PROTECTED AREAS IN -SIGHT - EUROPARC Federation · 2018-02-23 · Protected Areas In-Sight 3 The...

PROTECTEDAREAS IN-SIGHT

THE JOURNAL OF THE EUROPARC FEDERATION

New VoicesNew VisionsNew Values

for people and nature

2 Protected Areas In-Sight

Publisher: EUROPARC Federation 2017, www.europarc.orgEditorial team: EUROPARC Directorate, [email protected]

Waffnergasse 6, 93047 Regensburg, GermanyGraphic Design: Václav HrabaPrinting: Printed in recycled paper by Kartenhaus Kollektiv –

Graphische Dienst GmbH

Co-funded by the European Commission

The production of this publication has been supported financiallyin the framework of the European Commission’s (Directorates-General Environment and Climate Action) LIFE + fundingprogramme of operating grants for European EnvironmentalNGOs. The content of this publication does not reflect the officialopinion of the European Union. Responsibility for theinformation and views expressed in the publication lies entirelywith the authors.

Partially funded by the EU Regional Development FundThrough the Interreg Europe IMPACT project.

Many thanks to all those who have contributed to this edition.

Cover photo:Magic Mountains (Montanhas Mágicas), Portugal.

Imprint

www.montanhasmagicas.ptMore information at

3Protected Areas In-Sight

The EUROPARC Federation represents Protected Areas and governmental organisations in 37countries, who themselves manage the green jewels of Europe’s land, sea, mountains, forests,rivers and cultural heritage.

Nature knows no boundaries and EUROPARC therefore facilitates international co-operation inall aspects of Protected Area management. Through networking, advancing policy and practice,sharing best practices and developing new solutions to the challenges of Protected Areamanagement, we want to deliver a Sustainable Nature: Valued by People and ensure the valueof Protected Areas is recognized at the heart of Europe.

For more information: www.europarc.org

PROTECTEDAREAS IN-SIGHTTHE JOURNAL OF THE EUROPARC FEDERATION

Content


Editorial ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5Special edition: IMPACT Project .................................................................................................................................... 6Is it time to move from conservation-focused management plans to new management models? ... 7Andalusia, promoting sustainable development plans (SDPs) since 1989 ..................................................... 8An NGO as a neutral intermediary between Environmental authorities and local stakeholders ....... 10Protecting the Sea

A small Scottish island community leads the way to protect and recover our sea ................................... 12Protecting the Land

Promoting open spaces with farmers in a forest park as ameans to increase biodiversity .................. 14Working together

Peace-keeping in the Mountains of Snowdonia....................................................................................................... 16European Policy

The EU Action Plan for Nature, People and the Economy ................................................................................... 18Living Landscapes

How do Regional Nature Parks Benefit Europe? ..................................................................................................... 20Special edition "Overtourism"

Are Protected Areas becoming victims of their own popularity?...................................................................... 21Imposing a limit? ................................................................................................................................................................... 22Addressing “overtourism” in Protected Areas............................................................................................................ 23Tackling overtourism: 7 ideas from the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, Italy ...................................... 24Limiting the impact, rewarding the visitors................................................................................................................. 26EUROPARC Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas........................................................................................ 28Cover theme: New Voices, New Visions, New Values

Ecological Spirituality ............................................................................................................................................................30An ideal for change .............................................................................................................................................................. 32Call for next EUROPARC Conference ....................................................................................................................... 34

EUROPARC has a long established recordin combining the work of Protected Areasand sustainable development, so we wereespecially pleased to be involved invarious activities during the InternationalYear of Sustainable Tourism in 2017. Onehighlight was the video intervention ofUnited Nations Secretary-General, Mr.António Guterres, at the EUROPARCConference 2017, where he stated the“European Charter for SustainableTourism is an important tool for ProtectedAreas to better implement the UNSustainable Development Goals, and workfor the benefit of the present and futuregenerations.” Look further into our journalto see some special reports from oursustainable tourism network and checkout our new logo.

The new logo is part of a refresh of theEUROPARC communications with a newstrategy and new tools on the website. Solook out for the toolkits and webinarprogramme. Help us bring more peopletogether by joining in from thecomfort of your screen!

5Editorial

New Voices, New Visions, New Valuesfor people and nature in Europe

EUROPARC brings people together fromacross Europe, with a shared passion for

nature and landscapes to look beyond ourparks and highlight their importance toenvironmental, social and economicdevelopment. Throughout 2017 we havedone just that!

At this time, society seems to be questioningits core values. EUROPARC members, duringsome glorious and inspirational days in theMagic Mountains of Portugal, consideredwho are the NEW VOICES we need to hear,what are the NEW VISIONS we need toinspire us and what VALUES need to beRENEWED.

We concluded, Protected Areas, withenlightened political leadership and goodgovernance, can promote a more sociallyinclusive, environmentally healthier andeconomically viable model for society.You can read more of the thoughts of ourconference speakers, Marina Silva andMonsignor Francisco Frojan Madero in thisedition and look out for the conferencereport coming soon!

Our Regional, Nature and Landscape Parkswere a particular focus in 2017, with thepublication of the book “LivingLandscapes”. It is highly recommendedreading. Thanks to the Association ofGerman Nature Parks (VDN) and those whotook part in the project for this great work.EUROPARC will convene future meetings ofRegional Nature Landscape parks network,to address their issues.

Interregional cooperation is crucial to thework of EUROPARC and we are proud to bea partner in the IMPACT project. Such,interregional cooperation is key toaccelerate the learning process amongdifferent people, parks, regions, countriesand enables us to find quicker solutionsto complex issues. The IMPACT InterregEurope project, funded by ERDF, aims atimproving the development potential ofProtected Areas by introducing sustainableeconomic activities in their managementplans. This aims to change managementpolicies, to promote productive activities inProtected Areas, without compromisingbiodiversity conservation. EUROPARCthrough the IMPACT project supportsexperience exchange, collects case studiesand promotes international projects. You canread more in this edition and visit theproject website.

By joining together we can continue to builda stronger, European network, witha renewed vision, revived voices and restoredvalues and be better placed to support ourmembers and to engage in the challengesEurope’s nature is facing.

