knowledge, Skills and Attitude.

Within the context of this LIFE Preparatory project, the competence-based approach to capacity building refers to providing learning opportunities that enable Natura 2000 site managers to develop or acquire the skills, knowledge and attitude needed to effectively perform tasks required of them by the Nature Directives. As for Protected Area practitioners, competencies (required or desired) by Natura 2000 site managers vary by staff levels and operating contexts. As explained in the report above, the competence needs are correlated with:

• the complexity of a given Natura 2000 site;
• its management objectives and implementation activities;
• the overall context, the type of management setting and governance arrangements;
• the specific responsibilities of involved organisations; and, available resources.

These are some of the multiple factors which need to be considered when identifying the competencies required by individual Natura 2000 site managers and when designing approaches to capacity building.

4) Building Capacity

The project Partners will deliver 3 core competence Modules in 2020, which will focus on:

• Biodiversity conservation: policy, planning & projects for Natura 2000 (led by ProPark) ;
• Effective communication & collaboration for Natura 2000: engaging local communities & working with cultures (Led by FUNGOBE);
• Powerful communication for Natura 2000 managers (Led by EUROPARC)

Within the project, there will 3 blended-learning opportunities for Natura 2000 & Protected Area Managers. Registrations will open at the end of 2019.

Natura 2000 and Protected Areas

The relationship between Natura 2000 sites and Protected Areas varies across different Member States: in many countries, Protected Areas were formally established years before Natura 2000 sites were designated. Unlike Natura 2000 sites, Protected Areas are not designated legally by the EU: various country-specific, national or regional, legal protection mechanisms are applied for Protected Areas.

In some cases, Natura 2000 sites may lie within a Protected Area, but not always, and there may be different management arrangements and requirements. Probably reflecting the fact that Protected Areas generally precede Natura 2000 sites, dedicated teams are not always in place for Natura 2000 site management.

However, although the legal status of Natura 2000 sites is different to Protected Areas, there is clearly a significant overlap in terms of the primary responsibilities and functions of Natura 2000 site managers and Protected Area practitioners. Often, the same people are involved working for the conservation needs of a Natura 2000 site and a Protected Area: even when different people are involved, the same nature conservation practices, skills, knowledge and expertise are required.

The report has been produced by Propark Foundation for Protected Areas, project partner responsible for project implementation Action, ‘A.1’, in collaboration with the EUROPARC Federation. This report is a project deliverable of the LIFE Preparatory project LIFE e-Natura 2000.edu (LIFE17PREDE003). The project is funded by LIFE financial instrument of the European Community and implemented by EUROPARC Federation with support of five partners: ProPark, Fungobe/ EUROPARC Spain, TESAF University of Padova, European Landowners Organisation, and the Kullaberg Nature Reserve. 

Position: Financial Manager – full-time position

Location: Regensburg, Germany

Do you like Nature and Numbers?

The EUROPARC Federation is the umbrella organization of Europe’s protected areas. It is registered as a German non-profit organization (gemeinnütziger eingetragener Verein).

EUROPARC is seeking a full-time Finance Manager/ Chief Accountant who is responsible for leading the finance and accounting of the Federation, based on EUROPARC’s mission and values.

Working in a small and committed team in Bavaria, the candidate will have the opportunity to liaise with protected areas across Europe.

The main duties of the Finance Manager/ Chief Accountant will be and not necessarily limited to:

1. Coordination and implementation of internal and external accounting:

• Settlement payments;
• Completion of the financial statements;
• Independent preparation of tax returns;
• Coordination of internal cost and management accounting with monthly reports;
• Calculation of different types of costs and support to the creation of a budget;
• Support of the Council/Directorate in the preparation of financial reports.

1. Support for the membership management

• Support for the billing of membership fees.
• Assistance in project applications and reporting
• Provision of financial data for application;
• Preparation of cost calculations;
• Provision of financial data and receipts for reporting.

Required skills, knowledge and experience

Essential

• Fluent in German;
• High proficiency in English;
• High-level computing skills in Microsoft Office applications; especially Excel;
• Experience in the field of accounting (HGB);
• Experience with the preparation of tax returns (NON-PROFIT organization);
• Experience in dealing with relevant Accounting Software;
• Ability to multi-task and approach challenges with an open mind;
• Ability to support and work within a multi-national team environment;
• Highly organised and resourceful.

