The International Day for Biological Diversity is celebrated every year on May 22nd to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.

Biodiversity is a term used to describe the enormous variety of life on Earth. It refers to every living thing, including plants, bacteria, animals, and humans. It is essential for the health and balance of our planet and may be the answer to many sustainability challenges. From nature-based solutions to climate change, health issues, food and water security, and sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity is the foundation upon which we can build back a better, stronger and shared future for everyone.

The slogan announced by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) for Biodiversity Day 2022 is:

Building a shared future for all life

Biodiversity Day 2022

As we continue to build on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework to be adopted at the upcoming UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15), let’s take a moment to remind ourselves of the importance of biodiversity and celebrate it all together!

Activities

Explore the Convention of Biological Diversity’s website and choose an activity to follow, an event to attend, or simply get inspired by all the opportunities and proposals out there:

• 22 Actions for Biodiversity
• Organize your event or activity!
• Download and use all materials and logos (you can also customize them just as we did!)

To conserve biological diversity is to protect the Earth, our shared home and to build a shared future for all life.

This is the message from H.E. Mr. Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment, President of #COP15. You can find many more messages on solidarity and highlighting the importance of addressing the biodiversity crisis on this page.

Join the Global Biodiversity Festival

The Global Biodiversity Festival is a virtual global event for anyone! The goal is to raise awareness on biodiversity loss. On 20-22 May, they’ll share the diverse stories and challenges and successes of scientists, explorers, conservationists, film-makers and policy makers on the front lines of the race to save the incredible variety of life on our planet, us included.

Are you ready for 80 hours of live broadcast with over 160 speakers from all 7 continents and 60+ countries? The event is open and free to join for anyone from anywhere, but registration is required to join the talks and events. Find more information and register here!

EUROPARC and biodiversity conservation

Biodiversity conservation is one of the main goals of our beautiful Protected Areas. As EUROPARC, we celebrate and promote efficient conservation policies, knowledge-sharing and good management practices that respect or enhance biodiversity. We strongly believe it is our Parks and Protected Areas that hold the solutions to biodiversity and climate crises. This is why EUROPARC and other leading organisations in charge of some of the largest tracts of Protected Landscapes and Marine Environments across the world have signed a joint statement at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

You can read the statement here.

• 26th of May
• 09:30 CEST
• Register here
  

Outdoor Sports effectively combine the positive outcomes of physical activity and being in nature, and make an important contribution to economic and social cohesion and more integrated societies. But at the same time, Outdoor Sports can have a high impact on the natural environment.

Have you ever wondered how Outdoor Sports and Protected Areas can work together to eliminate negative impacts and build a healthy environment?

If you are an outdoor lover that believes our community is stronger together, you need to join the free webinar session created within the Sustainability and Environmental Education in Outdoor Sports (SEE) project!

It will present the goals and first outcomes of the SEE project, as well as introduce you to the Take Care of Your Trails campaign.
During this webinar, you will also have an opportunity to express your opinion in an interactive session that will help us learn from each other’s experiences.

Webinar Programme

Welcome and Introduction to the webinar
By Sandra Grego – EUROPARC´s Project Officer and Communications Assistant.

SEE Project: an insight into project’s goals and first results
By Teresa Pastor – EUROPARC´s Project Manager

The SEE Project aims to enhance the protection of natural landscapes through education in and through sport with a special focus on responsible outdoor behaviour and skills development for Outdoor Sports leaders, trainers, guides, or instructors. Reports produced within this project focus on perceived issues from Outdoor Sports in Protected Areas, as well as broader sustainability issues for Outdoor Sports.

Take Care of Your Trails campaign
By Mark Torsius – General Manager, International Mountain Bicycling Association Europe

Take Care of Your Trails is IMBA Europe’s (International Mountain Bicycling Association) annual campaign aiming to encourage and promote volunteer-based trail maintenance events across Europe & improve the image of Mountain Biking.
It offers a chance for people to give back to the environment through a series of actions like trail repair, clean-up and build efforts that help maintain and secure the sustainability and future of mountain biking. Last year, the campaign gathered more than 1000 volunteers contributing to 92 activities in 15 EU countries. This year, the campaign runs from April 22nd to June 4th

Let’s talk about it!
An opportunity for you to share your experiences with the group. Do you have a problem you would like us to discuss? Maybe you have a positive experience related to the topic of Outdoor Sports in Protected Areas that you are especially proud of?
Tell us—we’d love to hear your story!

