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An intense day where EUROPARC elected a new Council and delegates were surprised with a Fado moment and a fashion show with authentic products from the Magic Mountains!

Unable to join EUROPARC Conference due to Agenda incompatibilities, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and the EU Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella sent their important messages in video, praising the importance of the event and bragging the work done by the Magic Mountains and the EUROPARC Federation.

For Mr Guterres, the Conference is “an excellent opportunity to debate and highlight the role of Protected Areas in the context of touristic, environmental, social, cultural and economic sustainability”, especially relevant in the context of the UN International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. Mr. Guterres highlighted the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism as an important tool for Protected Areas to better implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and work for the benefit of the present and future generations!

Karmenu Vella stressed that “protected areas raise awareness of the value of nature and they deliver multiple benefits. But we need a better connection to nature and for that we need good city plans, that integrate nature and green spaces”. The Commissioner recognised that “EUROPARC has been building these bridges, with an excellent work in the promotion of protected areas and development of sustainable tourism”, a concern also shared by the European Commission.

Press release n.º 4 |

6th  September 2017 |

The members of FEDENATUR – the European Association of Periurban Parks, approved this afternoon during their general assembly in S. Pedro do Sul, its integration into the EUROPARC Federation. An action that marks the start of the EUROPARC 2017 Conference, which takes place in the Magic Mountains until Sunday, September 10th.

“I’m happy for this decision. EUROPARC works with protected areas, however several parks in Europe are located in the outskirts of metropolitan areas. Today, the largest organisation of periurban parks joins EUROPARC, bringing new advice and knowledge, but especially new visions, new voices and new values. EUROPARC is open to cooperate with other organisations that work on the same sustainable development strand”, said Ignace Schops, President of the EUROPARC Federation, re-elected this afternoon for a new three-year term.

“Today, thanks to your and our joint effort, FEDENATUR is born again within a big project that allows us, deliberately and consciously, to bring its background of identity, expertise and its visions for the future, within the big house of EUROPARC – a big, shared house of which we are proud to become part of. What we are doing today is not the end of a path, but rather the opportunity to transfer our expertise, our professional knowledge and our visions within a wider context and within an organisation that has broader horizons”, said Roberto Della Rovere, President of FEDENATUR, which now ceases to exist as an individual organisation. Roberto also emphasizes the sustainability aspect of these territories, considering that “periurban and metropolitan parks are an a example that living within the park area can be, and is most often, a resource and an opportunity. We combine respect for the environment with sustainable development”.

After his re-election, Ignace Schops affirmed that sustainability and expansion of the network will be the main focus of the EUROPARC Federation of his new mandate.

“The next three years will be important to achieve stability and enlarge the EUROPARC network. We want to be the common home of nature, regional, national, marine, periurban parks, and support them in the sustainable development of their territories, based on an active involvement with their local communities”.

During the coming days, conservation and the well-being of communities will be analysed by over 300 participants from several countries, at EUROPARC Conference. This year taking place in the Magic Mountains territory, a Sustainable Destinations awarded with the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas.
Tonight, delegates will be welcomed in Sao Pedro do Sul, in this event organised by ADRIMAG and promoted by the EUROPARC Federation.

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Less than 24 hours for EUROPARC Conference 2017!

In Sao Pedro do Sul, ADRIMAG and The Europarc Federation Directorate and Council Members are making the final preparations to welcome you all at the biggest event of #ProtectedArea professionals!

During 4 intense days, over 300 delegates will be discussing the #NewVoices, #NewValues, #NewVisions for People and Nature in Europe!

Stay tuned with the conference website and social media #EUROPARC2017!

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Press release n.º 3 |
17th July 2017 |

Over 200 people from 30 countries have already registered for EUROPARC Conference that will take place in Portugal, in one-month time. So far, after Portugal, the Netherlands will be the country better represented.

The biggest event of Protected Areas takes place in the Portuguese region of the “Magic Mountains” in September 2016. It will gather professionals and nature conservation experts coming from four continents – Europe, Asia, Africa and America.

“Currently, we have 200 registrations and the biggest foreigner group of delegates is coming from the Netherlands. We look forward to receiving more registrations from Portuguese professionals working for protected areas and nature conservation, as we will be discussing important subjects for the country, such as forest management and wildfires, the coexistence between people and large carnivores or the shared management of natural areas”, said Joao Carlos Pinho, coordinator of ADRIMAG (conference host and organiser).

EUROPARC Conference is a European event with international coverage that gathers specialists on nature conservation, cultural heritage and sustainable management of activities within classified natural areas.

The event takes place in Portugal, between 6-10th June, in a geographical region rich of natural and cultural heritage, covering the municipalities of Arouca, Castelo de Paiva, Castro Daire, Cinfães, S. Pedro do Sul, Sever do Vouga e Vale de Cambra.

With the theme – New voices, new visions, new Values for People and Nature in Europe – participants will examine the role of protected areas as promoters of a more socially inclusive, environmentally healthier, and economically viable model for local development.

Before reaching the maximum of 300 participants, registrations can still be made at www.europarc2017.montanhasmagicas.pt.

Press release n.º 2 |
12th July 2017 |

Humberto Delgado Rosa,  Director for Natural Capital, DG Environment, European Commission and former State-Secretary for Environment in Portugal and the Brazilian ex-minister for Environment, Marina Silva, are confirmed as keynote speakers at EUROPARC Conference 2017. The Plenary Session takes place in the “Magic Mountains” region, Portugal, on September 7th.