Carol RitchieExecutive Director

EUROPARC Federation


Special edition: IMPACT Project

7Special edition: IMPACT project

Is it time to move from conservation-focusedmanagement plans to

new management models?Traditionally, Protected Areas have been

seen as isolated, static spatial entities,exclusively devoted to preserving habitatsand biodiversity. However, current trendsseek to enlarge this vision with theintroduction of new concepts such asgreen infrastructure and ecosystemservices that Protected Areas are expectedto deliver. Innovative management planswill need to take into account these newaspects.

Moreover, Protected Areas have proven tobe a stimulus for economic development,thus preventing current rural abandonment.If well managed, Protected Areas can meana real opportunity for green jobs creationin sectors such as sustainable and activetourism, forestry, organic farming,processed food, fisheries, and handmadecrafts, among others. Today, there is a clearneed to create employment in manyrural areas, especially for young people.

With the aim of introducing newmanagement policies for Protected Areas,EUROPARC joined the IMPACT InterregEurope, an interregional cooperation project.The aim is to try new models to move fromconservation-focused management planstowards models that promote sustainabledevelopment in protected spaces and theirarea of influence.

What can be done to promote socio andeconomic development in rural areas? Howimportant is stakeholder engagement and howto achieve it? In the next pages, we bring yousome good examples from IMPACT partners.

How can we exploit Protected Areaswithout putting nature at risk?

IMPACT is an interregional cooperation projectaimed at introducing new managementmodels that promote biodiversity-proofeconomic activities in Protected Areas.

During the first phase of theproject (2016-18), partners sharetheir good practice on the topicand learn from each otherthrough meetings and studyvisits. Based on this learningprocess, each partner willproduce an action plan toimprove policies that will help tointroduce new managementplans in their Protected Areas.

www.interregeurope.eu/impactMore information at


Protecting the environment and promotingresource efficiency are the main objectives

of the Sustainable Development Plans,a project implemented in Andalusia since 1989.The Regional Government of Andalusia tries tofoster economy and create job opportunitiesinvolving 24 protected natural spaces.

Sustainable Development Plans (SDPs) arebuilt up through a participative and bottom-upprocess, where stakeholders’ opinions areconsidered through surveys, workshops andinterviews. Tourism, agriculture and serviceenterprises, local governments, regionaldelegations of the Andalusian Government andcitizen associations are invited to give theirperception of the protected spaces and theactivities that could take place within.

Cork extraction is a traditional job thatrespects natural heritage

Andalusia, promoting sustainabledevelopment plans (SDPs) since 1989

Implementing and monitoring SDPs

Some of the actions included in SDPs are orientedtowards human capital, with training, education,

dissemination and participation programmes. Otheractions relate to investment, infrastructuresimprovement - like water facilities, roads ortechnological networks - and actions to protect orrestore natural and cultural heritage.

Organic farming is growing fast in Andalusia as well,thus SDPs support branding approaches in order to easethe access to more exigent markets.

Watch EUROPARC Livevideo "Natural Park Labeland its value"

One of the main achievements of the SDPs is thatAndalusia has slowed the migration from rural to urbanareas: job and education gap between people in theprotected and urban areas is was halted.

The SDPs are subject to Impact EnvironmentalAssessment. Besides, once in place, a monitoringand evaluation system is performed on a regularbasis. As a result of SDPs, economic andsustainable activities linked to the territory haveemerged, some of which traditional, such as organicand integrated agriculture, tourism and forest use.

by Francisco Solano Cobos Ruiz – Andalusian Environmental and Water Agency

SDPs include a description of the areafocusing on both its ecological (land andbiodiversity) and socio-economic aspects.

Then, a diagnosis of the area following theSWOT methodology is presented, along witha Financial Plan. This includes self-fundedactions, but the main aim is to use SPDs to lookfor financial opportunities from any public policyand programme (Economy, Agriculture, Culture,Tourism, Infrastructure).

https://youtu.be/qFi8XwbKwLs


As a result of traditional activitiesabandonment, many habitats aresuffering changes and biodiversityloss. One way of reducing thisimpact is to stimulate thesetraditional activities under a newformat – or to promote specificsocio-economic activities that willhelp to maintain landscape andpark management.

In all this period, Andalusia hasnot lost any municipality becauseof rural abandonment and theNatura 2000 Network is stillgrowing in the region.

New management modelsneed to follow a moreparticipative approach ascompared withconventional models.Local stakeholders shouldbe involved to guaranteethe long-term success ofthe protected areamanagement plan.

Photo: Grazalema National Park, Spain


In Lithuania, funds and humanresources are directly allocated for the

implementation of specific measuresthat improve natural resources andhabitats. However, such habitatmanagement is inefficient, costlyand unsustainable.

An alternative to such costly approach is to createa management system that involves as many people as

possible. This can be done by encouraging local people toperform continuous socio-economic activities in the park.

Aisté Jurkiené, EUCC Baltic office

An NGO as a neutral intermediary betweenEnvironmental authorities and local stakeholders

In the two Natura 2000 sites existingwithin the Seaside Regional Park,negative natural processes areoccurring, such as uncontrolled growthof wild shrubs, bushes and trees in theseaside meadows. On the other hand,abandoned and damaged areas areincreasing due to the inactivity of localresidents and landowners - neither usedfor grazing, nor for mowing anymore.


Nature management and local interestsare tightly interconnected in and around

the Seaside Regional Park. However,a deep lack of cooperation andcommunication between the communityand the environmental protection authoritiesexisted due to mistrust, suspicion and anatmosphere of hostility. The best way to dealwith such communication problems was theemergence of a neutral and unbiasedintermediary, and the EUCC Baltic Officewas a very suitable partner for that.

Although this "mission" began quite a longtime ago, and some progress was alreadymade, the IMPACT project has given a newimpetus to the creation of stable andaffiliated ties between the local communityof the Seaside Regional Park and natureconservation authorities.

Firstly, the EUCC Baltic Office was able to organiseregular meetings and consultations focused onenvironment and sustainable development,involving both local residents and officials. Overthe last two years, a problem-solving culture hasemerged, based on sittings and meetings.

Secondly, they have strengthening cooperationand performed joint activities through a projectapplication called „Communities initiatives inconserved and Protected Areas”. The overallidea of the project is to support communitiessituated on Natura 2000 sites in buildinginternational cooperation focused on exploitationof Protected Areas. Fishery, forestry andagriculture, tourism services, handicraft andart are some of the main areas of worg.

