The project ends, but the European Nature Academy is just getting started!

From 14 – 16 of May, 60 people from 10 countries gathered in Castelfranco Veneto, Italy to explore the future of the European Nature Academy.

Flip through our virtual photo album to see the event highlights:

You can download the pictures here.

This event presented the LIFE ENABLE project and its achievements and invited delegates to discuss ways to capitalise on the results. Using a mix of plenary presentations, interactive sessions and break-out group working, the aim was to identify ways to consolidate the ENA, reflect on the achievements and discuss its future development: to inform the AfterLIFE Plan and Guidelines for Replicability, the goal is to sustain the ENA as the dedicated professional development and capacity building hub for Natura 2000 and Protected Area staff.  The event also created an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the LIFE ENABLE project and for partners and participants to showcase some of the project’s highlights from their own perspectives.

Additionally, participants had the opportunity to present their LIFE (and other) projects, programmes and initiatives at the event’s networking Knowledge Market.  

A field visit to the LIFE Brenta project, Grave e Zone Umide della Brenta (IT3260018) Natura 2000 site was an integral part of the programme. Participants were able to discuss the site’s riverscape rich in different habitats (e.g., standing and running water habitats, forests, dry grasslands) and hosting a variety of species of conservation interest.

Check out this video to hear about the project highlights from the perspectives of our participants and project partners:

The feedback gathered will be used to inform the end-of-project Feasibility Study and Guidelines for Replicability which will be widely disseminated, so watch this space!

Take a look at our LIFE ENABLE story video to discover the path we took to bring our ideas to life:

LIFE ENABLE at Green Week: the Natura 2000 Award ceremony 

On May 29, the Natura 2000 Award 2024 ceremony was held in Brussels. EUROPARC Federation was honoured to be invited to share the LIFE ENABLE project experience, in particular presenting the ENA’s tools and methods for communicating about and advocating for Natura 2000. This was a perfect opportunity to share news about the project with finalists and other guests, as well as to initiate discussions on the opportunities provided by the Natura 2000 Award.

We warmly congratulate all the Natura 2000 Award winners across the 5 categories for their outstanding LIFE projects. Here are the winners of the ‘Working Together for Nature’ category, with Gary Goggins and Derek McLoughlin from National Parks & Wildlife Ireland representing LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature.

Photo: Neil McIntosh

We are thrilled to welcome the Directorate for Aukstaitija Protected Areas as a new member of our network. This esteemed institution plays a pivotal role in the conservation and management of Protected Areas in the Aukstaitija region, aligning perfectly with EUROPARC’s mission to safeguard nature and cultural heritage.

About the Directorate for Aukstaitija Protected Areas

The Directorate for Aukstaitija Protected Areas is dedicated to implementing state policies and strategies in the realm of Protected Areas. Their core mission revolves around ensuring landscape stability, conserving biodiversity, and preserving cultural heritage. They achieve this through a multifaceted approach that includes protection, rational use, and environmental education.

Daiva Narkūnienė, Kauno mariu atodanga

Main Goals and Activities

The Directorate’s primary objectives include:

– Landscape Stability and Biodiversity Conservation: Ensuring that landscapes remain stable and biodiverse through careful management and protection.
– Cultural Heritage Preservation: Protecting and rationally using areas of cultural significance, ensuring they remain accessible and appreciated by future generations.
– Cognitive Tourism and Environmental Education: Promoting access to natural and cultural protected values by creating conditions for cognitive tourism. This includes educating the public on the importance of environmental conservation and heritage preservation.

Managed Protected Areas

The Directorate for Aukstaitija Protected Areas oversees the management of eight regional parks, each a testament to their commitment to conservation:

1. Anyksčiai Regional Park – 15,459 hectares
2. Asveja Regional Park – 12,207 hectares
3. Biržai Regional Park – 14,406 hectares
4. Gražutė Regional Park – 31,933 hectares
5. Kauno Marios Regional Park – 9,852 hectares
6. Krekenava Regional Park – 11,590 hectares
7. Sirvėta Regional Park – 8,755 hectares
8. Sartai Regional Park – 12,121 hectares

M.Kirstukas, Brandto pelėausiai

Daiva Narkūnienė, Taukius

Commitment to Environmental Stewardship

The Directorate’s work is a shining example of how strategic policy implementation and active management can lead to the effective conservation of natural and cultural resources. Their efforts ensure that these Protected Areas not only maintain their ecological and cultural integrity but also remain accessible for educational and tourism purposes.

