It is with great sadness that EUROPARC learned of the recent death of Dr Rauno Väisänen, retired Head of Parks and Wildlife Finland, Metsähallitus Natural Heritage Services.

Rauno was a big presence in EUROPARC in many ways. Not just a two-time served council member. Founder and President of the Nordic-Baltic Section and Alfred Toepfer Member, but principally a stalwart supporter of EUROPARC and all international cooperation. He ensured that Metsähallitus was not an isolated national agency, but well-connected with the colleagues across Europe, ensuring that his staff members participated in international activities.

He established the Nordic-Baltic Section in 2003 in Finland in order to strengthen the network in the north, to make cooperation more concrete and organised, and to actively influence European policies. His work continues in today’s section.

When asked in 2013 what were his favourite EUROPARC moments, Rauno recalled

Listening speeches and songs in Cymraeg (Welsh) in Llandudno; survival walks over the Irish moors and Italian mountains; having a key-note speech at Roses; watching bears in Romania; dancing to Abba songs at Strömstad; trapping rare moths at Oxford (using the dormitory kitchen as a trap); drinking schnapps in rainy Luxembourg; standing-sitting-standing with the Norwegian queen in Jostedalsbreen; swapping books with Aitken Clark; and enjoying gastronomic delights of Europe in the Council meetings. But, yes, my answer is: admiring the natural beauty of Europe together with the EUROPARC friends, a joint moment when you feel a strong connection both with the nature and your friends.

He could not have summed up EUROPARC better and we were all delighted and privileged to have shared those moments with him.

Rauno was a giant amongst us, in personality, in vision and in person and he will be sorely missed.

All in EUROPARC extend our deepest condolences to Rauno’s family, friends and many colleagues who will miss him.

At EUROPARC Conference 2019 in Latvia, Jurmala, Rauno Väisänen, gave us precious tips on how to make Nature an important topic in politicians and decision-makers mindset.

On the 15.06. the ENVI Committee of the European Parliament is voting on the Nature Restoration Law. The EUROPARC Federation underlines that adapting the law is essential, for people and for nature.

The Time is Now. For People and Nature.

The Time is Now for an ambitious EU Nature Restoration Law. EUROPARC is calling on MEPs and EU Member States to approve the law.

Europe needs a clear and ambitious legislation to drive the restoration of nature. This is a great opportunity to complement EU nature directives, progress on global targets for biodiversity and build the path for our future.

Michael Hošek.

Says EUROPARC President Michael Hošek: “Our predecessors have been brave and ambitious, setting the largest network of Protected Areas across the globe, joining forces to halt the loss of biodiversity and building fruitful environmental legislation in Europe. The time is Now to build on the same vision and restore Europe’s environment for the benefit of biodiversity and to secure the health and wealth of our communities and economies.”

On the 15th of June the ENVI Committee of the European Parliament and subsequently the EU Environment Council on the 20th of June, will both take crucial decisions for the future of Nature Restoration in Europe. Now is the Time to make positive decisions for Europe’s Future.

EUROPARC will assist National, Regional authorities and Protected Areas across Europe to successfully deliver new restoration plans.

Our Protected Areas across Europe are essential to restore what was lost, to support restoration planning in broader landscapes and to protect restored areas.

The Time is Now for Protected Areas to be the building blocks of a Restored Nature.

Eager to learn more bout the role of Protected Areas in Nature Restoration?

Click here

EUROPARC is among the signatories of the #RestoreNature Statement

World Ocean Day: One Ocean, One Climate, One Future – Together

Today is World Ocean Day, an annual international celebration coordinated and promoted by The Ocean Project since 2002 that raises the profile of the importance of oceans and calls for ocean and climate action. It has been recognised by the United Nations since 2009.

This initiative brings together thousands of organisations such as schools, universities, youth organisations, aquariums, zoos, museums, dive clubs, marinas, and others, which organise different activities all over the world.

The central hub for resources and action is WorldOceanDay.org, where you can find a wide range of promotional resources and tools and a collection of the activities, celebrations, and other events happening worldwide. Take a look and spread the word!

Follow and share World Ocean Day on social networks:

• Twitter @WorldOceansDay
• Instagram @WorldOceanDay 
• Facebook @WorldOceanDay
• LinkedIn: World-Ocean-Day

The 2023 theme: Tides are changing!

