Interreg Europe GREENHEALTH – six months after the Kick-Off Meeting
Six months ago, on the 11 of May, we reported on the Kick-Off Meeting of the Interreg Europe GREENHEALTH in Murcia, Spain.
The GREENHEALTH project wants to create linkages between health and environmental policies and incorporating human health initiatives into Protected Area programmes.
The first six months have been ones of intense work, dialogue, capacity building and communication among the partners and with key stakeholders. The first exchanges and intentions were established at regional level to trigger and showcase the potential that each region can generate in the field of biodiversity and health.
What happened in the cooperating regions?
Each partner institution established the so called “Local Living Labs” (LLL) in their region or area of operation. LLL are “spaces” where each project partner can meet their key stakeholders and discuss the existing and potential initiatives that can take place in their area of operation both in the short and long term.
Each project partner organised two Local Living Labs in their own region. If the first LLL was about introducing the project to key interlocutors, the second one focused on sharing the knowledge of what are the existing initiatives in the regions and which potentials are still not exploited or are under-utilised. What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for each region? Each partner conducted a SWOT analysis alongside a regional study.
The methodology to create this baseline was developed by EUROPARC Spain, in consultation with EUROPARC Federation and the HPHPe Commission. EUROPARC Spain has supported the Lead Partner technically and is also consolidating the results emanating from each region. An online creative thinking and discussion forum took place at the end of October to discuss the preliminary results of the analysis, which is the base for a roadmap.
Most project partners also organised regional launching conferences.
The role of EUROPARC Federation and the Healthy Parks Healthy People Europe (HPHPe) Commission
But what did the work of EUROPARC Federation consisted on in the first semester? And what was the contribution of the HPHPe Commission to the project?
EUROPARC Federation is advisory partner for communication, capacity building and engagement.
The HPHPe Commission strongly backed the partnership by providing training during the Kick-Off-Meeting and through an online session on the HPHPe programme and toolkit. The latter represent a compass, which underpins the GREENHEALTH methodology to identify good practices in different regions. The HPHPe tools are also showcasing the enabling cooperation factors to effectively implement regional initiatives triggering health and biodiversity outcomes alike.
On the communications side, EUROPARC Federation supported the consortium by developing a first communication strategy.
The main deliverables include (but are not limited to): the establishment and upkeep of Social Media channels (Instagram, X and YouTube), the first newsletter and project video (both in six languages), the organisation of two online sessions for partners on communication and stakeholder engagement. The project website, hosted by the Interreg Europe Programme, was also populated and updated.
To share information about GREENHEALTH within our network, we took the chance to give information about the project during the EUROPARC Conference 2023 marketplace and provided a session about Wild Ways Well to Wellbeing in the HPHPe walk-shop.
What now?
EUROPARC Federation, hand-in-hand with the HPHPe Commission is preparing for the first Inter-Regional Learning Event in Croatia. Here the partners will have the chance to showcase best practices from their regions in the first thematic area of the project “Management of Protected Areas”.
Update December 2023: the Event Report is being finalised.
Stay tuned and check https://www.interregeurope.eu/greenhealth
Join the HPHPe online community!
We have a LinkedIn group and are happy to have you onboard 🙂
50th Anniversary: Quo Vadis, the EUROPARC?
EUROPARC is turning 50. On this occasion, our president turns directly to our membership with a message on the past, present and future.
Article issued by our President, Michael Hošek, for the EUROPARC members.
A message from our President Michael Hošek to EUROPARC members for our 50th Anniversary
The 50th EUROPARC Federation General Assembly will be held on 3rd October 2023. Not every organisation can overcome such a long period of time, and not every organisation can maintain a high and stable membership. It is a cause for celebration, but also for reflection on where we have come since 1973, and what path we want to take next.
From our perspective, those who founded the Federation in 1973 lived in a simpler environment. However, this is only true on the surface. They also lived in a Europe divided in two by the Iron Curtain. This was also the case in Germany itself, at that time two different countries. Perhaps that is why EUROPARC was founded in the West Germany. And the communication and cooperation between the states in those two different “Europes” was not very intense either.
