European Day of Parks

The European Day of Parks was launched by the EUROPARC Federation with the aim of raising the profile of Europe's protected areas and generating public support for their aims and work. It was first held in 1999 and a broad variety of events in and about protected areas highlighting the need to protect these have been organised. Events have been celebrated across Europe on an annual basis on and around 24 May, a date that has been chosen to commemorate the creation of Europe's first nine national parks in Sweden on 24 May 1909.

01.07.2010

Europe’s protected areas celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity

Over 180 parks in around 20 European Countries opened their doors to thousands of visitors for the European Day of Parks this year.  Over 400 events organised on and around the 25^th May celebrated the International Year of Biodiversity with the theme ‘Biodiversity and People: Space for Nature?’ . A calendar of the events registered with EUROPARC can be downloaded below.

Walks, excursions, exhibitions and more will be held by protected areas from Finland to Spain and from the United Kingdom to Serbia. They highlighted the significant role that protected areas play in protecting an abundance of creatures across the continent.

EUROPARC Director, Carol Ritchie, encouraged locals and tourists alike to take part in the events: “This is a great opportunity to learn more about these beautiful places, the flora and fauna they support and their importance for mankind”, so Ritchie, “The events are also a good reason to flee the city for a day and are a fun way for the whole family to explore the great outdoors”. This year many parks also marked the International Day of Biodiversity which occurred two days beforehand.

As well as the diversity of press releases produced by each participating park in their regions and nationally the event was also mentioned on BBC Radio two this year. Next year we hope for even more publicity and of course that even more protected areas participate.

To encourage more of our members to participate in this occasion next year we have decided to publish a few perspectives on the European Day of Parks from protected areas who took part this year. Below you can read reports from the Carpathian Day of Parks, Pallas Yllästunturi National Park (FI) and Plitvice Lakes National Park (HR).

A press release on the European Day of Parks 2010 can also be read below.

Information about past European Day of Parks