These are just the first but necessary steps inorder to achieve a coherent lifestyle in ProtectedAreas,

diminishing not only conflicts betweenpeople and nature, but also conflictsbetween people with different interests.

The EUCC Baltic Office hopes that theIMPACT project will build trust and

a culture of mutual respect , that willcontinue to grow in the long-run.

Changing perceptions and improving cooperation

Special edition: IMPACT Project

Photo: amber catching at Pajuris(Seaside) Regional Park, Lithuania,by EUCC Baltic


A small Scottish island communityleads the way to protect and recoverour seas.

Diving for 10 years with my friend Don aroundthe Isle of Arran in the Firth of Clyde (3700sq. km of sea) we saw with our own eyes a veryrapid decline in marine life.

For decades overfishing and poor fisheries managementhave been the norm. Even the 3m/5k offshore protectionfrom bottom towed trawls was removed in 1984, due toindustry pressure.

Rays, assorted flat fish, anglerfish, cod and pollackdecreased and then disappeared. In 20 years, thecommercial fishing industry lost 70% of its jobs inthe Clyde area. With so few fish to catch,recreational sea anglers (RSA) gave up.The commercial fishers, encouraged byGovernment, turned to scrapingprawns out of the mud and dredgingup scallops from sand and gravelseabeds.

Reports were written and pressure wasput on Government by RSA, marine tourismand environmentalists, but all were ignored byGovernment who viewed the seas as a resource just forthe benefit of commercial fishermen.

There was no recognised official route to implementa Marine Reserve but it was clear to us that was whatneeded to happen if there was to be any recovery. Sowhat were the 3 major steps we took?

Marine ecosystems are seriously threatened. The European Commission is calling Member States tobetter protect their seas. The creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is a key conservation

measure, to safeguard marine ecosystems and species. Who should be involved in the protection ofour Seas? Local communities have a role to play? In this issue, we bring you an interesting story: thecreation of the first community led Marine Reserve in Scotland.

Engage your community

With my dive buddy Don MacNeish, we researchedand understood the heart of the problem wasregulatory capture of Government by just onesection of the fishing industry (the ones using themost destructive fishing gear).

To save our seas, we needed to “dive” into politics, tomeet fishermen leaders and encourage a longer termvision. It was obvious that no one was going to takemuch notice of us unless we had the widespreadsupport of our island community. So we foundedCOAST, The Community of Arran Seabed Trust.We held public meetings, gave presentations todozens of local organisations and collected photos offishermen with huge fish -from just a decade before.We needed to show what was missing.

With growing public support, politicians slowlystarted to help COAST and write letters on ourbehalf, but still Government officials continued as ifour seas were solely for the benefit of the remainingcommercial fishermen.

Challenge the status quo and find jointsolutions

After 3 years, numerous meetings, enquiries by cross partyparliamentary committees, government officials, fishingindustry leaders and COAST were given 6 months to findan agreed solution. Progress was slow, 6 months became 2years and even then, fisheries leaders threatened to walkaway at the last minute unless the agreed small 2.67 sq. kmNoTakeZone was halved in size. We held our ground and onthe 20th September 2008, the first UK community led MarineReserve was designated by the Scottish Parliament.

However, the overriding issue was still unresolved - onwhose behalf should our Government be managing thesea?

For a small island community organisation, we werefortunate to be meeting senior Government officials andregularly challenged them on just who “owns” Scotland'sseas. After months of officials saying "It's solely a matterbetween ourselves and commercial fishermen" finally theScottish Government accepted that Scotland’s seas werea public asset and a common resource. This wasa breakthrough!

Photo: Angus robson in photo survey, by Howard Wood

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13Protecting the Sea

Howard Wood

is co-founder and chair of COAST (Community ofArran Seabed Trust) and also founder and directorof SIFT. His passion for diving around the Isle ofArran in Scotland since 1974 led him to becomea marine environmental campaigner. In 2015 hewas awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize forEurope and forhis services tothe marineenvironment anOBE by QueenElizabeth II.

The next step. Share the success

While COAST have been at theforefront over the past 25 years they

have now been joined by 9 othermarine communities all

campaigning and wanting to beinvolved in the management of

THEIR seas.

https://www.communitiesforseas.scot/

Protecting the Sea

Monitor and analyse effects

The Scottish Government did the initialbaseline surveys of the NoTakeZone but since2010 COAST has raised funds to monitor,working mainly with University of York PhD &MSc researchers. Nearly 30 research papershave been produced. For such a small areathe original NoTakeZone, has, over 9 years,rejuvenated scallop and lobster stocks anddoubled the biodiversity of the seabedproviding nursery areas for fish.

The people of Arran are extremely proudof their Community Marine Reserve andwhile Marine Scotland have the legal duty toprotect the area, they are supported bydozens of local people.

Photo: Ballan Wrasse, by Howard Wood

Photo: Dredged seabed, by Howard Wood

Two years later the ScottishParliament passed the MarineAct, which included the set upof a network of MarineProtected Areas. For its first 20years COAST was run byvolunteers, often with nofunding. In, 2011, COASTgained funding for its first paidmember of staff. Three yearslater South Arran MarineProtected Area was 100 timeslarger than the originalNoTakeZone and covering280 sq.km.

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Promoting open spaces withfarmers in a forest park asa means to increase biodiversitySerra de Collserola Nature Park, Catalonia

The Serra de Collserola NaturePark is a protected Natura 2000site covering some 8,000 hasituated in the centre of theBarcelona metropolitan area.Although now mostly covered byMediterranean pine and oak forests(~70%), historically much ofCollserola was devoted toagriculture, with many hills coveredwith terraced vineyards, carob,almond and olive trees.

However, the decline in farming andforest activities, as well as theassignment of land for property andinfrastructure development has ledto forest expansion within the park,and intense urbanization on itsperiphery. As a consequence, the

diversity and extension ofopen type habitats and theirassociated biodiversity hasbeen greatly reduced.

The presence of an active agro-silvo-pastoral mosaic landscape iskey to conserving open habitats inan otherwise forested park. This isalso an essential part of a fireprevention strategy.

