How does Nature Taste? European Day of Parks 2016

EUROPARC eNews 2016 March

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In this issue:

EUROPARC news
Brussels news
Programmes and Projects updates
Sections

Events 2016

21 May Natura 2000 Day

Join the celebration on social media by sharing your hand-butterfly using #natura2000day. See more at natura2000day.eu.

21 May World Fishing migration Day

A one day global-local event to create awareness on the importance of open rivers and migratory fish worldfishmigrationday.com

22 May International Day for Biological Diversity

There will be celebrations all over the world, check them at: cbd.int/idb/2016/celebrations

23 May EU Commission Conference Beyond Wood

A high-level conference about the future of European forests and the link with bioenergy production

23 May Natura 2000 Award Ceremony

There are some good candidates from our network!

24 May European Day of Parks

Over 300 activities in 22 countries to discover “A Taste of Nature”

30 May to 3 June Green Week
The biggest annual occasion to debate and discuss European environment policy greenweek2016.eu

OPPORTUNITIES

Training for Protected Areas’ staff

EUROPARC Federation curated for you 5 interesting trainings and workshops, from governance of protected areas, to management tools, geospatial software and certified training for guides. And there is even a discount for EUROPARC members in a special training in Spain!

Check them here.

LIFE Climate action opens call for project proposals

In 2016, the focus Life Climate action will focus on ‪climate and ‪energy, in order to develop long-term strategies for low greenhouse gas emission, reduce the use of highly warming fluorinated gases, and promote initiatives for urban adaptation and mitigation. Deadline for applications is in September.

More information here.

European Ecosystem Services 2016 Conference

Helping nature to help us - Call for abstracts from extended until the 22 May.

Monitoring and Management of Visitors in Recreational and Protected Areas

The Conferece will take place in Serbia, between the 26-30 September and the abstract submission period was extended, so you still have until 29 May to submit your case studies.

More information here.

VACANCIES

EUROPARC

COMMUNICATIONS & IT OFFICER
Working from our office in Regensburg

FINANCE MANAGER in part-time
Working from our office in Regensburg

FAUNA & FLORA INTERNATIONAL

Programme Manager, Caucasus, Eurasia

SECTIONS

Accessibility and inclusion for Protected Areas

EUROPARC Germany is inviting park staff (payed staff and volunteers) from protected areas to a one-week study trip from 25 September - 1 October, 2016 where participants will have an intensive exchange of experience and know-how with protagonists in German parks. Deadline for application is 31 May, 2016. Programme details can be found here,

IUCN Commission on Protected Areas in Czech Republic

The Steering Committee of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas was hosted by Krkonoše National Park and the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic in May. A historical event for our members in EUROPARC Central and Eastern Europe Section.

Protected Areas Education & Learning project

The AI Section will start working in a Protected Areas Vocational Education & Learning project, thanks to a successful application to the ERASMUS+ programme.

During the project, staff from UK protected landscapes will have the opportunity to undertake work related study visits around the subject of economic development to France, Germany, Latvia and the Netherlands.

ESPARC Congress 2016: Society and protected areas

The annual congress of EUROPARC-Spain members, targeting protected areas’ managers and planners, will take place in Laguardia, Álava, from 7th – 10th June. Learn more about it here.

Delegates will have the chance to participate in 5 workshops, where they will learn best practices and examples regarding:

- Collaborative governance arrangements
- Adapting to climate change in planning and management
- Conservation status of habitats and species
- Funding for conservation of the Natura 2000 network
- Mountain races and public use.

GOOD TO KNOW

Green Week 2016

The Green Week 2016 will focus on the theme of investing for a greener future with 5 key topics and activities ongoing in Brussels and other EU countries, from 30 May to 3 June.

On the 1st of June, on the main conference held in Brussels, the Best LIFE Nature & Environment project awards ceremony will take place. Amongst the candidates, some EUROPARC members were lead partners:

Metsähallitus - Natural Heritage Services (FI)

Peak District National Park Authority (UK)

Junta de Extremadura (ES)

Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha (ES)

Ente Parco Nazionale della Majella (IT)

Bükk National Park Directorate (SK) and many other members, who participated as partners.

"Healthy Seas: A Journey from Waste to Wear"

An interesting project that overlaps ecology and circular economy. Students and recent graduates of the AKTO college of art and design in Athens were challenged to create clothing using fabric made with ECONYL® yarn, a material made from recycled fishing nets and other waste. The public is now asked to help the judges and choose their favourite design.

Learn more about the project here.

Mapping Natural Capital

Several new examples have been published by Natural England.

Dear Readers

May is a real celebration month in EUROPARC. On the 24th May is our European Day of Parks and we will be celebrating “A Taste of Nature”. This year we are very proud to announce that there are over 300 activities organised in 22 countries, making this edition one of the biggest celebrations of European parks ever! EUROPARC thanks all members, sections and partners who organised activities to celebrate the #EDoP2016 and hope you all have wild and delicious experiences in Nature! We’ll report on all the fun next month!

On the 21^st May, the European commission will be celebrating the Natura 2000 Day and on the 22nd we will be celebrating the International Day for Biological Diversity! On the 23rd May and on the 1^st June we have our fingers crossed for our members who are finalist on the Natura 2000 Awards and LIFE best projects Awards!