Desirable

• Experience in working with public subsidy providers and managing grant projects;
• User Knowledge of Lexware professional software.

Position Conditions

• Duration: 2 years
• Full time – 40 working hours a week

Starting date

• Ideally August – September 2019

Applications

Please send a 1-page motivation letter and your CV to Ms. Michaela Zeller ( m.zeller@europarc.org ) indicating “Financial manager application” in the subject line until the 31st of May 2019.

You can download all the necessary information here!

Due to the expected number of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Position: Office Administrator – part-time position

Location: Regensburg, Germany

The EUROPARC Federation is Europe’s biggest network, supporting and representing the work of Europe’s protected areas. As a member organisation with interests in nature conservation, sustainable tourism development, capacity building and European environment policy development and implementation, strategic and effective administrative processes are central to our work.

The Office Administrator will provide comprehensive administrative support to enable the Federation to operate effectively, efficiently and to comply with statutory, legal, contractual and funding requirements.
We are looking for a highly organized and resourceful administrator, with an interest in nature and a willingness to work in an NGO culture. The administrator is ideally a German native speaker and speaks English fluently, as the office language is predominantly English. Additional European languages are desirable.
The work is varied and interesting, encompassing all aspects of NGO administration, personnel, membership administration, and office management.  A background or experience in business administration is desirable, as are excellent IT skills.
Operating from the headquarters in Regensburg the Office Administrator will contribute to the small dedicated team.

Principle Tasks

• Administrative support to the organization management including basis
  preparation and support for decision making in the fields of finances
  and law on associations
• Project administration and assistance in project applications and project
  reports preparation
• Membership Administration
• Office Management: preparation of presentations and reports, correspondence,
  post and phone, maintenance of files, archives, and databases
• Organization and follow-up of council and member meetings as well as advising
  the management on issues of law on associations
• Administration of service contracts; review of processes and contracts
  with service providers
• Personnel administration (13 staff members), supervision of interns
• Membership administration (400 members in 37 countries)
• Arrange travel, prepare itineraries, administer expense report tools
• Representation of the Federation at international seminars and workshop.

Position Conditions

• Duration: limited till March 2020, as a replacement to parental leave
• Part-time: around 20 hrs per week

Starting date

• As soon as possible

Applications

Please send a 1-page motivation letter and your CV to Ms. Monika Trojer ( m.trojer@europarc.org ) indicating “Office Administrator position” in the subject line until the 31st of May 2019.

You can download all the necessary information here!

Due to the expected number of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Article issued by Ignace Schops, President of EUROPARC Federation

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

The Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services – IPBES –  is very clear: we are destroying what keeps us alive. In the recently launched Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services,  hundreds of scientists from more than fifty countries sound the alarm: nature and its biodiversity have never been this bad in human history.

A million species are threatened with extinction, the rate of extinction is increasing and serious consequences for humanity are now very likely,

the scientists say. “We are affecting the fundamentals of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide”. The impact of humanity on species and ecosystems is too heavy and we are rapidly losing our comfort zone. It is like Greta Thunberg already stated: “we need to panic”!

There are a series of alarming numbers:

• the rate at which animal and plant species are declining is tens to hundreds of times higher than in the last ten million years;
• 1 million of the roughly 8 million known species are threatened – a thinning that occurred only five times before in world history (the last time 66 million years ago, when the dinosaurs, among others, disappeared);
• 85 percent of the marshes have already disappeared;
• one-third of the corals, one-third of the marine mammals and more than forty percent of the amphibians are endangered;
• the timber harvest has increased by almost half since 1970; even of our domesticated and bred mammals, ten percent have died out in the last five centuries.

And not to forget: since 1970 the world population has doubled again. The essential, interconnected web of life on Earth is becoming smaller and more ragged, and that is a direct consequence of human activity. Those human activities are, in order of effect: more intensive use of land and sea; overexploitation of organisms, like logging, overfishing, etc.; pollution over-all. Plastic pollution has increased a tenfold since 1980; transport of invasive alien species has increased by 70% since 1970, ….

