In this podcast, EUROPARC’s Communciations Manager Esther Bossink is joined by Myrthe Fonck of PWN. Together they explore an innovative project in The Netherlands that revitalised the dune landscape in National Park Zuid-Kennemerland, The Netherlands. The podcast was recorded end of 2023.

Making dunes mobile again!

Myrthe Fonck on a sand covered bicycle lane, Zuid-Kennemerland. By Neil McIntosh

Over 10 years ago, the Dutch Dune Revival project set out to bring natural dynamics back into the dunes. These coastal areas in The Netherlands are unique. Typically, the dunes are very broad and stretch almost along the entire coastal line. Furthermore, the Dutch dunes are of great importance for the grey dune habitat — also on a European scale.

However, as the main function of dunes became coastal defence, dunes were ‘fixed’ by the planting of marram grass. This prevented wind, sand, and salt to shape the dunes and create dynamic, natural processes. As a result, the dune areas degraded and biodiversity suffered.

So, how to solve this in a country that has 26% of its land located below sea level, without risking the coastal safety? Ecologists in National Park Zuid-Kennemerland came up with a seemingly contradictory plan: create five large openings within the first row of dunes. Opening up the dunes this way allowed sand to blow into the dune system and allowed for natural processes to take place again and rejuvenate the area.

Over 10 years later, the results are in: healthy, resilient and ‘moving’ dunes, where biodiversity thrives. Recreating these natural processes even helped combat the nitrogen deposition in the area, which is one of the main threats to nature in The Netherlands.

Learn more about this Nature-based Solution where different actors came together to create a better result for nature and for people, in this new episode of EUROPARC’s podcast “Voices from the Parks”.

You can also find us on Spotify!

Future-proofing the Dutch dune area

In National Park Zuid-Kennermerland, PWN strives to create natural spaces that are future-proof. The dynamic dune management improves biodiversity, but also supports the area in adapting to climate change. If you want to learn more about climate change adaptation s methods in the Dutch dunes, check out this Climate Talks episode, created within the LIFE Natur’Adapt project.

EUROPARC Podcasts ‘Voices from the Parks’ is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor CINEA can be held responsible for them.

The Protected Areas In-Sight is EUROPARC’s annual journal, which follows the theme of the EUROPARC Conference. Discover the latest edition now! Available in English, French and German.

50 years of nature superpowers

The Protected Areas In-Sight, aims to inspire its readers with success stories from across the EUROPARC Network. Collating these stories, connecting the people behind them, and showcasing Protected Areas as centres of excellence to the wider public is something that EUROPARC has been doing for 50 years.

What has become apparent having reflected upon the 50 years of EUROPARC’s work, are the latent Superpowers within the Protected Area community

Carol Ritchie

writes EUROPARC’s Executive Director Carol Ritchie in the Magazine’s editorial.

The 2023 edition of our Protected Areas In-Sight explores many of the Superpowers that our network holds. Guided by the Conference theme “Tribute to our Landscape: Where nature and people meet in Harmony”, over 14 articles from guest authors across Europe showcase how Protected Areas are building trusting relationships within their communities, creating change and sharing a vision for a sustainable future.

Powered by the EUROPARC Community

As always, the Protected Areas In-Sight would not exist without the dedication of our network! In this edition, you will find articles from:

• Rewilding Europe on the ‘Wilder Parks’ initiative;
• National Park Weerribben-Wieden on their new national campaign;
• Youth voices, and their experience at the EUROPARC Conference;
• Foreste Casentinesi National park on restoring forests between history, landscape, ethics and nature;
• NORRØN Architects, on developing destinations through co-creation;
• Pasvik-Inari Transboundary Area, on the lessons learned from their 30+ year cooperation;
• The UNESCO Chair for Sustainable Management of Conservation Areas at the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, on Nature for Peace.
• The Nature Regional Landscape Parks Task Force, on their declaration on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation.

