Since the Basic Standards evaluation system was launched in 2003, 29 European Protected Areas have been successfully certified as 13 Transboundary Parks under the EUROPARC programme “Transboundary Parks – Following Nature’s design”.
This map is showing the certified Transboundary Parks only through the EUROPARC verification process. Other cross-border areas exist across Europe without being certified.
Do you wish to learn more about these cross-border Protected Areas? Find portraits of some of EUROPARC’s Transboundary Parks here below.
1) Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park (FI/NO/RU)
Borders separate – Nature unites!
Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park entity was established in 2008 as a result of long-term cooperation between the nature protection authorities in Norway, Russia and Finland dating back to early 1990’s. Trilateral Park consists of five nature protection areas; three areas in Norway, one in Russia and one in Finland. The total area of Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park is 1889 km2.
Read more about this unique trilateral cooperation…
2) Oulanka-Paanajärvi Transboundary Parks (FI/RU)
The cooperation between Oulanka and Paanajärvi National Parks dates back to the early 90’s. Their already close cooperation was then again boosted by the two year Interreg project “Oulanka-Paanajärvi – wilderness, experiences and well-being”, which they ran from 2005 onwards. The aim of the project was…
Continue reading about the Finish-Russian Cooperation!
3) Maas-Schwalm-Nette Nature Park (NL/DE)
3 rivers, 2 countries, 1 office: the Transboundary Park whose managers work shoulder by shoulder every day
The German-Dutch Nature Park Maas-Schwalm-Nette is located on the border of the German federal state North Rhine-Westphalia and the Dutch province Limburg. Within 800 km2 rivers, forests, heath land, bogs and varied cultural landscapes make it a very special attraction.
Find out more about the German-Dutch Nature Park
4) Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland Transboundary Parks (DE/CZ)
Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland: four protected areas, two countries, one landscape
The history of conservation dates back to the early 20th century when first nature reserves have been declared. However, the real transboundary work begins after World War II when a landscape protected area was established first on the German side (1956) and later on the Czechoslovak side (1972). A new chance for conservation came with the political changes in the 90’s…
Read on about the collaboration of Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland!
5) Krkonoše and Karkonosze National Parks (CZ/PO)
The Krkonoše/Karkonosze arcto-alpine tundra was the main reason, why there were National Parks established in the middle of the 20th century (1959 in Poland, 1963 in Czechoslovakia). Both National Parks cooperate for decades, but frankly it was quite difficult task during the communist times, because of the strict border-regime. The real cooperation started in 1990, systematically backed after 2000. In 2004 the Parks have been certified within EUROPARC Transboundary Parks Programme as Transboundary Parks.
Read more about the cooperation to protect the arcto-alpine tundra in the Krknose mountains
6) Šumava and Bavarian Forest National Park (CZ/DE)
The area of Šumava and Bavarian Forest National Park is characterized as the largest forest region without human intervention in central Europe. On an area of 922, 84 km² it is an important refugium for endangered biotopes, plants and animals and a popular recreational area for humans. Nowhere else in Central Europe such a large area of forests and mires can grow and develop without human interference. With the slogan “let nature be nature” both parks are cooperating to enable the development of wild virgin forests.
7) Podyjí-Thayatal Transboundary Parks (CZ/AU)
A cooperation emerged despite the dark times of the Iron Curtain
When Winston Churchill spoke about tearing down the Iron Curtain in his famous speech, he also referred to the 42 km long picturesque Dyje/Thayatal river valley. Situated at the border between Moravia (CZ) and Lower Austria (A), it was a lively area with a number of mills and hotels until the beginning of World War II. In only a few years, the region once enjoyed by summer visitors from Vienna and Brno, turned into…
Learn more about the Czech-Austrian Cooperation!
8) Neusiedler See-Seewinkel & Fertö-Hanság (AU/HU)
A joint natural heritage along natural and political borders
The area around Lake Neusiedl is a unique landscape in Eastern Austria and Western Hungary, situated between the Eastern Alps and the Hungarian Plain. Alpine, Pannonian, Asiatic, Mediterranean und Nordic flora and fauna contribute to a fascinating biological melting pot. The large number of species at Lake Neusiedl is based on …
Find out more about the Austrian-Hungarian partnership!
9) Julian Alps Transboundary Ecoregion (IT/SI)
The green heart of Europe without borders
Cooperation between Prealpi Giulie Nature Park (IT) and Triglav National Park (SI) dates back to 1996, when the Italian park was established. Partnership between the two protected areas was reinforced by EU projects, which supported relationships between cross-border partners. Their already close cooperation expanded and in 2007 the idea of a transboundary park was born. Only two years later…
Continue reading about the Italian-Slovenian Partnership!
10) Binntal Veglia Devero Transboundary Nature Park (IT/CH)
Preserving the geological, natural and cultural heritage of the Alps
The Alpe Veglia and Alpe Devero Natural Park in Italy and the Landschaftspark Binntal in Switzerland are located in the Lepontine Alps, a natural environment dominated by rocks and glaciers, mountains reaching some 3.500 meters a.s.l., alpine lands, pastures, peat bogs and mowing meadows. A first official agreement on transboundary cooperation between the two parks dates back from 2013, but contacts and exchange of people from both sides of the alpine range across the Arbola/Albrun pass goes back to more than 3000 years ago.
Find out more about the Swiss-Italian cooperation!
11) Internationaler Naturpark Bourtanger Moor – Veenland (DE/NL)
What once separated Germany and the Netherlands is what unites them today: the moor.
The largest contiguous raised bog in Europe once reached from northwest Germany all the way into the Netherlands. After extensive destruction of the moor towards the end of the last millennium, the cross-border nature park has set itself the task of protecting and developing the remains of this fascinating habitat. But not only the moor areas with their magnificent bird life are waiting to be discovered. Likewise picturesque river landscapes, purple blooming heather areas and old pastoral forests belong to the very special protected areas of the international Nature Park Bourtanger Moor – Bargerveen.
Click here to read more about the German-Dutch cooperation!
12) Háldi Transboundary Area (FI/NO)
A wild arctic area between Finland and Norway
The Háldi Transboundary Area consist of the Käsivarsi Wilderness Area in Finland and Reisa National Park and Ráisduottarháldi Protected Landscape in Norway. The cooperative area was formed in 2020 by an agreement between Metsähallitus and the Board of Reisa National Park and Ráisduottarháldi Landscape Protected Area. There are also other functional connections involved, in the surrounding area towards Kilpisjärvi, Kåfjord, Reisa Valley and Kautokeino.
The large wilderness area has high natural and cultural values …
Continue reading about Háldi Transboundary Area
13) European Nature Park of Scarpe Escaut Plains
A territory shaped by the Scarpe and the Escaut rivers
The European Nature Park brings together the Scarpe-Escaut Regional Nature Park (PNRSE in France) and the Escaut Plains Nature Park (PNPE in Belgium). This territory has maintained a rural and natural character with many meadows, forests and wetlands, but is under pressure from the surrounding urban areas. At the intersection of major urban poles (Lille metropolis, Valencian, Douaisian and Tournaisian poles), its high population density, its industrial, mining and natural heritage make it an atypical territory. It covers:
- On the French side: 55 municipalities representing a population of 190,000 inhabitants in the districts of Valenciennes and Douai.
- On the Walloon side: 7 communal entities (71 villages) for a population of 102,000 inhabitants in the districts of Ath and Tournai.
Learn more about the European Natuer Park of Scarpe Escaut Plains