In Regensburg we are also celebrating the arrival of our newest team-member: Michaela Zeller (CZ) is our Finance Manager, and she will be responsible for keeping all our finances in order. You’ll certainly get to know her as she will be responsible for sending the membership invoices. So celebrate the work of the EUROPARC Federation by paying your fees as quickly as you can. =)

Best wishes from your Directorate Team.

News

/ Nachrichten / Actualités /

How does nature taste?

On the European Day of Parks 2016, take the opportunity to discover a park close to you and taste the best local, organic and traditional products of your region. There are over 300 activities in 22 countries across Europe to celebrate “A Taste of Nature”! So get out and enjoy a Taste of Nature in a Park near you!

All events can be found at: http://www.europarc.org/nature/edop/

Joining Forces for Nature

Great news for our Network!

In an exciting development, the board of Fedenatur and the council of EUROPARC have created Europe’s largest organisation, representing parks from the city to the sea and from the metropolitan to the mountain tops.

Combining our respective memberships creates a Protected Area network that will cover 40% of Natura 2000 sites (marine and terrestrial).

Nominations for the Alfred Toepfer Medal are open!

Is there someone you think deserves recognition for their dedication or achievements in the field of nature conservation and protected areas? Then nominate them for an Alfred Toepfer Medal.

This prestigious award, is made by the EUROPARC Federation every year to those who have made a contribution to nature conservation in Europe. Candidates are nominated by EUROPARC members! See past winners and how you can nominate a candidate.

Presentation at the Convention on Biological Diversity meeting

EUROPARC President, Ignace Schops participated in the 20th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Montreal (Canada). Ignace introduced how protected areas provide solutions for the environmental challenges, by delivering benefits to society and economy. Read more about the Convention here.

Programmes and Project updates

Mountain biking in protected areas

and the link with the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in protected areas

Mountain bike tourism is undoubtedly a growing trend in Europe, but what are the challenges for its implementation in protected areas? How can sustainable destinations include this practice in their areas?

On the 22nd April, EUROPARC participated at the International Mountain Bicycling Association – IMBA Europe Summit 2016 to present the potential link between sustainable tourism strategies and mountain bike practices. Discover here some of the best examples from the charter network!

WANTED: Junior Rangers engaged for Nature

In the end of March, we called for partners to join a common European project with their Junior Rangers (more information here). Around 12 members from different countries have positively replied, but there are still few places. Don’t hesitate to join this, it is not too late!

Laura Peters elected as the youth representative at EUROPARC Council

EUROPARC is proud to announce the name of the 1st elected youth representative in the EUROPARC Council.

In a close run election, Laura Peters, from Netherlands, was elected by her peers for a 2 years mandate. Laura will be joining EUROPARC council members on the coming Council meeting, which will take place in June at Cinque Terre National Park, Italy.

15th EUROPARC ‪#JuniorRanger Camp
Gauja National Park, Latvia (10 to 16^th June)

Registration to the camp is now closed! Apologies for members who still wanted to register…

We are happy to announce that the camp will gather almost 50 participants coming from 12 protected areas representing 10 different countries. This year's camp will also include a small team of Youth+ volunteers to support the Gauja staff and ready to "take the lead for nature"... Get ready to “Discover the Diversity in Europe’s Parks”!!

Brussels News

Meeting with the DG Environment

EUROPARC Federation has been working for some time, in Brussels to enhance the recognition of Parks among the EU Institutions, and highlight their fundamental role for safeguarding Europe’s habitats and biodiversity. Soon our work may come to fruition.

On May 17^th, EUROPARC Federation and Federparchi-EUROPARC Italy had a productive meeting at the European Commission – DG Environment, and an opportunity was created to collect and share with the Commission good examples from our members network on the management of Natura 2000 sites in relation to protected areas. We will work quickly to gather examples and present our case in both a report and hopefully an event later in the year in Brussels. Watch this space for more information soon!

European Habitats Forum

The EHF brings together leading European nature conservation organisations to provide advice on the development and implementation of EU biodiversity policy.

EUROPARC is one of the 23 organisation that meet twice a year in Brussels to discuss the EU Birds and Habitats Directives and the reform of sectoral policies for their successful implementation. The last meeting was held on the 26-27^th April and the main discussion point was the fitness check and the implementation of the biodiversity strategy. Learn more about the EHF here.

Call for MPA’s

EUROPARC, together with the MedPan network, is preparing a Seminar on Marine Protected Areas, under the Biogeographical Seminar Process led by the EU Commission. Please send us your 3 top priorities for Marine Protected Areas management, to be addressed in Europe to f.minozzi@europarc.org.
Your opinion and experience are fundamental!

The Expert group pf Natura 2000 management

The Natura 2000 expert group is a group led by EU Commission that gathers representatives of the members states, commissioners and non-governmental organisations. EUROPARC is also member of the group and during the last meeting, held in Brussels on the 18^th April, the Communications Toolkit for Natura 2000 Managers (which available to all EUROPARC members on the website) was introduced to the experts groups, receiving great appreciation.

EUROPARC Federation

Waffnergasse 6

93047 Regensburg

GERMANY

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Funded by the European Union

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The production of this publication has been supported financially in the framework of the
European Commission’s (Directorates General Environment and Climate Action)
LIFE + funding programme of operating grants for European Environmental NGOs.
The content of this publication does not reflect the official opinion of the European Union.
Responsibility for the information and views expressed in the publication lies entirely with the authors.

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