When Protected Area staff cross borders, they do more than attend meetings. They build trust, share skills, and create lasting friendships. Across EUROPARC Transboundary Areas (TBAs), staff exchange is one of the strongest drivers of successful cooperation.

From mountain patrols to youth camps, these personal connections turn shared landscapes into shared missions.

Weekly Meetings, One Shared Mountain

In the Krkonoše and Karkonosze National Parks, staff members cross the border almost every week. Rangers carry out joint field inspections, and teams work together on conservation, research, and visitor management. The verifier highlighted these regular face-to-face meetings as a key reason why cooperation remains strong and effective.

On average, staff cross the border once a week for face-to-face meetings.

This simple routine has helped the two parks deliver dozens of successful joint projects and maintain more than two decades of close cooperation.

Personal Commitment Creates Best Practice

In the Julian Alps Transboundary Ecoregion, the partnership between Triglav National Park and Parco Naturale Prealpi Giulie was described as “absolutely best practice” in Europe. Staff working in nature conservation, sustainable tourism, youth engagement, and environmental education are deeply involved in cross-border projects.

Without the strong personal engagement of the directors and members of staff, this success could not have been realised.

Their dedication led to a major achievement in 2024: international recognition of the UNESCO Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Julian Alps.

One-Day Exchanges, Long-Term Impact

Even short visits can make a big difference. In Podyjí National Park and Thayatal National Park, staff take part in exchange visits, joint ranger patrols, and language courses. In one example, three Czech staff members spent a day with their Austrian colleagues, learning directly from each other’s daily work.

These exchanges improve communication, strengthen mutual understanding, and inspire new ideas for conservation and visitor management.

Why Staff Exchange Matters

The EUROPARC Transboundary Programme shows that successful cooperation starts with people. When staff members meet in the field, solve problems together, and share experiences, they create the trust needed to protect nature across borders.

Staff exchange turns neighbours into partners and partnerships into long-term success.

Discover the EUROPARC Transboundary Programme

The EUROPARC Transboundary Parks Programme supports Protected Areas that work together across national borders. By promoting staff exchange, joint learning, and shared management, the programme helps nature thrive without boundaries.

In March 2026, the transboundary cooperation between Krkonoše Mountains National Park (Czechia) and Karkonosze Mountains National Park (Poland) entered a new phase. An international verification visit took place under the EUROPARC Transboundary Programme.

The visit ran from 9th to 12th March. It brought together park representatives, experts, and the appointed verifier. The aim was clear: assess progress and review the partnership.

A Visit Across Borders and Landscapes

(c) Rolands Auzins

The programme gave a clear view of how the two parks work together. Meetings, presentations, and field visits showed this cooperation in practice.

The visit started in Poland at the Sobieszów Palace. This site serves as the headquarters of Karkonosze National Park. Here, participants discussed strategy and daily cooperation.

Later, the group moved into the field. They explored projects that reflect joint conservation efforts. The delegation also crossed into Czechia. There, they visited the Krkonoše National Park visitor centre in Vrchlabí. This step highlighted the cross-border nature of the partnership.

Cooperation in Practice

The visit showed strong cooperation at many levels. Staff from both parks meet often and work closely together. Many activities take place across the border.

The parks also involve a wide range of stakeholders. These include local communities, scientists, and institutions. Their input helps shape a shared vision for the region.

(c) Rolands Auzins

Over time, the transboundary area has built a strong identity. Trust, shared goals, and regular cooperation support this progress.

Looking Ahead

After the visit, the verifier prepared conclusions based on the findings. These conclusions now move into the next stage of the process.

The Steering Committee (STEC) will review them first. After that, the EUROPARC Council will assess them. This process ensures a balanced and transparent decision.

The Big Question

Attention now turns to the upcoming EUROPARC Transboundary Parks Conference in Austria this June. Will the Krkonoše/Karkonosze Transboundary Area receive its certification again?

The answer will come soon. It will mark an important moment for this long-standing cooperation.

One thing already stands clear: Cross-border cooperation remains essential for protecting Europe’s natural areas.

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!

Interested to hear from real-world cases on sustainable tourism in Protected Areas? Discover new case studies on our Knowledge Hub!

Delivering the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Practice: Local initiatives supporting sustainable tourism across Protected Areas

Protected Areas across the EUROPARC network are continuing to implement the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism through practical local initiatives and strong stakeholder cooperation. Recent case studies highlight how ECST partners are using collaborative governance, education and strategic tools to support sustainable destination management while strengthening links between nature conservation, communities and visitor experiences.

Case Study 1: ECST delivered via LEADER best practice and a 20‑partner community network

Some of the partners in Lahemaa National Park

In Estonia’s Lahemaa National Park, the implementation of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism has been supported through an active cross-sector cooperation model, combined with LEADER funding and a structured sustainable tourism strategy. To support this process, Charter actions have been delivered through LEADER — the EU rural development programme — enabling coordinated initiatives between the protected area authority, municipalities, conservation organisations and tourism businesses.

The experience shows that structured collaboration can provide continuity for the ECST implementation, with the case study noting that LEADER cooperation offers a “replicable best-practice model for ECST delivery.”

Case Study 2: Agrilab, an educational kitchen for food culture, nutrition and agrobiodiversity

Picture credit: Parchi del Ducato

At the Parchi del Ducato – Western Emilia Parks, and more specifically in the River Taro Park in northern Italy, the Agrilab educational kitchen

promotes sustainable tourism by linking environmental awareness with local gastronomy. Through cooking workshops and hands-on activities centred on seasonal products, participants explore the connections between food traditions, biodiversity and responsible consumption.

The initiative encourages visitors “to discover local foods and their stories… and understand our impact on the planet,” helping strengthen relationships between protected areas and surrounding communities. Agrilab shows how experiential learning can enhance visitor engagement while supporting more sustainable lifestyles.

Case Study 3: Development of a toolkit to support Sustainable Tourism in Wallonia

Picture Credit: Thomas Meunier

In Wallonia, Belgium, the Federation of Walloon Natural Parks has led the development of a practical toolkit to strengthen sustainable tourism planning and stakeholder engagement across regional nature parks. Designed to help park authorities and tourism partners communicate sustainability principles more effectively, the initiative provides guidance materials, examples and communication resources to promote responsible visitor behaviour and integrate biodiversity objectives into tourism strategies.

Aligned with the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism, the initiative supports capacity-building and more coordinated action across protected areas in the region.

Do you have interesting initiatives that you would like to share with us? Or would you like to submit a case study? Please visit our Knowledge Hub! We look forward to hearing more stories from on the ground actions.