We look forward to the valuable contributions that the Directorate for Aukstaitija Protected Areas will bring to our network. Their dedication and expertise will undoubtedly enhance our collective efforts to promote nature and cultural heritage conservation. Welcome aboard!

IUCN categories that the Directorate for Aukstaitija Protected Areas crosses out:

Category Ia — Strict Nature Reserve✔️

Category Ib — Wilderness Area

Category II — National Park

Category III — Natural Monument or Feature✔️

Category IV — Habitat/Species Management Area✔️

Category V — Protected Landscape/Seascape✔️

Category VI – Protected Area with sustainable use of natural resources✔️

What Impressed the Directorate for Aukstaitija Protected Areas Most About EUROPARC

We asked the Directorate for Aukstaitija Protected Areas what aspects of EUROPARC’s mission and objectives impressed them the most. Here’s what they shared:

• The Directorate is particularly impressed by EUROPARC’s role in advising European policy decisions. They value having a platform that shapes policies with insights from experts in Protected Area management. They also appreciate EUROPARC’s commitment to sharing knowledge and best practices. This exchange fosters innovation in managing protected areas, enabling continuous improvement and adaptation to new challenges.
• The Directorate is excited to join a community that values collaboration, innovation, and impactful advocacy.

Our goal is to bring our best practices and share our knowledge within the EUROPARC Federation network. The Directorate would like to participate in the work of Section and several Commissions, take part in conferences and seminars. Exchanging best practices and ideas on better/innovative preservation/restoration of nature and landscape sites is also something that the Directorate hopes to gain from EUROPARC membership.

A Communications & Digital Media Internship position is now open at the EUROPARC Federation!

Hey communicators! We are looking for YOU!

Are you ready to get real-life experience at an international NGO? Do you want to work in a dynamic environment with loads of opportunities to provide inputs, get creative and explore new ways of communicating? Do you want to craft your communication skills in Europe’s leading Protected Area network? Then keep on reading…

The EUROPARC Federation is looking for an intern to join EUROPARC’s Communications and Capacity Building Unit. Every day, the team is hard at work to communicate about EUROPARC’s projects, events and initiatives, to achieve our vision of Sustainable Nature; Valued by People.

About us

The EUROPARC Federation is a membership based organisation. Our +400 members consist of Protected Areas, national governmental organisations, NGOs, supporting organisations and individual members.

Our goal? Support our members to be the best they can be to ensure positive outcomes for nature and people. Communicating with and for our members is at the very core of our work. That is why delivering excellent communications is a must! Through a range of communication outputs, we want to ensure we keep our members and the wider Protected Area community up to date with all things related to Protected Area management.

About you

Are you a creative thinker, self-starter and passionate writer? Do you know your way around design tools like Adobe and Canva? Do you speak English and preferably at least one other European language? Do you think you can make our Communications Team stronger with your inputs and ideas? Then this internship might just be the opportunity for you!

You will work directly with our Communications Manager in delivering high quality communications for our members and the wider EUROPARC network. In particular, you will be…

• Supporting the Communications Manager with gathering content for our annual journal ‘Protected-Areas In-Sight’. This includes identifying and contacting authors, proofreading, and finding suitable images;
• Taking an active role in creating and designing content for our social media channels, and taking the lead in identifying trends and topics of interest to our core audiences;
• Learning all about WordPress so you can publish articles, review pages and keep the EUROPARC website up to date;
• Providing support to the wider EUROPARC team in the organisation of events (on and offline). This will range from updating our website, creating promotional material, to thinking about interesting programme elements.
• Support the Membership Liaison Officer and Communications Manager with the 2024 membership benefits campaign that is currently in development. This includes ‘admin focussed’ tasks like database hygiene, but also more creative thinking like the design of special communication outputs surrounding EUROPARC’s core work and programmes.
• Given the opportunity to identify YOUR interests and what you’d like the internship to focus on.

Most of all, doing an internship at EUROPARC gives you the chance to be an essential team member, with colleagues coming from all over Europe. Be sure to bring fresh ideas and an open mind!

More details and info on how to apply can be taken from the job description here.

The internship will take place in our Headquarters in Regensburg, Germany. We are looking for someone that can support us 40 hours a week for 6 months, at your earliest possible starting date.

