Because Nature knows no boundaries...
EUROPARC’s role in communicating the values and benefits of Protected Areas, has been critical since its origins. The European Bulletin, originating in the 1960’s was groundbreaking in its day.
That sense of innovation and ongoing professional improvement in our communications continues, embracing new technology, using all channels and media that amplify and elevate our messages, not just to our members, but to wider society.
Gathering evidence, especially lived experience, captured in our knowledge hub and then delivered through the European Nature Academy, is the critical role of EUROPARC.
Because appreciating the value of nature is the first act towards a sustainable Future.
Nature is at the heart of our existence. Without it, the human race would vanish. Since the dawn of history, the natural world has furnished us with food, clothing, shelter, medicines, clean air, fresh water and buildings.
This is the belief and foundation of EUROPARC.
In 2023, and no doubt in the next 50 years to come, the health, restoration and the protection of our natural ecosystems will remain vital for all aspects of our European and global communities.
As in 1973, and increasingly since, millions of people continue to visit our Protected Areas across Europe on a daily basis.
Besides the beauty and the intrinsic value of wildlife, Protected Areas have a huge and positive impact on regional economies and jobs. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people rediscovered the healing powers of our natural ecosystems: not only for our personal health, but also for tackling climate change.
The vision expressed in the European Green Deal, with Protected Areas as a principal focal point, provides a vision and road map to a sustainable future.
Parks and Protected Landscapes are the GREEN in The Green Deal.
However, they will only be able to elaborate innovative solutions for a greener society, protect biodiversity and natural resources, promote sustainable economic activities, human well-being and our planet’s health, if they are nurtured and invested in.
Europe’s Protected Areas have long-established practice and experience, which has matured and grown through the networking and international cooperation EUROPARC has enabled.
International cooperation delivers multiple benefits and can help us reduce our impact on the environment, promote healthy living with nature, and, perhaps even, achieve more peaceful coexistence.
Accelerating the transition towards sustainability and dealing with the global issues of climate change and biodiversity loss, requires that we pay special attention to collaborative governance with communities in and around Protected Areas.
If the European Biodiversity Strategy, Nature Restoration Las and Climate Law are given a chance, they have the ability to be transformative in Europe, creating jobs and economic security in a healthy nature rich environment. With Protected Areas at the core of these ambitions, it is time to be courageous and ambitious in a way our predecessors were through previous difficult decades.
EUROPARC has an ever crucial role as the voice of Europe’s Protected Areas, supporting and representing members to ensure the creation of “Landscapes for Life” where Protected Areas are essential and valuable natural treasures. In earlier EUROPARC times, the role of “inhabited” parks was hotly disputed , now the Nature Regional Landscapes are a valuable and leading network within EUROPARC.
Their contribution as “Living Landscapes” was captured in an excellent project and book and they continue to develop their work with a declaration to advance their work on climate change and biodiversity loss amongst the landscape they oversee.
Sophie declares that nature needs to be natural.
Because if not now, then when? And if not us, then who?
EUROPARC, as it has for five decades, will continue to work nationally and internationally to connect our individual landscapes, Protected Areas and nature to a much bigger cause, being stronger and more powerful together.
Understanding that nature knows no boundaries, enables us to look beyond the minutiae of day-to-day management to connect people and ideas.
From the days of letters and typewriters, to Artificial Intelligence and TikTok, the Federation will advocate for Protected Areas as the vision of a sustainable future for Europe. Using our EUROPARC “superpowers”, through networking and the willingness to learn and by building trusting relationships across sectors, we increase the credibility to achieve change. Together, we develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the values, needs and drivers of Protected Areas and the communities that live in them.
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