Several renowned personalities in the field of Environment and Nature Conservation have confirmed their presence at EUROPARC Conference 2017. Humberto Delgado Rosa, Director for Natural Capital within the European Commission – Directorate-General for Environment, will introduce the recently launched “EU Action Plan for Nature, People and the Economy”.

In the same session, delegates will hear Marina Silva, ex-minister for Environment during Lula da Silva’s governments between 2003-2008. Silva was recognised as a United Nations Champion of the Earth for her work against the destruction of the Amazon rainforest.

Erika Stanciu, former President of the EUROPARC Federation and former State-Secretary for Environment and Forests in Romania also confirmed her presence, along with Monsignor Francisco Froján Madero. Madero is member of the Vatican State Secretary and will share a reflection about the Papal Encyclical LAUDATO SI’: On Care For Our Common Home.

EUROPARC Conference 2017 takes place between the 6-10 September, with activities taking place in the Magic Mountains region (ranging the municipalities of Arouca, Castelo de Paiva, Castro Daire, Cinfães, S. Pedro do Sul, Sever do Vouga e Vale de Cambra). It is the biggest European event of protected areas and nature conservation and the complete programme can be seen here.

The theme “New voices, new visions, new values for people and nature in Europe” will launch the debate on protected areas as models for regional development that is socially inclusive, environmental healthier, and economically fair. The theme is aligned with the 2017 United Nations’ International Year for Sustainable Tourism for Development.

The EUROPARC Conference 2017 will address the concerns of sustainable tourism and the registration can be made, from today, on the website of the event, taking place, from the 6th to 10thSeptember, in Portugal, in the Magic Mountains territory.

The EUROPARC Conference is an European event with an international focus, that brings together various experts on the issues related with the nature conservation and the cultural heritage as well as the sustainable management of all the activities within protected and classified areas. This year, and for the first time, the event takes place in Portugal, in a geographical area of enormous environmental and cultural value, composed by Arouca, Castelo de Paiva, Castro Daire, Cinfães, S. Pedro do Sul, Sever do Vouga and Vale de Cambra.

Is foreseen the participation of more than three hundred people, that can consult all the information of the program and to the registration form in http://europarc2017.montanhasmagicas.pt.

The theme of the EUROPARC Conference 2017 – “New Voices, New Visions, New Values for People and Nature in Europe” – will focus the debate on the role of protected areas as a model territories of the socially inclusive, environmentally healthy and economically fair development for all. The EUROPARC Conference 2017 is thus framed in the concerns of the United Nations which declared this year as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for the Development.

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The Magic Mountains are located in central/northern Portugal, between the Douro and Vouga rivers, ranging the Freita, Arada, Arestal and Montemuro mountains. Its wide territory, covering seven municipalities (Arouca, Castelo de Paiva, Castro Daire, Cinfães, São Pedro do Sul, Sever do Vouga e Vale de Cambra), encompasses a richness of natural and cultural diversity.

This is a land of exceptional nature wonders. The Magic Mountains are connected through ADRIMAG – Association for the rural integrated Development of Montemuro, Arada e Gralheira Mountains, whose work focused on the sustainable development of the region. In 2013, the Magic Mountains were certified as a Sustainable Destination, with the implementation of the principles and methodology of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas.

The Magic Mountains, comprised by four Natura 2000 sites and a UNESCO Geopark, is widely recognised as a responsible tourism destination, with touristic offers focused on ecotourism, geotourism and active tourism. Its unique geological phenomena and geomorphology, along with its incredible biodiversity, make the Magic Mountains an excellent destination for the practice of nature and outdoor sport activities such as rafting, kayaking, canoeing, hiking or mountain biking.

Since pre-historical times, men has been choosing this territory to live, has it is witnessed through the numberless archaeological monuments here founded: enigmatic engravings from the Atlantic Art, megalithic monuments, bridges and old roman roads, monasteries and medieval temples, sanctuaries and distinctive churches, authentic villages of schist and granite, historical mines and much, much more.

Read more at: www.montanhasmagicas.com

The European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas (ECSTPA) is a programme developed by the EUROPARC Federation with the vision of developing tourism sustainably in European Protected Areas.

The Charter is a practical management tool that establishes the principles of sustainable tourism in Protected Areas and defines the steps towards their implementation. The programme for sustainable tourism destinations helps protected areas to evaluate their current management and build and implement sustainable tourism strategies in partnership with local communities and businesses. This ensures that nature conservation and socio-economic development are compatible in the protected area and the wider region.

There are currently 157 Sustainable Destinations in 19 European countries following the ECSTPA methodology, who involve as Charter partners a great number of local partners. EUROPARC’S programme for sustainable tourism destinations has been recognised a model system by many organisations including the World Tourism Organisation, the EU commission and the German Federal Agency for Nature Protection (BFN).

The ECST followed the publication of the report “Loving Them to Death”, published in 1993 by the Federation. The methodology was developed by Protected Areas professionals and experts on sustainable tourism, with the contribution of tour operators and other stakeholders at local level.

To learn more about the ECSTPA visit: www.europarc.org/nature/european-charter-sustainable-tourism/