Thus, there is a clear need torecover sustainable agriculture, notonly from an environmentalperspective, but alsoto ensurea viable livelihood for thecommunity.

By Sean Cahill, Joan Vilamú & Lluís Cabañeros*

*Contact for further information: [email protected]

Protected Areas can play a fundamental role in promotingagricultural practices that respect nature and biodiversity. The

Collserola Nature Park has drawn up an Agricultural Plan with themain objectives of consolidating cultivated land and recoveringgrazing with livestock as a key element for the conservation ofcertain natural open habitats.

Seán Cahill

is a Biologist at Collserola Park’sBiological Station. Working onwildlife and biodiversity monitoringin general, with expertise in wildlifeconservationand relatedconflicts in thishighlyanthropogenicmetropolitanProtected Area.

Promote local engagement

One of the main drivers of the park’s AgriculturalPlan has been the participatory “Stimulation ofLocal Organic Farming” (DLOF) initiative toconnect interests in agriculture and spurcooperation. This local initiative representsa strategy for local development aimed at promotingfairer and more sustainable communities and foodproduction systems. Through this initiative, the parkpromotes a network for the marketing andcommercialisation of farm products, especially ofnewly recovered local varieties, such as the‘Mandó’ tomato.

Create a quality brand

An important milestone of the Plan was also theapproval of the Producte de Collserola ‘guaranteeof quality’ brand, which now has the potential toidentify many agricultural products from the Serrade Collserola Natural Park.

We are now starting trials with several local varietiesof vegetables, such as the ‘sugar lettuce’ and the

‘Saint Theresa’s broccoli’, to look at the possibility of certifying these under thisbrand. The new quality brand should also help encourage local restaurants toget involved, both as producers and consumers of quality local goods.

Apart from the actual recovery of cultivated lands and local varieties themselves,a major outcome of the Plan has been the use of grazing with sheep and goats inorder to maintain endangered Hyparrhenia hirta dry grassland habitats.

Such grazing also represents a more environmentally friendly method of maintainingfire prevention strips within woodlands. Likewise, this pastoral activity has alsogiven rise to the production and commercialisation of ‘Collserola Lamb’ as a newlocal product from the park.

15Protecting the Land

The Agricultural Plan

The Plan aims to consolidate existing cultivated areas,avoid further land abandonment and recover

abandoned fields. It also strives to encourageenvironmentally friendly agriculture and movetowards organic farming.

Likewise, the Plan aims to promote controlled grazing,provide support for correct animal husbandry andorganic meat production, favouring the recovery oftraditional varieties and local breeds.

Furthermore, the Plan goes beyond mere productivity,and includes an inventory of traditional dry stone winehuts, shepherding trails, and other elements relating tothe farming history and patrimony of the park.

Celebrate success

One of the main outcomes of the park’s AgriculturalPlan to date has undoubtedly been its success atcommunity building, promoting historical identity andawareness of place and nature with local products.

This also heightens the notion of care for habitat andlandscape as an added value for local produce.

1

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3

Protecting the Land


In 2015 the issues affecting the area as a result of itsimmense popularity with visitors where reaching

a crunch point. Parking problems were significantlyaffecting the local communities of the area, paths were being

heavily eroded, litter was a major problem on the mountain andthere was a general feeling amongst the public that things just

weren’t working. Snowdon regularly made the news in local andnational press, and not in a good way!

There was of course a huge amount of effort and great work going on tolook after the mountain from all sorts of different organisations – bothpublic, private and third sector, but there was no joined up, co-ordinatedapproach.

The Snowdonia National Park Authority decided to take a leading role ina more joined up approach to the management of the area, by developinga partnership management plan, which would set out the opportunitiesand threats we all wanted to tackle over the coming years.

From this very beginning point, to the point weare at now – with an agreed Plan in place – therewere some fundamental ingredients that were keyto the success of the process:)

By Helen Pye, National Park Partnerships Manager at Snowdonia National Park.

Snowdon, Yr Wyddfa in Welsh(pronounced uhr-with-va), is a globallyrenowned, iconic mountain. It is home tovibrant, energetic communities anda mosaic of upland hill farms. It isa national asset, the most visitedmountain in the UK, attracting over halfa million people from across Wales, theUK and around the world every year.Caring for Yr Wyddfa is a complexbusiness, requiring close collaboration inthe work that we do.

Peace-keeping in the Mountains of Snowdonia

Helen Pye

is responsible for creating the newNational Park Management Plan aswell as co-ordinating Fforwm Eryri –a forum thatbrings togetherthe organisationsthat operate anddeliver on theNational Parkobjectives withinthe National Park.

Helen is happy to share information,knowledge and advice in more detail. If

you’d like to discuss anything further youcan get in touch via e-mail:[email protected]

The Snowdon Partnership is funded by SnowdoniaNational Park with the support of Welsh Government,

the National Trust and Snowdonia Society.

17Working together

Identify the key players. Whoare the key influencers in the

area?

It was really important to design a plan that all ourstakeholders supported and agreed on. Over theyears, different types of groups in the area hadbecome quite disparate in their views. In order tosuccessfully influence and get people on board, weidentified and established communications withkey players in the area.

As well as a core group of officers (see point 3 below)we also identified everyone, who had some stake,role or interest in the way we as partners cared forthe mountain, and then from these identified the keyinfluencers and a clear communicationstrategy.

1Find the one outcome that everyone agrees on

(and cares about):

There will be an outcome that nearly everyone hasin common. Sometimes it can be difficult to identifywhen moods are heightened! For Snowdon, it wasthat everyone wanted to care for the mountainand look after it for future generations. Oncewe’d identified this common outcome it was mucheasier to move things forward.

2

Create a core partnership to drive the process forward

The group comprised of officers that represented all theorganisations and landowners that are responsible for on-the-ground

management of the mountain - ranging from conservation work andpath management to tourism, farming and mountain rescue teams. We wanted tomake sure that this core group was/were delivering on the ground and avoid itbecoming a “talking shop”. By creating and implementing a plan together, wecould all be working towards the same goals.

3Develop the core partnership into

a cohesive strong group

Point 2 above was the first and most important step in starting to bring the grouptogether, along with other vital elements such assize of the group, meeting arrangements, dynamicsand tone. Even the way you set out the room fora meeting is important!

