This weekend, Protected Areas across Europe will throw open their doors for an unforgettable celebration of nature, culture, and community spirit!

Celebrate Nature’s Magic

The European Day of Parks 2025 is just around the corner, and the EUROPARC Federation is buzzing with excitement as Protected Areas throughout the continent prepare to welcome visitors. This year’s celebration promises to be bigger and more vibrant than ever before—and there’s still time for parks to register their events!

From the fjords of Norway to the meadows of Romania, Europe’s natural treasures are showcasing their diversity through thoughtfully crafted activities. The northern regions are emphasising climate education and geological wonders, with Norway’s Fjord Coast Regional Geopark offering an immersive two-day event exploring the relationship between stone formations, melting ice, and changing sea levels against the backdrop of stunning landscapes.

Moving southeast, the focus shifts to sustainable agriculture and food systems, exemplified by Romania’s Enduro Ranch Park with its comprehensive agri-food exhibition showcasing BIO agriculture, modern machinery, and innovative soil regeneration techniques. This educational approach continues in Turkey, where the Mediterranean Conservation Society is nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards through marine ecosystem training for high school students.

The cultural dimension of conservation takes centre stage in Southern Europe, with Portugal’s Associação BioLiving screening natural history films paired with biologist discussions, while Italy’s Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park invites visitors to discover forest bathing—a more spiritual approach to understanding our connection with nature. Not to be outdone, Portugal’s vibrant Festa dos Maios in Cascais celebrates spring with traditional rural festivities including nature walks, workshops, and even donkey and horse “baptisms.”

Community action and engagement form another important theme across the continent. Croatia’s Mura Drava Biosphere Reserve is hosting an educational camp for elementary schoolers focusing on invasive species, while Poland’s Biebzra National Park is mobilising volunteers for a meaningful river cleanup operation. In Slovenia, the Pivka Nature Park combines their 11th anniversary celebration with a scenic hike offering historical exploration and local cuisine, while the UK’s Yorkshire Dales National Park provides a window into cultural heritage through traditional drystone walling demonstrations.

Whether you’re interested in hands-on conservation, cultural traditions, educational workshops, or simply enjoying breathtaking landscapes, the European Day of Parks 2025 offers something for everyone. This weekend celebration highlights not just the natural beauty of our protected areas, but also the innovative ways park managers are connecting with communities and fostering environmental stewardship across generations.

Discover all events!

Get Involved!

There’s still time for Protected Areas to register their events and join this Europe-wide celebration. Whether you’re a park manager, a local business or a nature enthusiast, the European Day of Parks 2025 provides the perfect opportunity to connect with local communities and shine a spotlight on the vital work of conservation.

For more information, click here.

To register your event, click here.

At a time when Europe’s natural heritage faces mounting pressures, national parks stand as beacons of hope, sustainability, and shared responsibility. But in the Czech Republic, a pivotal moment is unfolding—one that calls for both reflection and resolve.

In an open letter addressed to Czech legislators, the President of EUROPARC Federation— a leading network of Protected Areas—shares a strong and reasoned stance on the future of the Křivoklátsko National Park and the broader implications of changes to nature protection legislation.

This is more than a policy issue. It’s about how we choose to value and protect the landscapes that define us—ecologically, culturally, and internationally.

As the voice of Europe’s Protected Areas, EUROPARC stands ready to provide its full support and expertise to assist in safeguarding the integrity of national parks in the Czech Republic.

Read the full letter from the President of EUROPARC Federation, along with letters of support from Nationale Naturlandschaften e. V., Karkonoski Park Narodowy and Bavarian Forest National Park Authority

Each year, EUROPARC pays tribute to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to nature conservation across Europe, through a distinguished body of work and a lifetime of experience. The Alfred Toepfer Medal—named in honour of Dr h.c. Alfred Toepfer (1894–1993), founder of the EUROPARC Federation—is presented during the Annual EUROPARC Conference. Nominated by members of EUROPARC, this prestigious award serves as a recognition of excellence, allowing the achievements of dedicated professionals to be formally acknowledged and esteemed by their peers.

Nominations for the Alfred Toepfer Medal 2025 are open!

Nominations are submitted by EUROPARC members, and the selection is made by a jury composed of representatives from the EUROPARC Council. Do you know someone whose dedication or achievements in nature conservation and Protected Areas deserve recognition? If so, you are encouraged to put them forward for the award.

Submissions can be made by any EUROPARC member until 23 June 2025, 14.00hrs (CEST).

Please use the online form to submit your nomination.

If you need inspiration, discover here ( https://bit.ly/2SSzUUX ) the holders of the Alfred Toepfer Medal.

We look forward to receiving your nominations!

Four case studies highlighting successful approaches to visitor management in Protected Areas. 

Adapting to Increased Visitation: Practical Approaches to Visitor Management in Protected Areas

The post-pandemic era has witnesses a remarkable surge in visitors to Protected Areas, creating both opportunities and challenges for park management. This article explores four case studies of visitor management approaches. Each case demonstrates successful practical strategies for balancing public access with environmental protection.

©Petra Niskanen

Case Study 1: Limits of acceptable changes (LAC) as a method for sustainable nature tourism in Sipoonkorpi National Park

Situated close to Finland’s capital city, Sipoonkorpi National Park has noticed a significant increase in nature based tourism since Covid-19. Though it is great for people to be out in nature, this increase of visitors has had negative social and ecological impacts such as visitor compaints and negative effects on wildlife. To manage this change, Sipoonkorpi National Park has implemented a new strategy that aims to dynamically track these negative impacts and to take necessary measures.

©Strava.com Heatmap

Case Study 2: Detecting cycling activities with the use of Strava Heatmaps; Use of online available data in questions of visitor management

Lobau, a protected area of riparian forest along the Donnau in Vienna, is within a district that is expected to have a population increase of 50% in the next few years. This poses a threat to wildlife and recreational visitors in the Donau-Auen National Park. Fitness tracking applications like Strava can provide evidence of misuses of trails. The park staff have begun to collaborate with key stakeholders and partners to enable quick action such as key communication strategies in order to ensure the proper use of the park’s trails.

©Parc Natural de Cap de Creus

Case Study 3: Regulation of frequentation and access at Cap de Creus Natural Park

Parc Natural de Cap de Creus has encountered challenges with visitors disrespecting pre-existing park rules and regulations. Addressing this issue became a priority to safeguard natural sites, particularly those that are environmentally sensitive. Strict measures were taken up to enforce the regulations with physical barriers and clear communication by both the park staff and local businesses. Monitorring the result has demonstrated improvements in visitor behaviour.

Case Study 4: Carrying capacity: visitors study in Parco Nord Milano, a periurban park

©Parco Nord Milano

In order to make better assessment for the development of an effective park management plan, data is required, and that is what the Parco Nord Milano aims to pursue. The park set an ambitious goal to understand its visitor demographic using both new technology and on site staff members.

These case studies show that effective visitor management in Protected Areas requires an integrated approach, combining scientific monitoring, technology, community engagement and dynamic strategies. As nature tourism continues to grow, the lessons learnt from these parks provide valuable inspiration for park managers looking to address similar challenges.

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!