Strengthen Protected Areas in Europe_23

Introduction

The actions proposed in EUROPARC's work plan 2023 reflect the perspective of Protected Area managers and management authorities to build synergy and coherence across a broad range of EU policy areas. This approach aims not only to address the imminent crises but also to proactively contribute to a better European, greener, and more sustainable society.

Objectives

Our objectives span four identified thematic areas of work:

1. Strengthen and grow our network
2. Nature and Biodiversity - strengthen the status of Protected Areas
3. Enhance the status of nature on land and sea and people’s connection to it
4. Promote sustainable development, tools, and approaches for people and nature

Planned Activities

Within each work area, our planned activities will deliver EUROPARC's contributions to:

• Informing policy development and improving policy implementation
• Supporting capacity building to improve Protected Area (PA) management effectiveness
• Delivering effective communication

A large number of activities will contribute to strengthening our organisational development and provide valuable means to support staff, sustain the policy and advocacy work, engage youth, and improve the management effectiveness of PAs across Europe.

Medium-Term Contributions

Several activities will be addressed to contribute, in the medium term, to informing the policy development process at the EU and wider level. This will involve the integration of the perspective and ground expertise of Protected Area and Natura 2000 managing authorities to improve the management of PAs and N2000 sites across Europe.

Capacity Building

Several proposed activities will support capacity building and improve the knowledge and expertise of PA and N2000 site managers towards more effective management of PAs.

Awareness and Understanding

An important effort is also foreseen to raise awareness and understanding among PA site managers on EU policy development. This will contribute to mobilizing the wide EUROPARC network for better implementation of EU legislation.