4Agree on - and then deliver - a genuinelyopen, transparent consultation process

This was about getting from where we were (noplan) to a point of delivery (an agreed partnership plan

in place) in the most effective and efficient way. The diagram onthe left sets out the process we took.

5Demonstrate positive progress

During the process we identified some‘quick wins’ that could demonstrate

positive progress. One of these was a pilotvisitor giving scheme. It helped show stakeholdersthat physical progress was being made, whilst we werestill discussing and creating the Plan.

6

Build clear responsibilities andownership

Perhaps one of the most important stepswe took was a ‘responsibility assigning’

workshop run for us by a fantastic consultancycompany. This meant that responsibilities for actionwithin the plan were very clear. Fundamentalfor being able to successfully deliver the plan.

7

And so here we are now with an agreed plan in place.The end of the beginning!

It took two years to get to this point but has been hugelyworth the effort. The turn-around in attitude and opinions ofstakeholders has been quite incredible, and the momentumis really with us now. This makes everything so much easierand more efficient when it comes to delivering, wheneveryone is happy with the way forward. www.snowdonpartnership.co.uk

To view the Snowdon Plan go to

Working together


In December 2016, the Fitness Check of theNature Directives one space less that they are

fit for purpose and remain fundamentallysound. However, there remain challenges withthe application of this legal framework andthe desired results are not fully achieved.

The EU ActionPlan for Nature,People and theEconomy

What is it about?

The fifteen actions to be carried out betweennow and 2019 focus on four priority areas:

A. Improving guidance and knowledge andensuring better coherence with broadersocio-economic objectives

Tensions between nature protection andsocio-economic activities can arise fora number of reasons. The Action Plan setsout measures such as guidance anda peer-to-peer mechanism to promotesmarter participatory approaches andencourage full engagement of landownersand users.

B. Building political ownership andstrengthening compliance

While Member States are ultimatelyresponsible for implementation of theNature Directives, the Action Plan sets outmeasures such as dedicated bilateral andbiogeographical dialogues as well asstakeholders' platforms for the Commissionand stakeholders to work more closely tofacilitate and promote the conservationand sustainable use of nature.

C. Strengthening investment in Natura2000 and improving synergies withEU funding instruments

Funding shortages are a major factorundermining the effectiveness of theNature Directives and preventing theNatura 2000 network and widerbiodiversity from fully delivering theirmany benefits to society. A 10%increase of the support for natureunder the LIFE Fund, result-basedschemes under the CommonAgricultural Policy (CAP) and supportfor private land stewardship aresome of the measures set topromote and support better use ofavailable EU funding.

D. Better communication andoutreach, engaging citizens,stakeholders and communities

Nature is our common heritage andprovides multiple benefits to society.The Action Plan sets out measures toengage citizens, stakeholders, localand regional authorities andcommunities, using availableplatforms and to better promotelocal exchange of experience, as wellas recognition and promotion ofgood management practices.

1) Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ L 206, 22.7.1992) and Directive 2009/147/EC on the conservation of wild birds (OJ L 20 of 26.01.2010. p. 7).

Fulfilling the Directives' objectivesand realising their full potential depends upon greatlyimproving implementation. This requires addressingfunding shortages, knowledge gaps and increasingstakeholder engagement.

These are key issues and theCommission has developeda strategic plan to address them,built on an extensive dialogue withMember States and stakeholders,including the 552,000 responses tothe online public consultation duringthe evaluation of the Directives.

The Action Plan for nature, peopleand the economy aims to improvethe Nature Directivesimplementation and boost theircontribution towards reaching theEU's biodiversity targets for 2020.The Action Plan also aims atincreasing coherence betweennature protection and socio-economic activities, and fosterengagement with nationalauthorities, stakeholders and citizens.

European Policy

19European Policy

Who will implement?

While several measures in thePlan will be taken at EU level,Member States and stakeholdersconcerned will also need to act.It is only through activeengagement of people that wecan ensure the right measuresare implemented andestablished in the right places.

Protected Area managers are in the front line inthese challenging tasks. They are the key day-to-dayengine to make Natura 2000 work.

Humberto Delgado Rosa,

Director for Natural Capital at DGEnvironment, EuropeanCommission. His Directorate'smission is to protect, conserve andenhance the EU's natural capital in the areas of biodiversity, nature,land and soil, forests and nutrient cycles, as well as overseeing theLIFE Programme for nature and the environment.

The Fitness Check has revealed that theimplementation of the Nature Directives needsmore action on the ground. There is a greatdeal of interest and support for nature acrossthe EU, and the Action Plan offers a uniqueopportunity to re-engage EU citizens and localcommunities. Achieving this will only bepossible through a real partnership approach,engaging communities across the EU.

I would like to call the wholeEUROPARC network to takeactive part in this endeavour.

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/fitness_check/action_plan/index_en.htm

Learn more about the EU Action Plan for Nature, People and the Economy

Photo: Kullaberg Nature Reserve,Sweden, by Jimena Castillo


How do Regional Nature Parks Benefit Europe?

This important book “Living Landscapes” provides the first overview of Regional Nature Parks andtheir work in the Member States of the European Union, Norway and Switzerland. In total, thereare almost 900 Regional Nature Parks in Europe, covering a total area of 8% of the totalsurface area of the EU-28, Switzerland and Norway.

What they have in common is thatthey play a forward-thinking

role in combining the developmentof rural areas, the promotion ofsustainable land use, nature-friendlytourism, and education forsustainable development with allactivities designed to protectbiological diversity.

The book shows what makesRegional Nature Parks special andhow they benefit Europe. The workof Regional Nature Parks ispresented by the umbrellaorganisation or the responsibleministry or authority in the respectivecountry.

It makes for inspirational reading!

This book was written within the‘Europe’s Nature, Regional andLandscape Parks’ project, undertakenby the Association of German NatureParks (Verband DeutscherNaturparke, VDN) incooperation with theEuroparc Federationbetween October 2014and November 2017.The project wassupported by theGerman FederalAgency for NatureConservation(Bundesamt fürNaturschutz) withfunding from theGerman FederalMinistry for theEnvironment,

Nature Conservation, Building andNuclear Safety (Bundesministeriumfür Umwelt, Naturschutz, Bau undReaktorsicherheit).

www.european-parks.org/project-results/book-living-landscapes

[email protected].

