EUROPARC webinar: Working together in Sustainable Destinations
Working together in Sustainable Destinations
16th April – 15:00 CEST
For over 20 years, EUROPARC has been supporting Protected Areas becoming Sustainable Destinations, with the development of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas (ECSTPA).
The core element of the Charter is working in partnership with all relevant stakeholders to develop a common sustainable tourism strategy and an action plan on the basis of a thorough situation analysis. The aim of all Charter projects and activities is the protection of the natural and cultural heritage along with the continuous improvement of tourism for the Park, its visitors, local population and businesses.
On this EUROPARC webinar, we will hear the experience of two Sustainable Destinations who have established long-lasting and successful relations with their local community. We will learn how to develop and maintain an active Sustainable Tourism Forum, and how to engage successfully with business partners, especially for the development of Charter part 2.
The webinar will be presented by Patrizia Rossi, previous President of the EUROPARC Federation and previous Director of the Alpi Marittime Nature Park in Italy, and currently Chair of the Evaluation Committee of the ECSTPA. With almost 2 decades of experience working with the Charter and developing the guidelines, Patrizia will give us an overview of the methodology as a participatory process.
Two case studies from the Charter Network, EUROPARC’s network of Sustainable Destinations, will be presented:
Sustainable Tourism Forum of La Garrotxa Nature Park © Park Archive
Case Study 1
Forums that work: the Sustainable Tourism Forum in La Garrotxa
by Josep Maria Prats, Zona Volcanica de La Garrotxa Nature Park, Catalonia, Spain
Since 2001, the Zona Volcanica de la Garrotxa Nature Park in Catalonia, Spain, has been working in close cooperation with its local community, who is involved in the Sustainable Tourism Forum.
The Park was one of the first implementing the Charter methodology, and since then it has been rewarded 3 times more.
During the presentation, we will hear the experience of La Garrotxa in the creation of their Sustainable Tourism Forum and the main challenges and outcomes of working together.
Josep Maria Prats was responsible for the implementation and development of the Charter in La Garrotxa. He was also member of the first committee who developed the guidelines for the methodology and is currently a member of the ECSTPA Evaluation Committee.
Honey producer in the Livradois-Forez Nature Regional Park © Park Archive
Case Study 2
Business and community: common vision and shared goals for Sustainable Tourism
by Caroline Le Roy, Livradois-Forez Nature Regional Park, France
Livradois-Forez Nature Regional Park was first awarded the ECSTPA in 2005 and since 2011 has been actively engaging business partners, following the methodology of Charter Part 2.
Currently, over 30 different businesses are working to develop a better tourism for the region, in straight cooperation with the Park. We will learn how Livradois-Forez is helping them achieving their goals, making tourism good for parks and good for people.
Caroline Le Roy is Sustainable Tourism Manager at Livradois-Forez Nature Regional Park and in charge of the development, promotion and activation of the ECSTPA.
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Junior Ranger Programme: Trilateral cooperation in the Nordic Baltic
Junior Ranger cooperation in Nordic Baltic © Roland Müür
Latvia, Finland and Estonia have agreed to enhance the Junior Ranger (JR) cooperation between the forementioned countries.
The objective of this cooperation is to share the experience of JR camps and seminars, learn from it and develop new ideas on how to increase interest in youth to join this programme – shortly how to market JR program. The result of this cooperation will be electronic manual or best practice document to manage the programme (camps, cooperation network, etc.). The Manual will be shared with all EUROPARC members.
The first meeting took place in March 2017 during EUROPARC Nordic-Baltic Section meeting in Klaipeda, Lithuania and an official Seminar is planned for 2018. The two-day seminar organised by Parks & Wildlife Finland, Latvian Nature Conservation Agency, and Estonian Environmental Board will also involve 18+ students (2-45 students and 2 teachers-mentors per 1 country) in order to brainstorm on JR topics.
The trilateral cooperation in the Nordic-Baltic will strengthen the programme at a regional level and provide their Junior Rangers more opportunities to cooperate and engage with their international peers. Moreover, will be an inspiration for all the 19 countries which are currently engaged in the Junior Ranger Programme, providing a useful tool to better develop the programme through cross-border cooperation.