In the field of nature conservation, the administrators of Protected Areas (hereinafter PAs) were by far the most aware of this, which is why they founded the Federation. Not only today, but even at that time, PAs were one of the most successful tools in our field, but we often reinvented practices that had long been proven elsewhere, or were unable to effectively protect wildlife occurring on the borders of several countries. So from the beginning, EUROPARC’s goal was a combination of simple communication to share experiences and active cooperation on this basis.
The ‘boom’ in terms of development came in the 1990s, after the Velvet Revolution and the lifting of the Iron Curtain. Suddenly, the number of partners and potential members in Europe “doubled”, and EUROPARC, with its existence and objectives, hit the need of the time: to have a common platform for a cooperation. And further development has come in this millennium, with new technological and project opportunities, where the Federation has grown and continues to grow in terms of developing and applying tools not only for its members, but also as a team with growing professional expertise. Just have a look at our website, because today it is no longer within the power of an individual to actively participate as a member in all Federation activities.
Today, with approximately 400 members in 40 countries, we are by far the largest international membership organisation in Europe, and probably globally in terms of our focus on protected areas. But more importantly, we have a clear vision, set by our 2030 Strategy – the one we adopted as members in 2021 – with the vision of “Sustainable nature; valued by People”. As well as, the mission “To improve and champion the policy and practice of Protected Areas to ensure that our natural and cultural heritage is protected and enhanced for current and future generations”. But the world is changing rapidly, and we need to be able to interpret our objectives in the light of this. Fast enough, but most importantly, appropriately enough, so that we do not lose sight of our mission. To this end, allow me the following reflection.
Protected Areas strengthen at strategic level
When we were negotiating the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) for 2030, achieving 30% coverage of Protected Areas was one of the main goals that the document managed to push through. And we have the same in the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030. The EU countries are now developing plans to expand their networks. But the important thing is that the importance of Protected Areas is now recognised by perhaps everyone – not only as a tool for biodiversity conservation, but also for climate change adaptation and mitigation, and not least as a model for sustainable use of the landscape. And we should not lose that momentum.
Protected Areas and beyond their borders
However, it is also clear that, particularly in Europe, the current model cannot be used without further changes. In addition to the need to work with local communities to manage Protected Areas, other tools must be found to bridge the gap between Protected Areas and the “unprotected landscape”. The new concept of “Other effective area-based conservation measures” (OECMs), or “areas separate from Protected Areas”, where conservation is achieved mainly as a by-product of other management, should serve this purpose. In other words, not as a primary conservation activity, but as activity of other sectors (mainly agriculture, forestry, fishery,…) as economic activity. OECMs, if applied, can be a suitable intermediate step that contributes to a mix of land uses, but in a sustainable way, without being a protected area. And it is up to us as the EUROPARC to actively participate in the further development of this concept. Most of the EU countries want to use it as a tool to achieve the 30×30 target, i.e. to “designate” OECMs as an enlarged part of Protected Areas networks. That is an opportunity, but also a threat to weaken Protected Areas, and we should be well aware of it.
Innovative financing is not just about money
EUROPARC is already very active in the search for new funding models for Protected Areas. This varies widely from country to country. In some of them the sources for ensuring care are suitably diversified, in others it is still mainly the state budget. But with Innovative financing comes not only “new money” but also new partnerships – with business, with the research community, with the general public, who are also increasingly ready to support us directly. But above all, it is a process in which new tools of care are developed with partners. These are now often focused on adaptation or mitigation of climate change (e.g. through carbon offsetting schemes), further opening up space for a broader perception of the role of Protected Areas.
Let’s focus on what is important and leave out the unimportant
There is a plethora of opportunities for projects and activities. It is now easy to communicate and create not only valuable outputs, but also the appearance of them. And EUROPARC must therefore consider which activities are meaningful and beneficial to its members, and which (although also important) are not a priority at the time compared to our resources. This is always a difficult decision, made all the more difficult at a time of many new concepts and ideas. But I believe that it can be done, and our involvement in selected activities, including active promotion of new topics, is proof of that.
But in any case, permanent feedback from you, our members, is necessary. And on the Council, again, not only to respond to change, but also to ensure a stable strategic direction that is not subject to quick fads for no good reason.
Advancing institutional recognition of the European Charter of Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas
The European Charter of Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas (ECST) is getting stronger visibility at the EU institutional level.