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Living Landscapes

21Special edition "Overtourism"

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1002074

1) "Walk on the Wild Side: Estimating the Global Magnitude ofVisits to Protected Areas", download at

Special edition

"Overtourism"

With the United Nations declaring2017 as the International Year of

Sustainable Tourism for Development,and the increase of internationalinfluxes predicted for the comingdecade, there has been a growingattention about “overtourism” and itsnegative consequences.

As an important asset for tourism inmany countries, Protected Areas donot escape this phenomenon. Afterall, the reasons for protecting a naturalplace are often the same reasons fortheir popularity!

Recently, it was estimated thatthe world’s National Parks,Nature Reserves and naturereserves receive around eightbillion visits per year.1

Are Protected Areas becomingvictims of their own popularity?

By Luís Monteiro

Photo: Verdon Nature Regional Park, France, by S. Blanc


Unpredicted visitationgrowth might create two-

folded negative impacts, firstlyon the biophysical attributes,to local communities’ lifequality and to the existinginfrastructures; and secondlya decline in the quality ofvisitor experience that sites areexpected to provide.

To tackle the problem, someparks in Europe establishedstrategic limits on visitation inorder to preserve resources andensure quality of visitorexperience. Often as a last resort,when park managers (and locals)feel they don’t have enough toolsto deal with the masses. Althoughthe majority of people dislikesthis management option, it is insome cases inevitable.

The Krka National Park in Croatia is nowlimiting entrance to 10 thousand visitors ata time into the Skradinski buk section of thePark. In Italy, the picturesque Cinque TerreNational Park, located along the LigurianSea, limited the total number of visitors to1.5 million per year.

However, before we reach such decisionson limitation, we might need tounderstand if there is a clear vision andobjectives of what public use should bein our Protected Areas. How to supportparks in this endeavour?

More examples are represented in the manual Practical, profitable, protected. A starter guide todeveloping sustainable tourism in Protected Areas, published by the ECEAT International, theEuropean Centre for Eco and Agro Tourism in partnership with the EUROPARC Federation.

Imposing a limit?

Luís Monteiro

is a researcher at CzechUniversity of Life Sciences onassessing, managing andmonitoring tourism relatedimpacts in Protected Areas. Luísis also a member of the Tourismand Protected Areas SpecialistGroup from the IUCN WCPA.

http://bit.ly/2FFlKdR

Special edition "Overtourism"

There are many successful examples fromProtected Areas managing their tourism flows.

Parks tend to implement a combination ofboth direct and indirect strategies.


Look for a management framework

Implement a monitoring programme

Assessing the current conditions and effectiveness of managementpractices is essential. Numerous guidelines and handbooks are

available with examples of monitoring methodologies and programmes devotedto visitor use, behaviour, experience and visitor impacts.

Some of the most common visitor useindicators include: n the total number of entries n stays overnightn length of stayn visitor consumption expenditure.

As for monitoring visitor impacts,indicators can be divided in: n recreation infrastructure (e.g. trails,

campsites, scenic overlooks); n ecological resources (soil, vegetation,

wildlife, water); n visitor use and behaviour (type and

distribution of use, and the sign ofnon-compliance behaviour).

Define a strategy and action plan

A good plan will identify agreed objectives, actorsand management actions necessary to realise the vision.

Strategies to manage high tourist numbers can either be

2

3

4

Set managementprinciples

The European Charter forSustainable Tourism in ProtectedAreas (ECST) is a useful tool, based on5 principles, for the development,planning and implementation of qualitytourism in and around Protected Areas.

1

Addressing “overtourism”in Protected Areas

Various frameworks have been developedaround the concept of carrying capacity. Yetcarrying capacity has been recognised toprovide managers with limited practicaldirection since the methodology focuses on"How many is too many?", when managersreally need to understand the relationshipsbetween visitor numbers, impacts, sitegoals, and local community expectations.

As a response to these limitations,both in theory and practice, severalframeworks have been developedand used worldwide. See: RecreationOpportunity Spectrum (ROS), Limitsof Acceptable Change (LAC), VisitorExperience and Resource Protection(VERP) or the Visitor UseManagement Framework (VUM).

Photo: Pembrokeshire CoastNational Park, UK, by Marloes

www.europarc.org/sustainable-tourism

The Walking Festival

A year-round calendar of events that include beautiful –and free – guided tours on all seven islands. Visitors areinspired to discover the scents of spring or the autumnfoliage; to enjoy a digital detox; to taste some of theislands’ typical products; to find out the archaeological,geological, naturalistic values; or to simply walk undermoonlight.

Accessibility for tech-lovers

For the passionate hikers who love the digital world, thePark has recently incorporated maps of the 7 islandsin the "Avenza Maps" App. The app, designed forsmartphones and tablets, is free for download and workswithout internet connection.

The Pianosa Model: prisoners as nature-guardians?

We are particularly proud of the Pianosa model. Thanks toa collaboration with the prison administration and otherinstitutions, detainees helped recover degraded areasof the island and created a vegetable garden - givingprisoners an opportunity for job reintegration and senseof pride. Visitors appreciated the improvement of thelandscape and innovative services such as dinnerswith pianosini fruit and vegetables signed byrenowned Chefs, and classical music concertsin the Island’s deep silence.


Tackling overtourism: 7 ideas from theTuscan Archipelago National Park, Italy

The Tuscan Archipelago National Parkprotects the land and sea of seven islands,

looking after 15 Natura 2000 sites (SCIs andSPAs) and 22 types of habitats. Twenty years ofexperience and the will to do always better,taught us that

protection must be shared and notimposed and that the hard work ofbuilding good relations with thecommunity will eventually be fruitful.

We have been working in partnership withlocal administrations, associations, volunteers,but also with cultural organisations, schools,and law enforcement agencies. Theachievement of the European Charter forSustainable Tourism in Protected AreasCertification was the tangible example of this.

Promoting off-season visits is our mainobjective to tackle overtourism. How to makenature tourism attractive outside the summerseason? In summer, how to combine theclassic sun and beach holiday with newcultural, naturalistic and educational stimuli?