Learn more about the Junior Ranger Programme below
Experience exchange with Caucasus – Müritz National Park
participants in front of a lime tree, over 800 years old in the village of Speck © Muritz National Park Archive
On 20th and 21st of April, Müritz National Park received a group of 24 guests from protected areas in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The focus of the meeting was the development of nature tourism, which was studied on the spot in the UNESCO World nature heritage site of Serrahn and in the nature experience center Müritzeum in the city of Waren.
During the visit, the Park shared its experience with the implementation of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas, with a special focus on the methodology and the benefits it bring for the Park and its local communities.
Müritz National Park is located in northeastern Germany and has been awarded the Charter in 2011. Currently, the Park is on the way to update the tourism strategy and action plan.
European policies and the role of Protected Areas – Seminar-dialogue with DG Environment
EU flags in front of European Commission © www.esomar.org
Partnerships for biodiversity: European policies and the role of Protected Areas
Seminar-dialogue with DG Environment
On 13th and 14th of June, EUROPARC welcomes members to a special seminar in Brussels. This is a unique opportunity to engage in dialogue with the European Commission-DG Environment about the role of Protected Areas across a range of important topics.
This seminar will, through bringing case studies from the field to the policymakers directly, improve the dialogue between the European Commission and Protected Areas (PAs). The event will also raise awareness of Protected Areas managers in EU policies and funding. The exchange of information will also increase the effectiveness and visibility of the PAs’ contribution to the achievement of European policy goals in nature protection and sustainable development.
During the seminar, Protected Areas managers and European Commission Officers will explore and discuss together different topics related to Natura 2000 and Protected Areas, such as the management of habitats and species, green infrastructures, transboundary collaboration, Natura 2000 communication, sustainable agriculture and fishery, sustainable tourism, nature and health, and youth involvement. Throughout we will emphasise the role of partnerships between Protected Areas authorities with local communities and the business sector.
Registrations
Places are limited, but we look forward to welcoming as many members as possible to Brussels. Participation is free of charge but registration is mandatory. This event is specially addressed to EUROPARC members directly working with Protected Areas and European Commission officers.
Please register here
Agenda Download
Tuesday 13.06.2017
EUROPARC Federation office in Brussels – Boulevard L. Boulevard Louis Schmidt 64, 1040 Brussels
15:00 – 17:00 Introduction of the event
EUROPARC Federation Office
- Registration of participants
- Welcome from EUROPARC Federation
- Presentation of the EUROPARC activities in Brussels
- Presentation of the seminar’s aims and participants expectations
18:00 – 20:00 Networking reception
Wednesday 14.06.2017
European Commission – DG Environment, Avenue de Beaulieu 5, 1160 Brussels
9:00 – 9:15 Welcome
- Registration of participants
- Welcome from DG Environment
- Introduction of the Seminar’s aims and agenda by EUROPARC
9:15 – 11:00 Protected areas and the management of habitats and species
- Short introduction by EUROPARC
- The experience of periurban parks on green infrastructures
- The challenges of Transboundary Protected Areas
- Marine Protected Area Management
- Communication: a crucial tool for effective management of Natura 2000
- The EC perspective: policy framework, funding opportunities, updates and recommendations
- Interactive debate
11:00 – 11:15 Break
11:15 – 13:00 Building partnerships for sustainable agriculture and fishery
- Short introduction by EUROPARC
- Protected areas and Sustainable Agriculture in Regional and National Parks of France
- Protected areas and Sustainable Agriculture in Italy
- Establishing effective partnerships in Marine protected areas
- The EC perspective: policy framework, funding opportunities, updates and recommendations
- Interactive Debate
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch break
14:00 – 15:50 Protected areas and people: other partnerships for nature conservation and sustainable development
- Short introduction by EUROPARC
- Sustainable Tourism: partnerships with local authorities, businesses and tour operators by ECSTPA Parks from France and Spain
- Protected areas and benefits for health
- Protected areas and youth: the experience of the Junior Ranger Programme
- The EC perspective: policy framework, funding opportunities, updates and recommendations
- Interactive Debate
15:50 – 16:00 Conclusions
Conclusions by DG Environment and EUROPARC Federation
for further information about the Seminar-dialogue, please contact Stefania Petrosillo at s.petrosillo @ europarc.org