Furthermore, interesting insights from the LIFE ENABLE and Horizon Europe NaturaConnect projects explore what is needed for nature conservation that is future-ready.

Of course, we could not let our 50th Anniversary pass by silently! In the magazine, you will also find special articles detailing our history, the interactive EUROPARC Storybook and much, much more.

Discover it yourself! You can flip through all three versions here:

English

French

German

If you’d prefer to download the Protected Areas In-Sight, we invite you to check out our digital library, where you can also find all previous editions.

EUROPARC members will receive a physical copy of the Protected Areas In-Sight in the upcoming weeks.

The publication of the Protected Areas In-Sight is co-funded by the European Commission. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor CINEA can be held responsible for them.

Margaux Pierrel is one of the 2022 Alfred Toepfer Scholarship winners. In this article, she details what she’s learned about Shifting Baseline Syndrome during her study trips. You can find her full report at the end of this article.

Article issued by Margaux Pierrel

About shifting baseline syndrome

Marsh harrier at Wild Ken Hill (UK) © Margaux Pierrel

Shifting baseline syndrome (SBS) is a psychological and sociological phenomenon describing a gradual change in the accepted norms for the state of nature due to a lack of memory, knowledge or experience of its past condition. In other words, SBS is the situation in which each new generation consider the state of nature when they were born and raised as the normal or healthy baseline. As a dual climate and biodiversity crisis unfolds, this results in a continual lowering of people’s accepted thresholds for the ‘normal’ state of nature.

SBS is therefore an aggravating factor to the environmental deterioration and decline of species; as well as one of the major obstacles to nature protection and climate justice.

Presently working as a conservation ranger in Ireland, I face the consequences of SBS in my daily activities, from law enforcement to site monitoring, through environmental education. Thanks to the Alfred Toepfer Natural Heritage Scholarship, I was able to learn more about the implications of SBS on nature conservation in European protected areas, with the objective of understanding better this relatively unknown phenomenon and how it affects the professional sector.

In order to do so, I carried out five study visits in European protected areas in 2023. The visited sites were Wild Ken Hill (UK), Oostvaardersplassen Nature Reserve (Netherlands), Knepp (UK), Mercantour National Park (France) and Rewilding Rhodopes (Bulgaria).

Konik horses at Oostvaardersplassen Nature Reserve (Netherlands), Margaux Pierrel

Why should SBS be considered in conservation?

As developed in my report, there are three main causes of SBS:

1. the lack of scientific data on past conditions,
2. the extinction of experience (i.e. lack of interaction and orientation for nature),
3. the loss of familiarity with nature, leading to people’s incapacity to assess an environment and thus notice change.

SBS has several consequences, of which some are aggravating factors of SBS (i.e. ‘feedback loops’). These include a gradual habituation to degraded natural environments and altered expectations for the state of nature (i.e. what is worth protecting or not).

The professional sector of ecology and conservation is not exempted from these consequences, and other implications can develop such as ‘conservation complacency’ where policymakers may set inappropriate or less ambitious targets for environmental conservation, restoration and management programs due to false perceptions of past environmental conditions. SBS can also result in a lack of consideration for alternative historical data, leading to a knowledge loss from generation to generation.

Suggestions on how to prevent SBS and reverse the shift

Bison reintroduction in Rewilding Rhodopes (Bulgaria), Margaux Pierrel

Thanks to research and interviews with experts during my study visits, I have highlighted four suggestions or ‘treatments’ against SBS:

• Reversing SBS must pass through the restoration of the natural environment and rewilding, where conditions allow.
• A (re)connection with the natural environment should be encouraged by and for everyone, since tuning in with nature will enable people to start noticing change again, therefore giving people a sense of belonging and the wish to protect what they know.
• Access to robust monitoring data should be made available for all professionals, this data should be saved on a safe and accessible interface and should be used to inform conservation objectives and strategic plans for protected areas.
• An emphasis should be given to environmental education, for all age groups, and across rural and urban areas, as well as designated for professionals thanks to workshops and partnerships.

