Siggen Seminars – Training for Members

Siggen Seminar Estate © EUROPARC Federation

Bringing together Protected Area professionals to learn together, share experience and knowledge in various aspects of Protected Area management and innovate new ideas is at the heart of the EUROPARC Federation’s work. Thanks to the generous support of the Alfred Toepfer Stiftung, we offer annually to our members, the opportunity to join a high-level training for Protected Area professionals free of charge.

Siggen Seminar 2024

In 2024, we will focus on Management Effectiveness in Marine Protected Areas.

  • 4.03. – 06.03.2024
  • Gut Siggen, Heringsdorf, Germany.
  • Register now!
  • Deadline to register: REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.

Catching the wave: How can we achieve more effective management in Marine Protected Areas?

The EU Biodiversity Strategy set an ambitious target for 2030, with at least 30% of the sea area to be legally protected (with 10% of the sea area to be strictly protected) by 2030. It clearly identifies the urgency to ensure that all Protected Areas across Europe are effectively managed, with the realisation of conservation objectives and appropriate monitoring. As such, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have an important role to play and are called to make a serious effort to improve their effectiveness.

But what do MPAs need to do to reach this target, and how can progresses be monitored and assessed? What guidance, tools and methods would be helpful to improve the management of our MPAs?

With this seminar we offer a great opportunity for MPA managers and staff from across Europe to jointly explore those aspects: starting from the EU policy framework we will analyse concrete MPA case studies, looking at processes that underpin management, conservation outputs and tools to monitor and assess progresses. Sharing perspectives and knowledge on MPA management and considering challenges and potential solutions, we will try to define indicators and monitoring actions that can support the assessment of MPA effectiveness. Get more information from the Draft Programme:

DRAFT Programme – Siggen Seminar 2024

The Siggen Seminar is marked by its participatory character. Hence, participants will be given the opportunity to learn, meet and exchange with their peers and are expected to take an active role in the different sessions organised, which include collective work, presentations and social activities.

Register now!

Please note that places are limited and a selection of participants will be made. Do not book your travel until we have confirmed your participation! Registration deadline is 05.02.2024.

Seminar objectives

With this seminar, we aim to:

  • Increase participant’s knowledge on why management effectiveness is at the core of EU conservation strategies;
  • Share experience on main challenges that undermine effective management of MPAs;
  • Acquire knowledge on some of the most common/recommended indicators to assess management effectiveness.

For whom?

Our target audience is Marine Protected Area managers from Europe. If you are already working on a Management Plan, or implementing one, we would love to hear from your experience! We will ask participants if they have any interesting case studies that they can share with the group. We estimate 15 – 20 participants.

In the framework of an upcoming project, we’d also be interested in hearing from MPAs that, within their conservation objectives, have climate change adaptation as a priority.

Dates

  • Arrival on Monday 4.03. The seminar starts in the evening.
  • Tuesday 5.03: full day seminar
  • Morning of Wednesday 6.03: seminar. After lunch: departure.

Costs

The Siggen Seminar is free of charge for EUROPARC members. This includes participation in the Seminar, accommodation, and meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner). Non-members may register, but if chosen, a small fee would be charged.

EUROPARC’s Siggen Seminar is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Alfred Toepfer Foundation. The support of Alfred Toepfer Foundation is highly appreciated by EUROPARC Federation and the continuation of the annual seminars will ensure that all members can actively contribute to the ongoing strategic development of the Federation.

Siggen Seminar © EUROPARC

About Siggen Seminars and the Alfred Toepfer Stiftung

Bringing together Protected Area professionals to learn together, share experience and knowledge in various aspects of Protected Area management and innovate new ideas is at the heart of the EUROPARC Federation’s work.

With the enlightened generosity of the Alfred Toepfer Stiftung F.V.S. we have access, annually, to their private seminar centre at Gut Siggen in North Germany, hugging the Baltic Sea coast. Alfred Toepfer Stiftung’s founder was also one of the Federation’s founders and played an important role in its growth and development.

Read the outcomes of previous Siggen Seminars

How to get to the Siggen Seminar Center? 

The Siggen Seminar Center belongs to the Alfred Toepfer Foundation and lies on the north-eastern coast of Germany in the county of Holstein. It is a 20 minute taxi ride from the nearest train station, Oldenburg (Holst), and a five-minute bike-ride to the nearest beach.

Please contact EUROPARC with any questions you might have and download the pdf Directions to Siggen to learn how you can easily reach it by plane, train or car.

Location: Gut Siggen Seminar Center 23777 Heringsdorf, Germany

Please remember that you will be notified if you have been selected for the seminar. Do not book your transportation until you’ve received our confirmation.

How much does it cost?

The annual Siggen seminar is FREE for members of the EUROPARC Federation (meals and accommodation included). Participants  ONLY have to cover their own travel costs to and from the event.

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