CONNECT – Connecting Outdoor Sports and Protected Areas in Europe
This project builds on research and recommendations from a previous ERASMUS+ initiative, the Sustainability and Environmental Education in Outdoor Sports (SEE Project), which involved ENOS member organisations and the EUROPARC Federation. One key finding was that Protected Area managers should work more closely with Outdoor Sports organisations that use their sites. However, this collaboration can be challenging and requires additional support and training.
The Connect Project aims to strengthen relationships between local Outdoor Sports organisations and Protected Areas by identifying key elements for successful cooperation. It will develop a practical guide to help professionals in both sectors build effective partnerships. This guide will be based on real-world evidence from successful examples and five pilot projects designed to bring these two sectors together. The project’s findings will be shared across partner networks and presented to key policymakers at a final event in Brussels.
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Research
The research portion of the project is run by the Mid-Sweden University and is based on a literature review as well as a series of interviews of protected areas and sports organisations who filled out the screener survey over the summer of 2025. These interviews will take place in November 2025.
Pilots
The first of the 5 pilot kick-off sessions with local stakeholders will take place in Ireland in November 2025. In preparation, the CONNECT partners developed a Stakeholder Engagement Meta Plan to uide the process of stakeholder engagement for each pilot.
Stakeholder Engagement Meta Plan
1st Pilot: Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí (Kerry Seas National Park)
The pilot focused on bringing together outdoor sports practitioners and protected area professionals around the Kerry Seas National Park, to lay the foundations for long-term cooperation. The first pilot was held in Killarney House and Gardens, County Kerry, Ireland, and was hosted by Leave No Trace Ireland in close collaboration with local biodiversity officers.
Discussions centred on the newly designated Kerry Seas National Park, a fragmented marine national park established in 2024 that is still in the development process. Over two days, local outdoor sports providers and community representatives came together to share their experiences, perspectives, and expectations, creating an open dialogue on how collaborative approaches can support both sustainable recreation and future park management.
Project Partners
- European Network of Outdoor Sports (ENOS)
- The EUROPARC Federation
- The European Ramblers Association (ERA)
- The International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA Europe)
- Mid Sweden University
- Leave no Trace Ireland (LNTI)
- Surfrider Foundation Europe
Role of EUROPARC Federation
Jessica Micklem-Kolenic will be EUROPARC’s project officer for the CONNECT project.
The EUROPARC Federation will play a large role in this project as a link to Protected Areas. The first stage will be a survey for Protected Areas to collect examples of best practices and key information useful to identify the elements for success.
EUROPARC will also lead on the creation of a Stakeholder Engagement Meta Plan, with a mapping tool for stakeholders. This will be adapted into a short training courses on the European Nature Academy. The partners will use this plan and training to develop their pilot projects together with EUROPARC’s assistance.
Duration and budget
The project duration is 3 years: 01/01/2025 – 31/12/2027
The project is a Erasmus+ Sport project with a total value of EUR 400 000
Follow this project!
You can follow the CONNECT project on the social media platforms of the partners, especially EUROPARC and ENOS.
Facebook: @EUROPARC and @ENOS.outdoor.sports
Instagram: @EUROPARC_Federation and @outdoorsportsnetworkeu
LinkedIn: Follow the project page CONNECT – Outdoor Sport and Protected Areas and join the LinkedIn group of professionals, Connect Together
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 the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.