Get to know the speakers

Teresa Pastor – EUROPARC´s Project & Development Manager
Teresa is Project and Development Manager at EUROPARC. She currently manages the European Charter of Sustainable Tourism, the Life Urban Greening Plans project, and she is involved in the SEE – Sustainability and Environmental Education in Outdoor Sports project.

Mark Torsius – General Manager, International Mountain Bicycling Association Europe
Mark Torsius is the general manager of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) Europe and board member of the European Network of Outdoor Sports. He coordinates the advocacy and MTB development projects and programmes of IMBA Europe. Mark firmly believes that knowledge sharing, community building and a cross-sectoral approach is the formula to promote responsible riding behaviour, develop sustainable trail systems and protect the natural places we love to ride.

This webinar is created by EUROPARC within the scope of the SEE Project and is powered by:

Access here the recordings of all previous EUROPARC webinars.

Rethink, Restore, Reconnect

European Day of Parks is just around the corner. Only 11 days left! Events and activities are happening all around the 24th of May. You can find promotional material in many languages here.

In order to rethink, restore and reconnect, we are bringing you 11 examples of events being organized around Europe.

Register your event now!

Germany – 24 May 2022 – European Day of Parks photo contest

Share your most memorable moments and beautiful experiences in and with nature on website and social media pages. Nationale Naturlandschaften e.V. (EUROPARC Germany) and Verband Deutsche Naturparken are organising this German-wide contest together. Participants have the chance to win an overnight stay or other exciting prizes!

Spain – 28 May 2022 – Kayaking tour

Montgrí Natural Park, the Medes Islands and the Baix Ter invite you on a kayak tour to discover the natural values ​​of the Montgrí coast with a specialized guide. What better way to connect to nature than on the water?
More info can be found here.

France – 22 May 2022 – La Grande Traversée du Parc

The Montagne de Reims Regional Natural Park is organizing the Grande Traversée, a very beautiful 22-kilometers hike between Rilly-la-Montagne, Germaine, Mutigny and Aÿ! You will pass through an exceptional vineyard listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site before plunging into an Exceptional Forest, in the heart of the Montagne de Reims Regional Natural Park.

Don’t want to walk that long?

No worries: you can enjoy the festive stops all day long (food, artisans markets, and entertainment) in Rilly-la-Montagne, Germaine and Aÿ-Champagne! Other hiking routes will also be possible from each village: come and test very pretty loops at Rilly-la-Montagne (7 km), Germaine (2 km) and Aÿ-Champagne (10 km).

More information here.

Italy – 24 May 2022 – Natura Itineris Pollino: scopri, osserva, valorizza

The PollinoNational Park will organize walking experiences, immersed in the woods and geological landscapes of the Park, to discover the geopark (UNESCO heritage) and the biodiversity of the woods of the largest Protected Area in Italy.
Find out about all the offered routes (morning and afternoon) here.

UK – 17 May 2022 – Barns, Walls and Bridges

On May 17, the Yorkshire Dales National Park offers a 4 mile (6.4 km) walk through the stunning natural landscape of Upper Wensleydale to explore the dry-stone walls, field barns and bridge, and enjoy stunning panoramic views along the way. The walk includes the woodland and magical waterfalls of Shaw Gill (a Yorkshire Dales hidden gem) and starts at the Dales Countryside Museum.

More information can be found here!

Finland – 26 May 2022 – Birdwatching event by the Lake Muoniojärvi

National Parks Co-Partner Institute, Vocational Institute of Lappia organize this yearly bird watching event with wilderness guides and National Park rangers in training. This event is targeted to the 10-12 years old pupils of the local Elementary School of Muonio, but welcomes all others to join nice outdoor event.

Participants will be able to enjoy load of migratory bird info and also the learning session “How to make useful knots”. The National Park will also offer coffee, tea and sausages by the open fire. Welcome!

Hungary – 28 May 2022 – Bison safari

On Sunday, May 28, Őrség National Park Directorate is organising a unique adventure for wildlife lovers! A visit the Őrség Wilderness with an off-road bison safari! Under strict safety standards, participants will observe the largest terrestrial mammals in Europe up close. The staff will show the life traces of the bison and talk about the results of the program so far.

You can find more information here.

Austria – 26 May 2022 – Eintauchen in den Nationalpark

Interested in experiencing the diverse nature, habitats, animals and plants of the “Green Canyon” of the Thayatal?