This Alfred Toepfer Natural Heritage Scholarship offered a fantastic opportunity to expand my knowledge and experience of Shifting Baseline Syndrome and its effects on European nature conservation. I am grateful for the possibilities to network and to travel to inspiring protected areas, it will greatly benefit my professional career, and hopefully those of others.

Read Margaux’s full report!

The Alfred Toepfer Natural Heritage Scholarship is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Alfred Toepfer Stiftung.

The EUROPARC Federation is looking for a new policy development manager!

About the Policy Development Manager

Representing the interest of EUROPARC members and advocating for a Sustainable Nature; Valued by People, is at the core of EUROPARC Federation’s work. It is complex and challenging work, influencing and developing policy that ensures Protected Areas are at the forefront of the multiple political agendas impacting Europe today, and in the future. We are looking for a new Policy Development manager keen to take up this central role in our organisation.

• Do you have a sound knowledge and experience gained working in the European nature conservation policy arena?
• Can you exercise good judgement and diplomatic communication skills?
• Can you absorb detail, but synthesise the salient points that are relevant to the Federations strategic goals?
• Are you experienced in developing a policy strategy and have seen plans through to achieving change?
• Have you successfully developed projects with varied stakeholders and partners?
• Do you work well in a team and understand the need for collaboration and integration across all topic areas?

If so, you may be just whom we are looking for!

The Policy Development Manager plays a crucial role in the development, management and implementation of the Federation’s Strategy by:

• Developing the Policy and Advocacy Strategy and leading the work for its implementation in close cooperation with other members of the team;
• Promoting and influencing European policies relevant to the work of the Federation’s members;
• Providing background analysis and summaries of policy for senior management and Council as it affects the work of Protected Areas.

Being part of a multidisciplinary team, the Policy Development Manager also contributes to extensive communication work such as:

• Representing EUROPARC at meetings and conferences, prepare and deliver presentations, produce briefing papers and feedback reports;
• Close cooperation with the Communication Manager, including production of monthly updates for E-news and regular social media postings;
• Supporting development and delivery of EUROPARC Conferences, including preparing and leading workshops;
• Planning and managing thematic webinars on EU policies and funding streams;

The Policy Development Manager also supports all aspects of the work of the Federation in order to support its members. Primarily, this includes:

• Assisting in the development and delivery of membership initiatives to retain and attract new members to the EUROPARC Federation;
• Responding to enquiries from members, for example by researching, identifying and collating relevant information.

Additional areas of work to be considered:

Leading role on innovative financing

• Seek funding opportunities to develop the innovative financing model that realises a process to attract and draw down investment funding for nature restoration.

Project Development

• Develop project concepts and applications, developing consortia, budgets and innovative actions aligned to EUROPARC’s Strategy;
• Respond to consortium enquiries for project work proposed by others, considering capacity implications and relevance to EUROPARC.

You can view the full job description here

Essential Criteria

• Evidence of experience working in the European policy environment;
• Mature communication skills both verbally and in writing to a high standard in English. Other European languages are a further advantage;
• Ability to work across multiple topics and juggle several functions simultaneously;
• Highly organised with the ability to manage efficiently and effectively a complex workload;
• A collaborative approach to work, with the ability to look for and developing synergies across topic areas;
• Experience in developing European multipartner projects;
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of main European policies relevant for Protected Areas.

Desirable

Knowledge of European finance mechanisms and in particular innovative financing solutions working with the private sector.

Reporting to the Head of Policy Unit, the post will have a German contract. Candidates must be fully eligible to work in the EU. European travel is anticipated.

No visas will be applied for.

Deadline for submissions is 12.01.2024. Interviews will be held in the first instance online, the week beginning 22nd January.

EUROPARC offers a flexible and collegiate working environment in a multicultural and dynamic team.

Please submit a fully elaborated CV and letter indicating the experience you have that fulfil the functions and criteria of this post.