EUROPARC Federation

5 more days to apply! This is a great opportunity for young professionals to learn more about #ProtectedAreas in Europe and engage with other young people passionate about nature conservation.

𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 (𝗠𝗘)! The LIFE PAME-Europe project has opened its call for pilot sites. A truly unique opportunity to improve #Biodiversity by better understanding #ProtectedArea Management. As a pilot site, you will be the first to test the new LIFE PAME-Europe Framework for Management Effectiveness Evaluation. However, you will be able to do more than test: you can provide direct feedback to its development AND become part of a ME Community of practitioners. 👉 Apply today and make your site a pioneer of excellence in Protected Area Management Effectiveness: https://lnkd.in/ehN9F6-x #LIFEPAMEEUROPE #PAME #LIFEProgramme #ManagementEffectiveness #ProtectedAreas Nationale Naturlandschaften, Metsähallitus, FUNGOBE, EUROPARC-España, EUROPARC Atlantic Isles, EU Environment and Climate, LIFE Programme, European Environment Agency, Eurosite - the European Land Conservation Network The deadline to apply is the 12th of December. Music by AudioCoffee from Pixabay.

🌿 How can we inform decision-making by valuing the views of local communities? By using the SOCIAT survey findings, you can develop recommendations to inform decision-making on nature protection and restoration projects. Some inspiring examples were shared during #EUROPARC2025 Conference in Lithuania, where partners from the School for Cross-faculty Studies (University of Warwick) contributed to the NatureScot workshop: “Designation Unknown? Navigating Protected Area Designations for Effective Restoration”. At the Marketplace, they exchanged ideas and experiences with professionals working to protect and restore nature across Europe. A deep dive into SOCIAT applications, developed under the guidance of Nikoleta Jones, is available in Module 04 of the SOCIAT Training Course, featuring insights on application, data analysis, and recommendations for: ✅ Black Forest National Park (Schwarzwald) in Germany ✅ Triglav National Park in Slovenia ✅ Sighișoara-Târnava Mare Natura 2000 protected area in Romania You will also find testimonials of Protected Areas practitioners who focused on social impacts - sharing what they learned and their advice for others embarking on similar paths. 👉 Start this online self-paced course today and boost the impact of your work among your community! https://lnkd.in/ewxST-DZ #CapacityBuilding #ProtectedAreas #NatureConservation #NatureRestoration

🏅 Congratulations to Marià Martí Viudes, recipient of the 2025 Alfred Toepfer Medal! For over 33 years, Marià dedicated his work to protecting and managing Collserola Natural Park, turning it into a model Periurban Park that balances conservation with recreation for the people of Barcelona. As a founding member and former General Secretary of FEDENATUR, he has been a driving force behind the recognition of periurban natural areas across Europe and beyond. With the merger of FEDENATUR and EUROPARC, he ensured the establishment of the permanent Periurban Commission within EUROPARC and a seat for the Periurban representative on our Council - providing a place for exchange & representation for Europe's Periurban Parks. 🌍 His leadership, vision, and mentorship continue to inspire a generation of conservationists dedicated to building greener, more resilient cities. Read about all his accomplishments here: https://lnkd.in/egbJ6pGn

🎉The Yorkshire Dales National Park - leading the way on vision and commitment towards young people! 👏 In our latest news you can read more about the recent youth participation vision accepted by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Board. This policy document paves the way for other #ProtectedAreas to implement similar youth empowerment programmes, integrating the youth voice into all aspects of Protected Area management. 🏆💪 As a leader in the #EUROPARCYouthManifesto, the Yorkshire Dales are once again showing what can be achieved because we are #StrongerWithYouth! Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dPJX-sT4

👏 Meet the two winners of the EUROPARC Scholarship for Young Professionals! Eudald Vicens Roig from Associació La Sorellona in Spain who will explore the use of wild herbivores in rewilding and Irene Mineo from NatureScot who will explore differences between the seagrass restoration projects in Scotland and Italy. Read more about them in our latest news: https://lnkd.in/dGYhRsjq #EUROPARC #ProtectedAreas #YoungProfessionals