Bringing the ECST and EU institutions closer together
This is great news for our Sustainable Destinations and Sustainable Partners!
Three recent important steps confirmed the high interest on this topic:
- EUROPARC Federation was selected to be part of the Commission Expert Group ‘Together for EU Tourism – T4T’ for the next three years. Our project manager Teresa Pastor will participate in the greening transition for tourism sub-group.
- EUROPARC Federation was invited to submit pledges to the EU Transition Pathway for Tourism.
- DG GROW and the EC Joint Research Centre (JRC) announcement that they are considering equating ECST 2 (accommodations) with the EU ecolabel.
EUROPARC Federation membership of the T4T Commission Expert Group
The inaugural online meeting of the Commission Expert Group Together for EU Tourism took place on the 22 of June 2023.
The main tasks of this group are:
- assisting DG GROW in the preparation of policy initiatives resulting from the Transition Pathway in the field of tourism;
- supporting cooperation and coordination between the Commission, Member States and stakeholders on questions relating to the implementation of Union legislation, actions, programmes and initiatives in the field of tourism, in particular the Transition Pathway for Tourism;
- bringing about an exchange of experience and good practice in the field of tourism in support of the implementation of the Transition Pathway for Tourism;
- following up actions in the European Agenda for Tourism 2030.
Teresa Pastor will participate in the Green Transition for Tourism subgroup, which will provide strategic support to the Commission and the overall stakeholder community, and deliver best practices in the EU tourism ecosystem across sectors.
EUROPARC Federation invitation to submit pledges to the EU Transition Pathway for Tourism
As the 2021 Updated Industrial Strategy highlights the need to accelerate the green and digital transitions of EU Industry, a co-creation process was launched to create a Transition Pathway for Tourism.
EUROPARC’s pledges of contribution include:
Comprehensive tourism strategies development or update (topic 4) pledge
- 100 Protected Areas in 2024 certified by EUROPARC have a local strategy of sustainable tourism, regularly internally monitored and revised each 5 years by EUROPARC verifiers.
Collaborative governance of tourism destinations (topic 5) pledge
- 100 Protected Areas have an active Forum in 2024, organised on the base of local needs and contexts.
The Forum participates in the identification and realisation of an ECST strategy and action plan. It is then regularly internally monitored & revised every 5 years, after the evaluation provided by EUROPARC verifiers.
Green transition of tourism companies and SMEs (topic 8) pledges
By 2026:
- In 100 ECST Protected Areas, tourism companies and SMEs are involved in the Forum;
- In 50 ECST Protected Areas, tourism companies and small and medium-sized enterprises adhere to the 2nd step of the ECST programme, thus becoming a Sustainable ECST Partner;
- at least 10 Tour operators adhere to the step 3rd (become a Sustainable Tourism Operator) of the ECST;
- The ECST Stars Competition is organised every two years and the Award ceremony is organised at the European Parliament in Brussels.
Easily accessible best practices, peer learning and networking for SMEs (topic 11) pledge
By 2026, ten case studies in will be published in the Knowledge Hub of EUROPARC website and will be promoted in news and social media.
Consideration for ECST 2 (accommodations) as an EU ecolabel.
The European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), in collaboration with the Commission’s DG GROW has developed the EU Tourism Dashboard. This flagship initiative is aimed at supporting the green and digital transitions of the tourism sector towards higher resilience and sustainability.
In 2022, the JRC surveyed entities managing ecolabels of tourist accommodation establishments operating in Europe. EUROPARC participated in the survey.
JRC is currently developing a new indicator on the adoption of ecolabels in the 27 EU member states. ECST 2 awarded to accommodations is being considered as a valid ecolabel for this indicator.
The indicator will be published in the next update of the EU Tourism Dashboard, foreseen for Q4 of 2023.
Initiating dialogue on how to design a resilient Trans-European Nature Network
Photo credits Valerie Menelec
Reflections from NaturaConnect’s first Stakeholder Engagement Event
How can NaturaConnect help to design a coherent and resilient Trans European Nature Network in the context of the Member States Protected Area pledges?
This was the central question underpinning the first stakeholder engagement event organised by the Horizon Europe NaturaConnect project in Brussels on the 28th of February 2023.
The event gathered over 70 leading EU delegates, governmental representatives, academics as well as international and European conservation organizations to lay the foundation for a bold new vision for Europe’s nature protection.