And global warming of course! There is a similarity between the fight against biodiversity loss, ecosystems degradation, and global warming: we have already set ourselves goals, and we have not achieved them. In four of the twenty objectives for 2020 of the 2010 Convention on Biodiversity, we are more or less on schedule. For six objectives we fail! Next year, in 2020, a new international biodiversity agreement should be concluded in the Chinese city of Kunming.

A Transformative change

Oh yes, there is hope. According to the report, there are still solutions. Yet, if we immediately protect all species and their essential habitats and ecosystems – half earth –  and are prepared to make fundamental changes to our way of life. We had to do the latter to protect ourselves against the worst effects of global warming. Both problems are strongly intertwined. If nature deteriorates, it is because we plunder, pollute, repress and warm them up.

The scientists say that biodiversity can still be saved, but only with drastic measures. They themselves speak of “transformative” interventions. They require policy and have social and economic consequences that must also be absorbed. Exactly what policy we must pursue is a difficult choice and feed for negotiations. The report offers a wide range of possible actions and trajectories to achieve more sustainability across the different sectors: agriculture, fishing, water use, urbanization, energy, trade, energy production, economic growth.

EUROPARC Federation: safeguarding species and ecosystems is safeguarding ourselves!

Sustainable nature, valued by people. EUROPARC seeks to build a strong, united voice for Europe’s natural heritage. So we have a responsibility towards the outcome of this report!

United with all our members and allies we prove every day that it is possible to safeguard and maintain the wild while building strong, inclusive and sustainable societies.

We have a choice! If we don’t do it, who will? If we don’t do it together, how will we do it? And if we don’t do it now, when will we do it? Let’s not destroy what keeps us alive.

Think globally, act locally and change personally!

Terres Travel Festival – Films & Creativity

The 3rd edition of the Terres Travel Festival – Films & Creativity was celebrated from April 26th to May 5th in Tortosa, a city located between the Delte de l´Ebre Natural Park and Els Ports Natural Park, in Catalonia – Spain, and included inside the Terres de l´Ebre UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The Festival specialises in tourism films about landscape and journeys and targets both professionals from the tourism sector and the general audience alike. Furthermore, it is a member of the CIFFT – Committee International des Festivals of Films Touristiques and aims to contribute decisively to a re-balancing the attention and benefits of tourism to better the urban-rural distribution.

Award winners and collaborators at Terres Travel Festival – Films & Creativity 2019 – Photo by EUROPARC Federation

In this edition, 108 films from 24 countries were presented in two categories: Tourism films aiming to promote brands and touristic destinations, and Documentary films that seek to portray the relation between tourism, people and nature.

Best Movie Promoting Sustainability

The film “A Sustainable Journey” was presented within the Documentary category and was awarded with one of the two highest recognitions of the festival: the “TERRES DE L´EBRE- Best Movie Promoting Sustainability” Award.

A Sustainable Journey – Best Movie Promoting Sustainability at Terres Travel Festival – Films & Creativity 2019

For the Awards Ceremony, EUROPARC representatives were invited to the Award Ceremony and Carol Ritchie, EUROPARC Federation Executive director, took the opportunity to explain the importance of choosing sustainable destinations when travelling.  She also acknowledged the support provided by Interreg Central Europe, and the Park representatives where the movie was recorded for the production of this film and invited the audience to view CEETO Pilot Areas video teasers. For further information on the Awards visit Terres Travel Festival news.

About the Film

“A Sustainable Journey” depicts the story of a traveller seeking to escape every day´s pressures to a different kind of tourism that is good for nature and good for people. The traveller invites the viewers to make more sustainable holiday  choices. It was produced by EUROPARC Federation in the framework of CEETO project and the support of Interreg Central Europe, filmed in place in the Alpi Marittime Natural Park and Marguareis Natural Park in Italy, and Mercantour National Park in France.

Interview to local business owners during the shooting of “A Sustainable Journey” – Photo by EUROPARC Federation

For its production, sustainable industries and local producers certified with the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas were meticulously selected and recorded in order to lead with the example for future sustainable destinations. Apart from English, the movie is available in French, German, Italian and Spanish languages.

For further information about the movie, visit A Sustainable Journey – the Film webpage at CEETO website, or watch it online (English version below):