Join our next Webinar "Connecting People, Protected Areas and Outdoor Sports: Celebrating Success Stories and Joint Projects" 📅 Date: Wednesday, 29 October 2025 🕚 Time: 11:00 CET 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/djM3GFZx Discover how Outdoor Sports enthusiasts and Nature Conservationists are working hand-in-hand to restore landscapes, protect biodiversity, and build stronger partnerships across Europe. 💡 Topics of the webinar include: -> Presentation of the EUROPARC-ENOS Joint Award winner: The British Mountaineering Council & Peak District National Park, Moors for the Future Partnership for their innovative peatland restoration project -> Insights from EUROPEAN NETWORK OF OUTDOOR SPORTS and EUROPARC on ongoing cooperation and joint projects -> Inspiring examples of collaboration between Outdoor Sports and Protected Areas Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how Protected Areas and Otdoor Sports can thrive together. #NatureConservation #OutdoorSports #ProtectedAreas #EUROPARC #ENOS

💚 Are you enthusiastic about Protected Areas in Europe? Then join our youth council! 🤩 🫵 We want to build a team of young people to strengthen the youth voice in EUROPARC and who can engage and bring together young people from across Europe to share and exchange on the topics relevant to nature conservation, sustainable development and youth participation. 📬 more information on the role and application process https://lnkd.in/dh9Jz7z4 or find the link in our bio! Deadline is the 28th of October.

🌟 Friday Highlights – EUROPARC Conference 2025 Our final day brought inspiration, reflection, and celebration. 💚 The morning plenary set the tone, with insightful contributions from: 🎙️ Erika Vaida-Bela (Propark Foundation for Protected Areas & IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) on the "Old approaches for future challenges" and finding the balance between bringing nature to people and people to nature. 🎙️ Christian Christodoulou-Davies (NatureScot) and Danielle Rooke (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on who we need at the table for equitable #ProtectedAreas and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures #OECMs.  🎙️ Ruuta Skujina (Evenflow /European Space Agency - ESA) on the power of space observation for conservationists.  ☕ After a coffee break, participants dived into the Inspiration & Innovation sessions: fast-paced, interactive exchanges where ideas, projects and challenges were shared, directly by the Conference attendees. From restoration strategies to community engagement, these sessions embodied our theme: "Nature for People, People for Nature."  🌍 The Closing Session brought all voices together. Through a lively role-playing game, delegates were asked to take on different perspectives and work together to ensure the best outcomes for nature and people. ✨ The evening crowned the Conference with a Gala Dinner and Award Ceremony. We are incredibly proud to award three new #Transboundary Protected Areas, two scholarships for Young Professionals, an award celebrating the cooperation between #OutdoorSports and #ProtectedAreas, as well as the prestigious Alfred Toepfer Medal, celebrating a lifelong dedication to nature conservation. Stay tuned to learn more about the awardees!   It was an incredible week, filled with new connections, friendship and knowledge. It once again underlined the collective power of the #EUROPARC Community. We thank our incredible hosts, Valstybinė saugomų teritorijų tarnyba / State Service for the Protected Areas, and everyone, who have made #EUROPARC2025 a raving success 💚🌱 📸Check out all the photos in our album: https://lnkd.in/d5J2cc9r

No EUROPARC Conference is complete without a field trip! Today, participants stepped out into the landscapes of Lithuania, experiencing 10 versatile field trips across Protected Areas, historic sites and cultural treasures. From the bird-rich wetlands of Žuvintas Biosphere Reserve, to the forested slopes of Kaunas Lagoon Regional Park, the ancient hillforts of Kernavė, and the winding Nemunas Loops, these excursions highlighted the stunning diversity of nature and culture in the region hosting our Conference Valstybinė saugomų teritorijų tarnyba / State Service for the Protected Areas Along the way, participants explored: 🦉 Conservation of rare and endangered species 🌊 Wetland, forest and river restoration practices 🏰 UNESCO heritage sites and cultural landscapes 🌱 Innovative approaches to sustainable farming and community involvement Field trips proved, once again, to be a highlight of the EUROPARC Conference: a chance to see restoration in action, exchange knowledge on-site, and connect with the people and places shaping Europe’s nature and culture. 🌟 The evening is ending with the joyful rhythms of Lithuanian folk music, dancing and entertainment - a true celebration of culture, community and connection at #EUROPARC2025. Jump to the newest visual highlights in our album: https://lnkd.in/dhcupMWc Photos: @Vaidas Garla | Sandra G., EUROPARC Federation