The event was organised by EUROPARC Federation, who leads the overarching stakeholder engagement and capacity building strategy within the project. In his opening remarks, Neil McIntosh – representing EUROPARC Executive Director at the event – emphasised:
Today is about participation in order to build the dialogue necessary that will help protect and preserve biodiversity, by connecting areas, as well as nature and people.
Frank Vassen, representing DG Environment as well as the project’s Advisory Board, added some important contextual elements about the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the policy framework underpinning NaturaConnect:
We understand that we cannot continue business as usual. We need both to protect and to restore nature. Consequently, the two big chapters in the Strategy relate to protection and restoration. The protection targets are quite ambitious, as they seek to achieve 30% of protected area coverage (land and sea) across the EU by 2030, one third of which should become strictly protected. Achieving these target will require that additional areas become protected. Also, these targets are not simply about having Protected Areas on paper, it is equally important that they will all be properly managed by 2030.
Essentials of the project
Piero Visconti, NaturaConnect project coordinator (IIASA) and deputy coordinator Nestor Fernandez (iDiv/MLU) kicked off the event by outlining the expected outputs of the project which aim to address the challenges of designing a Trans-European Nature Network. These are not only about placement of new Protected Areas but also about their connection with one another. They also highlighted lack of stakeholder awareness and cooperation; insufficient knowledge with respect to biodiversity data; and access to existing funding mechanisms as some of the main currently known obstacles preventing the full implementation of the EU Nature Directives. It is these elements that are tackled through the NaturaConnect project. By providing technical support and data, tools and knowledge, NaturaConnect can support EU Member States in their planning and implementation of an ecologically representative and connected network of conserved areas, in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. This includes support to Member States in the revision of their protected area pledges in the context of the Strategy, and assistance to the European Commission with the evaluation of the first round of pledges.
Conversations
The event initiated informal conversations between participants representing various sectors including science, public administration, EU-policy makers and non-governmental organisations about enablers and barriers for implementing the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, including the design and management of the TEN-N.
The participants engaged in small groups to identify the many different perspectives in the room, focused around the following questions:
- What are the enablers and barriers to achieving connected Protected Areas in Europe?
- What are we now collectively seeing in terms of enablers and barriers to achieving connected Protected Areas in Europe?
The discussions covered overall perspectives on nature conservation and how different views on nature hinder or encourage its protection. A common question was how nature conservation can become a priority among other land uses and resource needs. How can its value become more visible and valued by policy and decision makers? The discussions continued into both broader aspects, as well as more specific themes such as funding opportunities and the potential of payments for ecosystem services.
In the afternoon, participants built a “live agenda” by proposing topics themselves, which were triggered by the morning’s discussion and were of most relevance for them. The topics were discussed in small interactive groups and the outcomes included specific recommendations for the project.
The selected discussion topics from the groups included:
- funding opportunities,
- governance of connectivity,
- the importance of small areas or landscape features yielding very rare biodiversity and needing better protection,
- capacity building,
- reconciling the need to develop renewable energy systems with the need to build the TEN-N,
- identification of “areas of particular importance for biodiversity” in Europe,
- how science can have an impact – addressing the interface between science and policy,
- monitoring and assessing Protected Areas and corridor effectiveness,
- how an EU-wide process can be initiated to identify a coherent corridor network,
- how to scale up successes and guidance of processes and its format.
The conversations provided valuable perspectives on the various topics, for example,the importance of co-creation of knowledge and guidance for TEN-N together with those responsible for planning and implementation. The need for capacity building on the ground was highlighted, as well as the necessity for a long-term perspective on area-based conservation planning in Europe.
The event brought together a wide range of participants from different sectors and countries, creating dialogue on important aspects of the project. We are looking forward to further engaging with stakeholders on these topics, and supporting them in designing a resilient and well-connected Trans European Nature Network.
Did we catch your interest?
Do you wish to know more about the conversations?
Want to reach out to the project? Please do so and write to marit.schnepf@europarc.org or visit our website: www.naturaconnect.eu
The event was professionally moderated by Maria Scordialos and Linda Mitchell. The harvesting work for the event record was undertaken by Valerie Menelec.
NaturaConnect receives funding under the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 101060429.