To tackle seasonality flows, and inspire touristsprotecting while enjoying the Park, we haveimplemented a series of activities throughoutthe year.

by Aurora Ciardelli

Aurora Ciardelli

Working in the Tuscan Archipelago National Parksince 1999, Aurora is responsible for liaising with

press and external stakeholders, having a major rolein promoting sustainable tourism activities in the

Park, through social media, digital tools and press.


Valuing and restoring

Thanks to a close collaboration with thelocal Municipality of Giglio Isola, the Parkopened guided tours to an archaeologicalsite of great attraction, which had beenabandoned for years.

The dune area of Lacona, the last exampleof natural dunes in the Tuscan Archipelago,was valued through a monitoring andvisitation programme (under the RESTOLIFE project), supported with a newinformation point.

Scuba diving in a protected sea?

Around the Pianosa island, sea hasremained untouched over the last 50 years,as diving and fishing were banned activities.Opening controlled access and ensuringhabitat protection, was a greatachievement.

Locals were amazed by the exuberance ofthe underwater world, while diving centresincreased their activities and visibility – andbecame strong Park promoters and alliesfor sea protection.

Imposing a visitors’ limit

The smaller and the most vulnerableislands, are safeguarded by a quota ofaccesses and can only be visited withcertified park guides and with an onlinesystem for tour operators. Thisguarantees compliance with the limits ofvisitors in the island and overnight stays.

Outsourcing tourism services

For three years now, outsourcing toa specialised company has solved manyof our problems. Services includeinformation to the public, reservations,environmental education, sale of tours andmerchandise, and management of thePark's events. Thanks to this,50 new park guides havebeen trained and we wereable to open new receptionpoints with more extendedand flexible schedules fortourists. Through theseactions,

We have been able toprotect endangeredhabitats, combining useand respect.

Fernando Louro Alves

is Forester Engineer Senior Advisor in the Lisbon CityCouncil, serving in the Management Division of the

Monsanto Forest Park, from the Department of GreenSpaces. Apart from his degree in Forest Engineering

specialized in management of natural resources,Fernando has training in Landscape

Architecture andholds a Masters in

regional andurban

planning.


Limiting the impact,rewarding the visitors

Monsanto Forest Park is a forest installed inLisbon’s Council in 1934, with ca 1000 ha andcovered by a very diverse flora, dominated by commonoaks (portuguese, green, cork and English oaks) andumbrella pine and cypress, wild olive and carob trees. It isequipped with several sports facilities, playgrounds, aninterpretation centre, some restaurants and many trails.

Despite being a Periurban Park, it is increasingly perceived as anUrban Park by many. This is not due to any changes to the originalpark concept, but simply because it was swallowed by the city expansionand its satellites.

At Monsanto Forest Park, Portugal

This status frames some strengths & weaknesses:

1. Easy access (lies at very short distances from the heart of the city)2. Easy crossing (an alternative to the main traffic routes especially during rush hours)3. Easy visiting (many access possibilities for visitors from the city, the outskirts, or even

from very distant places (even from abroad international))4. With many attractions (recreational and outdoor sports facilities, enjoyment of wild nature,

nature interpretation, environmental education, etc ...)5. Impossibility of controlling accesses (too many entrances with different jigs [ranging from the

freeway to the trekking trail], some even without any specific declaration)6. High number of users who "open" new spontaneous trails in the forest (without any control)7. Rising conflicts between users, especiallyin spaces where multiple opportunities for use meet.

The last point raisesan important question:should the Parkaccommodate all types ofvisitors equally, even if somerather harmful and high-impact uses inhibited theundisturbed, low-negative-impactvisits?

For the Park, establishing a positiveconnection between different user groupsusers, and diminish the reasons of conflict, aremanagement priorities. This is achieved by

facilitating and supporting the access forusers that generate less negative impact,whilst creating obstacles for visits of highnegative impact.


Improving Slow Mobility

Agroup of citizens, through the Participatory Budgeting Process,proposed an improvement on the mobility within the park.

Supported by this initiative, we decided to implement a set ofmeasures on slow mobility with the macro-objective of increasingthe number of good / low-impact visits of the Park.

This intervention was drawn under different scopes:

1. Establishment of a parkway (circular distribution route) inside thePark, to be carried out preferably in public transport (green energy).

2. Establishment of a trail for runners.3. Establishment of 6 new thematic trekking trails: one especially prepared

for users with reduced mobility. The trails also allow educational ofdifferent geological, botanical, biological values of the Parks.

4. Improvement of the quality / comfort / safety of all trails and walkingpaths

5. Solving of conflicts caused by road intersections, between motortraffic and "soft mobility", through creating the nodes of conflictbetween motor traffic and smooth mobility, namely by creatinguneven passages and avoiding crossings.

6. Homogenization of the Park’s signage, making clear to all the usersthat they are inside the Park.

Decrease the number of users with greater impact1. Redraw the road profile, especially in places where drivers tend to

exceed legal speed limits, by creating scores or or narrowing the channel- to reduce the flow of traffic crossing the Park. This provides greatersafety to soft mobility users and to the living beings that usually end upbeing ran over: mainly European Hedgehogs, Squirrels and Owls.

2. Improve and confine some parking areas: giving better conditionsto those arriving first and provoke reduction of visitors coming by car"due to lack of parking lots". This would avoid exceeding the carryingcapacity of each equipment.

3. Renaturalize manmade trails, in order to provide greater tranquilityin some spaces, counterbalancing the concentration of users in thePark area.

Improving Soft Mobility

Special edition "Overtourism"

29Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas

For over two decades, EUROPARC has supported Protected Areas as key-promoters of sustainable tourism in their regions. Through the methodology

of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas (ECSTPA),parks establish strong partnerships with business and community. It is throughthis participatory process that a common vision, strategy and action plan for theregion comes to life, assuring nature, people and local economy benefit.

The logo is available in 7 languages and3 different versions – to be used by the

Sustainable Destinations, by theirSustainable Partners and Sustainable

Tour Operators.

Hundreds of Parks in Europe following theCharter methodology are contributing toeconomic development, based on a sharedcommitment towards sustainability. In 2017, theUnited Nations (UN) Secretary-General AntónioGuterres, in a welcome video to EUROPARCConference, stated

Watch the message of the UN Secretary-General

https://youtu.be/xnwvOakU7Kk

“Work with the Charter has allowed all involvedparties to think of the area as a big book we arewriting together, each chapter is essential tomake the story complete”Kemeri National Park, Latvia

To celebrate the International Year ofSustainable Tourism for Development,

EUROPARC organised a series ofwebinars about sustainable tourism, andlaunched the new image of the Charter

for Sustainable Tourism in ProtectedAreas!

