This 24th May, join the celebration of the European Day of Parks, a day dedicated to celebrating and strengthening our Protected Areas. This year’s theme, “Connected by Nature”, shines a spotlight on the vital role of ecological connectivity in safeguarding Europe’s biodiversity and ensuring resilient ecosystems for future generations.

Bridging Nature’s Networks

Ecological connectivity and resilient ecosystems are at the heart of the NaturaConnect project, supporting countries in designing and developing a blueprint for the Trans-European Nature Network (TEN-N). 

Explore the Public Repository of Ecological Connectivity Projects

NaturaConnect offers a public repository of connectivity projects, offering a comprehensive overview of initiatives at regional, national, and pan-European levels. This dynamic resource supports knowledge sharing and empowers practitioners, policymakers, and conservationists to:

• Discover 80 projects across 30+ European countries, from forest corridors to grassland stepping stones.
• Access practical guidelines for planning and implementing connectivity measures, tailored to Europe’s unique challenges.
• Learn from stakeholder priorities, including climate refugia and the restoration of natural rivers.

Read about Key Insights from the NaturaConnect Report:

Guidelines for connectivity conservation and planning in Europe

This project output highlights:

• The critical role of connectivity in achieving the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Global Biodiversity Framework.
• A five-step framework for designing and implementing connectivity projects, from scoping to monitoring.
• The importance of multi-level governance and technical training to overcome challenges like data gaps and land ownership issues.

Read more 

How can we make the TEN-N a reality? 

Realising the TEN-N needs dedicated support from EU Member States, Protected Area managers, land owners and a range of other stakeholders across Europe. Furthermore, to ensure its succesful implementation a wide range of skills and capacities are needed. The NaturaConnect Learning Platform is here to support! 

It features the self-paced NaturaConnect Training Course, which is organised into three sections composed of 11 sequential and stand-alone training modules. The materials empower users to fully utilise the NaturaConnect outputs and effectively create stakeholder engagement across various scales. Amongst other topics, participants can learn about the policy context of the TEN-N, comprehend specific tools and methods used in spatial conservation planning, and be enabled to apply them in various contexts. 

Why It Matters?

Ecological connectivity is not just about protecting species-it’s about sustaining healthy ecosystems, mitigating climate change, and enhancing human well-being. By connecting nature, we ensure that Europe’s Protected Areas remain vibrant, functional, and resilient.

Get Involved!

• Explore the #NaturaConnect resources
• Join the celebration – register your EDoP event!
• Do not miss out on the upcoming webinar in which you will have a chance to learn more about the NaturaConnect project!

Let’s celebrate the power of connection and commit to a future where nature thrives, unbroken and united. Together, we are #ConnectedByNature!