The Thayatal National Park organises a 3 hours ranger tour aimed at anyone who has a little more time and would like to spontaneously immerse themselves in the national park and its colourfulness.

More information can be found here!

Netherlands – 24 May 2022 – Op de Paden Bingo

Get on the trails and out in nature with Op de paden bingo!

The National Parken Nederland cooperation has set up a bingo experience for this European Day of Parks. Various themes are reflected on the bingo card (one for inland and one for seaside National Parks around the Netherlands), such as biodiversity, attention to the landscape and of course people. Spot the different insects, flowers, mammals, and much more and complete your bingo card! The activity will help participants pay close attention to the beautiful nature around them and reconnect to our natural heritage.

More information can be found here!

Spain – 24 May 2022 – “We are nature: reflect, restore, reconnect” Conference

EUROPARC Spain is organising a Conference in which several restoration initiatives will be presented. The event is aimed at nature conservation professionals from public administrations, non-governmental organizations and private entities. Registration is free.

More information can be found here.

Romania – 24 May 2022 – European Day of Parks 2022 at Enduro Ranch Park

The Enduro National Park organises events for families and the general public to reconnect and bring people closer to nature.

More information can be found here.

The European Day of Parks is a European-wide celebration for people of all ages and backgrounds. We welcome the wider EUROPARC Network to organise events and register them on our website here.

• 19th of May
• 15:00 CET
• Register here

Wildfires have always been a part of nature. Unfortunately, large-scale and more intense wildfires are becoming increasingly common and have a devastating impact on health & safety, ecological balance and cultural & socio-economic well-being. They also add to climate change. Therefore a holistic wildfire management approach is needed.

The prevention of wildfires and the level of readiness against one might be the most important aspect of wildfire management, since it is better to avoid than to cure. In most cases currently, the observation of wildfire sensitive areas is monitored by a combination of cameras and foresters/park rangers. While this already provides some level of anticipation against wildfires, it has its shortcomings:

• data provided by foresters and park rangers are limited to human capabilities and not continuously monitored;
• observation data is challenging to share between stakeholders so valuable input on forecasting models is lost;
• installed cameras still need to be monitored by an operator in order to detect a wildfire.

In this webinar, we will look at how technology can help prevent wildfires and relieve some of the burden of those who work in Protected Areas. It is organised together with Senhive, with whom EUROPARC partnered up with at the start of this year.

Webinar programme

Welcome and Introduction to the webinar
By Esther Bossink – EUROPARC´s Communications Officer.

EFFIS: Satellite-based risk management
By Jesus San-Miguel-Ayanz – Director Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) Programme – JRC, Italy.

The European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) has been established by the European Commission (EC) in collaboration with the national fire administrations to support the services in charge of the protection of forests against fires in the EU and neighbouring countries. EFFIS is supported by a network of experts from 43 countries and provides satellite-based information on the current fire season in Europe and in the Mediterranean area. This includes today’s meteorological fire danger maps and forecasts up to 9 days, daily updated maps of hot spots (active fires) and fire perimeters.

Sen-Eye: Camera-based wildfire detection
By Thomas Petracca – CEO, Senhive, Belgium.

Sen-Eye is a camera-based autonomous wildfire detection system. It uses AI to autonomously detect wildfires and notify involved stakeholders. Sen-Eye can be installed on any type of IP camera and by fusing EFFIS satellite data with smart power management it can be deployed in off-grid areas where no power nor connectivity is at hand.

Quiz
Those paying close attention to the speakers have a chance to win a 1 year Sen-Eye Cloud license valued at €3500.

Get to know the speakers

Thomas Petracca – CEO, Senhive, Belgium.

Thomas started his career as a telecommunications architect. In 2008 he started his own company by providing IT architecture services to several Fortune 100 companies. His expertise and drive resulted, among others, in the management & design of the Belgian Antarctic station. This eventually inspired him to start a company specialised in remote sensing and led to the creation of Senhive.

Jesus San-Miguel-Ayanz – Director European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), Joint Research Center (JRC), Italy.

Jesus has a PhD and MSc in Wildland Information Science, with majors in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems from the Forestry Department at the University of California-Berkeley, U.S.A. He also has a Forest Engineering Degree from the Polytechnic University, Madrid, Spain. Jesus works at the European Commission Joint Research Centre and coordinates and leads the development of the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) and the Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS). His publication list is available here.

This webinar is co-created by EUROPARC and Senhive and is powered by: