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 annually offer our members the opportunity to join a high-level training for Protected Area professionals free of charge.
Siggen Seminar 2026 – Nature Restoration Plans: the path towards implementation
- Travel and arrival: 16th March
- Seminar: 17th – 18th March
- Departure: 19th of March
- Address: Gut Siggen Seminar Center 23777 Heringsdorf, Germany
- Deadline to apply: 12th of February 12:00 CET. Places are restricted, early application is recommended.
- This event is for EUROPARC members only and completely free of charge.
To adhere to the Nature Restoration Regulation, all EU countries need to submit their Nature Restoration Plans by September 2026. The creation of strong, ambitious plans will be crucial to ensure the best outcomes for nature and people.
The 2026 Siggen Seminar: from restoration planning to action
Planning restoration actions is only part of the work: effective implementation of Nature Restoration Plans will be essential to ensure Europe is actually making progress towards global biodiversity targets, as well as the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030.
Exemplified by the EUROPARC Conference 2025, and the EUROPARC Siggen Seminar 2022, it is clear that Protected Areas will be key players in the implementation of the national Nature Restoration Plans. Those working for Europe’s nature have the required know-how, experience and skills to turn planning into action. Furthermore, planned restoration activities will focus heavily on Natura 2000 areas, most of which are in turn embedded into Europe’s larger Protected Areas. For Protected Area Managers, a good understanding of the policy context, the priorities and requirements, is essential to ensure an effective implementation of the national Nature Restoration Plans.
That is why the Siggen Seminar 2026 will bring together leading restoration experts to jointly design a structured Restoration Action Plan training course and accompanying toolkit for Protected Area Managers and National Authorities. The Seminar will draw on participants’ practical experience and discuss:
- What is the policy context of the restoration plans?
- How are restoration priorities decided, and why?
- What role should Protected Areas take on?
- What are the learning needs of Protected Area managers?
- How are the impacts – and their effectiveness – assessed and measured?
The Seminar will explore the critical steps required to move from planning to effective implementation, identify key opportunities and challenges, and discuss practical ways to navigate them. As an output, the aim is to develop the curriculum for a new training course that can support practitioners to think through how to turn restoration plans into action in Protected Areas across Europe. Pending funding, the course will then be hosted on EUROPARC’s European Nature Academy. Accompanying the course will be an online Nature Restoration Planning Toolkit, to be finalised in 2026. It will bundle good practices from the EUROPARC network, case studies, lessons learned and other learning materials to serve as guidance and inspiration for the planning and implementation of nature restoration activities.
Both resources will be designed to support countries and Protected Areas that are at an early stage of their restoration journey. Together, the training course and online toolkit will serve as a practical “compass” for Protected Area managers and national authorities responsible for developing and implementing National Nature Restoration Plans.
Who is the Siggen Seminar 2026 for?
Up to 12 places are available for individuals belonging to EUROPARC member organisations. For this edition, we are particularly looking for experts in developing the national restoration plans and its subsequent implementation. Furthermore, we are eager to collect inspiring case studies from (large-scale) nature restoration activities taking place across Europe — in and beyond Protected Areas. These case studies will form an important element of the digital training course and toolkit to be developed by the EUROPARC Federation Directorate.
If you have been involved in the development of National Restoration Action Plans or have experience in the development of training materials for Protected Area Managers, you are especially welcome to apply!
Why should you join?
As a participant in the Siggen Seminar 2026, you ensure that your knowledge and experience can be multiplied and made impactful across Europe. It will support you, and users of the Toolkit and potential training course, in fulfilling the obligations set under the Nature Directives and the Nature Restoration Regulation. Furthermore, it is an opportunity to showcase the work of your country or Protected Area to the larger European Protected Area community.
Registration and programme
Registration is now open and will close on the 12th of February at 12:00 CET. Places are limited and we recommend applying early. Please note that we will confirm your participation — we ask you to not book your travel until you’ve received the confirmation.
A detailed programme will be made available to invited participants. You can expect a rich mix of presentations, discussions and exercises. Come prepared to exchange, learn, and help others grow!
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.
Participants of the Siggen Seminar 2019
Thanks to the 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.
The Siggen Seminar is an exclusive offer to EUROPARC members. During the Seminar, we will focus on one topic related to Protected Area management. In the past, we have for example focussed on Youth in Protected Areas, Nature Restoration and Innovative Finance for Biodiversity. A report detailing the outcomes of the event is made widely available. Often, the Siggen Seminar will support the development of a new project, or the further development of EUROPARC programmes.
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.