To be eligible, the internship needs to be a required part of your studies. Furthermore, we highly welcome students with ERASMUS+ funding, as this is an unpaid position.

In April 2024, EUROPARC welcomed representatives from Serbia, Italy, and Belgium, each bringing a unique perspective and dedication to preserving Europe’s natural beauty. Let us delve into the backgrounds and aspirations of these new members, and hear directly from three of them about their journey and hopes within EUROPARC.

Serbia: Nurturing Nature’s Heritage

Serbia presents its champions for biodiversity conservation and sustainable practices. Our new member, Ecological Movement ‘Frame of Life’, has been instrumental in fostering community inclusion in decision-making processes regarding ecological matters. With a keen focus on biodiversity preservation and sustainable agriculture, the efforts of this organisation culminated in the establishment of a Community Seed Bank in 2019, safeguarding traditional crop landraces and invaluable knowledge.

Our second Serbian newcomer, University of Belgrade – Faculty of Biology, adds its venerable legacy of 170 years to the EUROPARC community. Renowned for its pivotal role in biological research across the Balkans, particularly in national-level protection efforts, their expertise promises to enrich the EUROPARC network with a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Italy: Preserving Nature’s Tapestry

Italy sends forth representatives deeply embedded in the conservation fabric of the country. Natural Regional Park of Coastal Dunes from Torre Canne to Torre S. Leonardo, focuses on sustainable tourism and heritage preservation, which, in turn, resonates strongly with EUROPARC’s ethos. By promoting slow mobility and nurturing diverse habitats alongside historical landmarks, they exemplify a holistic approach to conservation.

Similarly, the Regional Natural Park of the Sile River reinforces Italy’s commitment to environmental stewardship. With a mission to protect and enhance the environment while supporting traditional economic activities, they stand as guardians of Italy’s natural heritage, ready to collaborate within the EUROPARC community.

Belgium: Uniting Nature and Society

Belgium contributes its visionaries from the Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse National Park, a testament to the country’s dedication to ecological restoration and community engagement. By uniting various natural regions and fostering rewilding initiatives, they underscore the importance of preserving ecological richness while enhancing local livelihoods. Through environmentally-friendly activities and robust visitor facilities, they aim to reconnect people with nature, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

In exclusive interviews, Santina Grande from the Regional Natural Park of the Sile River, Jelica Novaković from the University of Belgrade, and Ivana Radović from Ecological Movement ‘Frame of Life’ share their impressions and aspirations within EUROPARC:

• What impressed you most about EUROPARC’s mission and objectives?

Santina Grande: The objectives and missions of EUROPARC are the common objectives of the entities that manage protected natural areas. It’s impressive to see a unified approach across diverse European landscapes, highlighting the importance of addressing different realities on a continental scale.

Jelica Novaković: What impressed us most about your mission and objectives was your commitment to the expansion of protected areas, networking, and support for projects that maintain the landscape.

Ivana Radović: We liked the core values and principles that shape the work of EUROPARC. Protection of nature is not possible without these core values, which encourage us to overcome individual interest for the sake of the interests of  society. We also appreciate the devotion to restore the connection of people with nature.

• How do you plan to contribute to our community and our common goals?

Santina Grande: Despite the challenges faced by our park, including limited staffing and resources, I am fully dedicated to supporting EUROPARC in any initiatives that impact our park’s territory.

Jelica Novaković: We want to share knowledge and experience through collaboration with colleagues and act at a local level to protect and promote the conservation of protected areas in our country.

Ivana Radović: We can contribute in the areas of sustainable agriculture and agroecology, participatory approaches to local communities and in the domain of use of citizen science in protected areas.

• Are there any particular benefits or resources you hope to gain from your membership of EUROPARC?

Santina Grande: As a new member of EUROPARC, I look forward to the invaluable benefits of engaging in cross-national and European-level comparisons.

Jelica Novaković: We hope to collaborate with colleagues from around the world, share skills and experiences, and form teams for international projects in the field of nature improvement and protection.

Ivana Radović: We would be delighted to gain knowledge and experience through EUROPARC membership, connecting with fellow members to support one another in activities and projects. Specifically, we hope to forge connections with initiatives in South-East Europe.

With these new members, EUROPARC strengthens its dedication to conservation, promoting collaboration and innovation worldwide. Together, they share a vision of protecting Europe’s natural wonders, driving towards a sustainable and harmonious future.