Monfragüe National Park 

The Monfragüe National Park is located in the centre of the province of Cáceres and covers an area of 18,396 hectares. That surface area is considered to be one of the best representations of the Mediterranean forest at world level. It is currently the only National Park in Extremadura, and also has other protection figures such as Special Protection Area for Birds, Special Conservation Areas and Biosphere Reserve.

Documentation Centre of the Monfragüe National Park

Monfragüe is known worldwide for its ornithological values, especially birds of prey. And it is that to make some of its routes through the viewpoints and observatories is to ensure the sighting of some of the most emblematic birds in Europe such as the black stork, black vulture, griffon vulture, imperial eagle, eagle, golden eagle, Bonelli’s eagle, peregrine falcon…. Most of these and other species find their food in the extensive pastures around the Park.

Documentation Centre of the Monfragüe National Park

Monfragüe is a territory with a long history of human settlements. There are still a large number of cave paintings in the mountains (Cueva del Peine, Cueva del Castillo and Cueva Bermeja), constituting one of the largest concentrations of Neolithic paintings in Extremadura.

Environmental Education Centre Zapovedniks (Zapovedniks Centre)

Zapovedniks Centre’s archive

Environmental Education Centre Zapovedniks (Zapovedniks Centre) is a Russian NGO – educational, methodical, resource and training centre for Protected Areas.

The Center’s general areas of activity include the following:

• Vocational training for Staff on Protected Areas in Russia and New Independent Countries, as well topical workshops, conferences, seminars, study tours in Russia and abroad for PA staff, training for eco-NGOs, businesses and local community;
• Environmental Education on Protected Areas, including coordination of the All-Russian Children’s and Youth Movement Friends of Protected Islands, creation All-Russian Youth Environmental Congresses and others;
• Social planning and the development of civil initiatives in support of Protected Areas. Integration of socio-economic development with Environmental Conservation and Protected Area management objectives, with specific reference to development of management coordination mechanisms;
  

  Zapovedniks Centre’s archive

• Development of Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas (strategy, planning, training, consultation);
• Development of volunteer projects for Protected Areas (Burunduk -International Volunteer Center);
• National Protected Areas policies and strategies development and implementation;
• Design of nature trails and expositions of PA visitor- centres: from concept to detailed planning;
• The edition of the quarterly magazine Protected Islands (in Russian).
  

  Zapovedniks Centre’s archive

World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on 2 February. This day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.

World Wetlands Day is an important occasion to raise public awareness about the value of wetlands to society and the role of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in their wise use and conservation.

Since 1997, the Ramsar Secretariat provides outreach materials to help raise public awareness about the importance and value of wetlands.

wwd

Due to climate change, extreme weather events such as storms, floods and droughts are on the increase. When well-managed, healthy wetlands absorb and store excess rainfall and store it for the dry season, which helps communities cope with extreme weather events protecting them from disasters.

WWD

WWD

The Declaration on Interdependence between Health & Nature in Catalonia was presented yesterday 30th January at the premises of the Macaya Palace in Barcelona. This declaration is the outcome of a series of sessions on Nature & Health, which has highlighted the contribution of nature to the health of people, and the importance of having a well-preserved environment, with a rich biodiversity, to guarantee a more sustainable human development at the social, economic and environmental level.

The Declaration lays the basis for the establishment of a permanent working group between the Catalan Nature and Health sectors in order to undertake a common strategy to tackle the interdependence between nature’s health and people’s health. The working group is formed by the administration (Health and Territory Departments from Catalan government), the private sector, entities and research institutions.

From left to right: Marc Vilahur – President of the Catalonian Land Stewardship, Arnau Queralt – Director of the Council for the Sustainable Development of Catalonia, Ferran Miralles – General Director of Environmental Policies and Nature of the Catalonian Regional Government, Carme Bertral – Secretary of Health Service and Participation of the Catalonian Regional Government.

The event was opened by Pete Rawcliffe, EUROPARC Council member and chair of the EUROPARC Health Commission, who was invited to share his experience as coordinator of the Scottish Natural Health System initiative, which has been already running for more than 10 years. The “Our Natural Health System” initiative is based on a strategy of stable collaboration between the Scottish Natural Heritage, the Health Department and other departments of the Scottish government. It aims to achieve a change in the use of solutions based on nature to achieve results in the health of the population, and shows that the natural heritage of Scotland is a resource that is currently underused while it could help address some of the current health problems, typical of an urban ageing population. The aim is to move from a clinician approach to a disease prevention model and to convey the idea that “Getting healthier should begin at someone’s doorstep”. An aspect of the initiative is to work with the clinicians to introduce green in hospitals to speed recovery of patients, as shown in the NHS greenspace demonstration project.

EUROPARC Health commission is currently working on the adaptation of the “Healthy parks, healthy people” initiative to the European reality.

UN Young Champions of the Earth

UN Environment is on the hunt for the next young champion of the earth!

If you are someone who sees the opportunity, where others see crisis, and you want to change the world – or know someone who does –  this is the opportunity for you!

In 2019, seven young people, selected from every global region will be named UN Young Champions of the Earth.

These winners will receive: seed funding, intensive training, and tailored mentorship to bring their big environmental ideas to life.
They’re looking for the artists, scientists, economists, communicators and entrepreneurs aged 18 to 30, with big, bold ideas — for our planet, for humanity, for a greener future.

Are you one of them? The call is now open. APPLY NOW

Don’t miss the March 31st deadline!

If you need some inspiration, take a look at 2018 Young Champions of the Earth.

Arpit Dhupar, 26, India: Chakr Shield

Miao Wang, 30, China: Better Blue

Heba Al-Farra, 30, Kuwait: Women in En. & Env.

Shady Rabab, 27, Egypt: Garbage Music

Miranda Wang, 24, USA: BioCellection

Gator Halpern, 28, Bahamas: Coral Vita

Hugh Weldon, 25, Ireland: Evocco

Nudge: A unique learning experience for future leaders who want to make a global difference.

Nudge is looking for young professionals eager to embed sustainability at the roots of their organisations

If you feel that you are a Next Generation Leader, and if you are eager to make the impact this is a chance for you to gain the knowledge, inspiration and skills. Nudge combined leadership, sustainability and impact in an eight-month development programme (August 2019 – April 2020). The highlight of the programme is a unique three-day learning experience in the Netherlands (21, 22, 23 October 2019).

They invite ambitious professionals (23 – 33 yrs) who are ready to rise to the Nudge Global Impact Challenge to team up.

If you are up for the challenge, become a force for change and APPLY NOW.