The World Ocean Day´s theme for this year refers to the fact that change is underway in a good way. Many actions to increase sustainability in the ocean are gaining momentum and so is the public support for increased conservation in the high seas, from the movements to stop deep-sea mining to stepping up the fight against plastic pollution.

However, not all change is positive and the tides of climate change are also affecting our oceans, the largest carbon sink. Marine and coastal Protected Areas are especially concerned about the impact of climate change on biodiversity. Have a look at one of the episodes of Natur’Adapt’s Climate Talks where we hear from a Marine Protected Area in Italy and their efforts to involve the local community in their climate adaptation plans.

Celebrating Youth Action for Our Blue Planet

Young people increasingly play an important role in shaping a sustainable future for our society, and its engagement in policy and on the ground is vital. The world ocean day counts with a Youth Advisory Council, formed by members representing 21 countries that provide the necessary guidance and support to inform and inspire youth and others to take action throughout the year.

This year, the EUROPARC International Junior Ranger Camp will also be celebrating the oceans at the meeting point of the Baltic and North Seas in northern Denmark. There they will be learning about dune conservation, ocean biodiversity and the history of salt production amongst other things! For those of you joining the EUROPARC Conference, keep an eye out for the camp’s ocean-themed art project.

World Ocean Day banner – do it for the future

Recent milestones in ocean conservation

During the last six months, big steps have been taken to protect the oceans at global level. In this lines and with the occasion of the World Ocean Day, we would like to highlight some of the milestones that thanks to a collective effort, are bringing us forward to achieve a sustainable development in balance with nature:

High Seas Treaty

High seas, or waters beyond national jurisdiction, represent two thirds of the ocean. They are one of the most valuable sources of benefits for our society both at ecologic and socio-economic level. However, they are also subject to high pressure in regards of biodiversity loss, overexploitation, pollution and the impacts of climate change. 

Despite of being regulated by some international agreements, the waters beyond national jurisdiction have lacked of a comprehensive legal framework that allows the different nations to effectively coordinate efforts in order to protect them.

Negotiations to develop the High Seas Treaty, an agreement for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, started two decades ago. Last 4th of March 2023, after a long process of negotiations, the text of the High Seas Treaty was finally agreed in the 5th Intergovernmental Conference in New York.

The Highs Seas Treaty is therefore a legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It focuses in four thematic areas, being one of them the Area-based management tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas (MPAs). Among others, the treaty provides a road map for establishing large-scale marine protected areas on the high seas, a key measure to meet the commitment of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Agreement. The agreement has to be yet ratified by the 60 member states before coming into force.

More information on the High Seas Treaty.

A historic moment for our Oceans. Today marks the culmination of more than a decade of preparatory work and international negotiations in which the EU played a key role. With the agreement on the UN High Seas Treaty, we take a crucial step forward to preserve the marine life and biodiversity that are essential for us and the generations to come. It is also a proof of strengthened multilateral cooperation with our partners and a major asset to implement our COP 15 goal for 30% ocean protection. I am very proud of our outcome. Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries – 04/03/2023

Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution

Plastics conform at least the 85% of marine waste and their levels are rapidly increasing. Currently, plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental problems and it negatively impacts the environmental, social, economic and health pillars of our society worldwide.

In February 2022, the United Nations agreed to start the International Negotiating Committee to Develop an International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution. This committee had its first meeting in October last year and is aiming to meet the deadline of a first draft ready in 2024. This treaty should be science-based, include the full life-cycle of plastic products and ensure the phase out of especially harmful chemicals like PFAs amongst others. Find more information at the United Nations Environmental Programme website.

To know more on previous an existing actions on initiatives that aim to tackle plastic pollution in Europe we recommend you watching the EUROPARC webinar Towards a NO-Plastic Sea: EU policies and Marine Protected Areas actions.

Global Biodiversity Framework – 30% protection targets commitment

In December last year we finally have a Global Biodiversity Framework which includes many safeguards for ocean biodiversity. The targets for 2030 include a commitment to stop biodiversity loss in areas under spatial planning (Target 1), to restore 30% of degraded coastal and marine ecosystems (Target 2) and to protect and conserve 30% of marine and coastal areas under effective management (Target 3). You can find more information on this agreement here.

Stay tuned on EUROPARC news for more updates on marine conservation and keep an eye on our Marine Policies section for information about legal framework on European waters.