EUROPARC is continuously working for the benefit of Protected Areas in Europe. Discover all that we did last year and see the new design of the EUROPARC Annual Report 2022!

Life moves by fast! All the more reason to sit back and reflect every now and then. The EUROPARC Annual Report will help you to do just that, all nicely packed in our new corporate branding.

In it, you can find the meetings, webinars, publications, project outcomes and other outputs we produced. From the EUROPARC Conferences in Austria and France, to new commissions and strategies, it is safe to say the Directorate did not sit still! The EUROPARC Sections also have been working on insightful activities that you can find in a dedicated part of the publication.

As highlighted by Michael Hošek, EUROPARC President:

2022 was a strategic year for EUROPARC. The Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted with the goal of ensuring sustainable use of natural resources on one-third of land and sea areas in the form of not only Protected Areas but also OECMs – Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures.

Policy work, networking & youth

We can look back on a successful Seminar Dialogue with the European Commission, where we discussed “The new Restoration law: the role of, and the impact on, Protected Areas” and “Nature Conservation in the Climate change context”. EUROPARC also lobbied for the creation of a Thematic Committee within the Conference of International NGOs in the Council of Europe and we represented our members in Brussels throughout the year.

Of course, as always, we put special efforts into connecting our members with various online and in-person opportunities. We gave Nature Professionals the chance to exchange on a wide range of topics during 13 webinars with around 1,500 attendees, the ECST award ceremony back at the European Parliament after two years and many other events.

The decision-makers of tomorrow also had opportunities to express their thoughts and opinions while getting involved in our organisation and across Parks in Europe. Parks restarted their Junior Ranger and Youth+ projects after the lockdowns and a group started to build the structure and format for a EUROPARC Youth Council.

All this, and much more, is waiting for you in this new edition of the Annual Report. So, sit back, relax and reflect on the year past.

The Annual Report is available in three languages:

Flip through the English Version

Flip through the French Version

Flip through the German Version

You can also download the PDF versions from the EUROPARC library here.

Funded by the European Union.
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors 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.

Open Position: Office Administrator (f/m/d) – Full time

• This is a full time position – 40 hours/week
• Closing for applications: 28.09.2023
• Starting date is as soon as possible / mid-October 2023

The Office Administrator will provide comprehensive administrative support to enable the Federation to operate effectively, efficiently and to comply with statutory, legal, contractual and funding requirements.

We are looking for an experienced, highly organized and resourceful administrator, with an interest in nature and international work and a willingness to work in an NGO culture. The administrator needs to have excellent oral and written German and English, as the office language is English. Additional European languages are desirable.

The work is varied and interesting, encompassing all aspects of international NGO administration, personnel, membership administration and office management. A background or experience in business administration is desirable, as are excellent IT skills. Finance background is an advantage.

Operating from the headquarters in Regensburg the Office Administrator will contribute to the small dedicated team.

Full description and how to apply here.

With sadness, EUROPARC announces the passing of our friend and colleague, Arnold Boer.

Dr Boer had been involved in coordinating the National Parks system in the Netherlands and brought his quiet but determined diplomatic skills into EUROPARC during turbulent times in the 1980’s. He served on EUROPARC council as Treasurer from 1987 steering calmly the finances and setting the foundation for a more secure future.

It was, however, the Transboundary programme, that became his real passion in EUROPARC. Having been involved since its inception, he oversaw the Basic Standards and Certification that are the foundation for transboundary cooperation across Europe. Chairing the Transboundary Steering and Evaluation Committee (STEC) he brought new Transboundary areas into the network and with the creation of the TransParcNet his gentle guidance ensured meetings were infused with friendship.

He leaves a legacy in our programmes, in our parks and in many hearts across Europe.

A true gentleman, always available with sound advice and wisdom gained from many years of experience. Never without a colourful scarf draped elegantly over his shoulders, his thoughtful, calm presence will be sorely missed by all in EUROPARC.

Our deepest condolences go to Arnold’s Family at this sad time.

 Some words from the Transboundary family

Our warmest thoughts go out to Arnold’s loved ones, when we received the sad news of his passing.

We will always remember Arnold with warmth, his thoughtfulness and calm nature.

His long experience and knowledge about transboundary issues will be missed by all of us in STEC.

Tiia, Handrij and Matti – STEC

Thanks to his passion and expertise he has allowed me to fully understand the meaning and value of transboundary parks.

A person of profound humanity and serenity, always ready for confrontation and dialogue, and also to share moments of leisure and joy. 

TB family will miss him.

Stefano Santi – EUROPARC Council member 

He lived his life so fully and passionately, followed his beliefs and backed them up with immense intelligence. Always ready for a conversation, which he was able to support with humour. His enthusiasm for a Transboundary and united Europe was beyond measure.

He will be in my thoughts for many reasons today and in the future.

Mojca Smolej – TB Task Force Co-chair 

 Arnold was the person in the Netherlands responsible as a civil servant from the Dutch government for the implementation of the Dutch scheme for national parks (21).

In the EUROPARC Federation, Arnold was several years treasurer and Initiator together with a colleague from Finland of the transboundary Programme. And until now member of the STEC. In the beginning, Arnold himself was a verifier. And he was always a participant in the TransParcNet Meetings.

Leo Reyrink – TB Task Force Co-chair

You will be able to see the picture album from the TransParcNet meeting in Oulanka National Park in 2019 that Dr Boer was a part of below:

It is with great sadness that EUROPARC learned of the sudden death of Wilf Fenten this week.

Wilf was a stalwart of EUROPARC having been involved in setting up and serving as Director of EUROPARC consulting which was central in managing the Charter for Sustainable Tourism and developing networking workshops in EUROPARC Atlantic Isles.

A native German, Wilf was an adopted Englishman and even more so, of Yorkshire, where he had been a board member of the Yorkshire Dales National Park as well as a local councillor. His passion for caring for the land, took a practical turn when he managed a small flock of sheep and wildflower meadows at his home in Settle. It was a source of much hilarity to hear of the sheep- adventures of “Angela Merkel“ and “Condoleezza Rice”, as the sheep were named after female world leaders.

A true European, Wilf relished the international connections he helped forge across EUROPARC. Although saddened when EUROPARC Consulting closed, his dedication to the Charter continued, as a member of the evaluation committee, who very much appreciated his long experience, knowledge and attention to detail. He had been too a Trustee of the Dales and Harrogate Tourism Partnership. Wilf’s outgoing and friendly personality served him well bringing many stakeholders together in many Protected Area European projects. These included “training the trainers” programme for the WWF Danube Carpathian and with other Protected Areas on more specialist topics such as “Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism”, “Protected Areas as Testbeds for Sustainable Development” and a “Learning from Europe” project about strengthening the identity and public commitment towards English Protected Landscapes. Many will have been touched by his work and his legacy and achievements across the European Protected Areas community are evident.

Wilf loved his connections and times with EUROPARC. We understand he felt it was the most rewarding part of his life – combining work with his enthusiasm for designated landscapes all over Europe. His company was always a pleasure, you were always greeted with a huge smile and warm hug and was never without a good story from his many travels and connections. He was kind, considerate, consummately positive and emanated joy.

He was a star in our EUROPARC firmament that has sadly now dimmed.

Our deepest condolences go to Hilary and his children and grandchildren.