“the European Charter for SustainableTourism is a valuable tool forProtected Areas to better implementthe UN Sustainable DevelopmentGoals, and work for the benefit of thepresent and future generations”.

https://youtu.be/xnwvOakU7Kk


Ecological Spirituality

On May 24, 2015, Pope Francis surprisedthe world with the publication of the

Encyclical Letter Laudato si', On Care ForOur Common Home. As a good father, headdresses not only believers, but "thewhole human family" (n.13) to all men andwomen who, even without recognizingthemselves in any religious tradition, wantto talk about their commitment to defendthe dignity of man and to safeguardcreation (n.3).

Laudato Si ' On Care For Our Common Home

The strength of Laudato lies in the innovation of Pope Francis,with his strong, contemporary and pertinent message, and the

concreteness of his proposals. He has complied a masterpiece thatrepresents the Church's sense of caring for our common home,to open the eyes of humanity to a problem that deeply affectseveryone in general - and each one in particular.

There is an order in the universe that must be respected. Humanbeings have a serious ethical responsibility to cultivate, preserve,improve and pass on this great space - the world´s garden. It isa task that involves a global "ecological conversion" (John PaulII, Catechesis, 2001/01/17). Ecological damages, deformation anddestruction of creation is a crime against ourselves and a sinagainst God (n.8).

Cover theme:New Voices,

New Visions, New Values

By Monsignor Francisco Froján Madero

31New Values, New Voices, New Visions

Before nature we are subject to laws not onlybiological but also moral, whose transgression nevergoes unpunished. We have many examples of this.

"God always forgives, man sometimes,nature never."

We need today changes in the way of life,production and consumption (No. 23), a new wayof thinking and acting, individually and socially,a new ecological spirituality. It implies, finally, "toexamine our lives and to recognise how weoffended creation" (n.288).

Environment, social exclusion andexistential peripheries

Natural heritage is "a loan that each generationreceives and must pass on to the next generation"(n.159. Portuguese Episcopal Conference, PastoralLetter Solidarity Responsibility for the CommonGood, 15.09.2003, 20). An inescapable duty ofjustice between the generations (n. 159, 162).

“The current ecological degradation anddestruction of much of biodiversity isimposed by the ambition for profit andpower and by an irresponsiblemisgovernment of the world´s economy”,

notes Pope Francis. This economy is not compatiblewith a human - face ecology in which the sociallyexcluded (cf. n.46), and ultimately the poorest,constitute the greater part of the planet (n. 49).

Above all the aspects of this "culture", lies thescandal (and sad spectacle) of food waste in ouroppressive and unsatisfied society. It is knownthat in order to satisfy all needs of thepostmodern, materialistic and super-industrialised society, large areas of forest mustbe cut for agricultural land.

Aggressive deforestation (not to mention thedevastation caused by forest wildfires and itsconsequences, as dramatically affected Portugalthis year) means the loss of forests andwoodland, and of species that could constituteextremely important resources in the future, notonly for food but also for the cure of diseasesand a variety of other services (n. 32).

In a certain extent, the fiction narrated in theadventures of the popular Asterix, that I recallfrom the book "Asterix: The Mansions of theGods" (1971) came true: "Let's knock down theforest to make a great natural park", pretends,as Pope Francis claims, "to replace aninconceivable and irreversible beauty byanother created by us" (n. 34).

The earth´s groan joined the groaning of the marginalised(cf. n.53). Ultimately: "The common home of all menmust continue to rise from a correct understanding ofuniversal fraternity" (Pope Francis, Address at the UnitedNations Headquarters, September 25, 20).

Today, the green discourse, orecological approach, cannot ignorethe social question, since the cry ofthe land has become the cry of thepoor (cf. n.49).

Monsignor Francisco Froján Maderograduated in biology and religious

education and PhD in Theology. Since 2000,Francisco lives in the Vatican State and

works in the State Secretary for externalrelations. His passion for nature made him establish a strong

relation with the environmental subjects, having an active rolein bridging spiritual values with nature conservation.

Photo: Cevennes National Park, France, Daversin

Yet more, the ultimate consequences is the change onhuman mentality and on the identity ideals that used toreference human endeavours.

In four centuries, the ideal of being wasreplaced by the ideal of having. Consumptionstarted to be a symbol of success andachievement.


An ideal for change

Apolitical crisis is visible around the world. The “owners of theworld”, including authoritarian and/or populist leaders, seem

more dedicated to profit from the crisis, instead of solving it.Big countries’ societies look for ways out but they seem to bestuck on how to change, remaining vulnerable to consciencenumbness. Disorientation dominates.

This is just the most visible and noticed aspect of the situation, thetip of the iceberg. In reality, the crisis is much bigger and notrestricted to conflicts of political and social nature, nor to thefinancial breakage that sweeps national economies in allcontinents, throwing billions of people into unemployment. Thefast evolution of global warming and its terrible effects on theplanet is extremely serious.

On the background of the political and socialconflicts, there is a value crisis - a loss of meaningand a weakening of human solidarity.

Those crisis (political, social, economic, environmental and ofvalues) are simultaneous because they are systemic. They formwhat I call civilization crisis. It is the human civilization who is atstake. For the first time in history, we need to face the possibility ofan imminent interruption of conditions that allow life on thisplanet.

When success means failure

How did we come to this extreme condition?Paradoxically, it was not by failure, scarcity or

weakness, but rather by our successes, by the excessand by the strength we impose on this planet. Weobtained success with our technologies - on foodproduction, disease treatment, recycling and wastemanagement and, above all, in generating and usingenergy efficiently.

With these technologies, we grew abruptly: currently7 billion with perspective of reaching 9 billion in 2050.We repeated the success formula and obtainedmore excess. We broadened the system that westarted about 450 years with the arising ofmercantilism, with its production and consumptionmodel that does not account for the supportcapacity of ecosystems. Meanwhile, we arecontaminating the atmosphere with gases causingtemperature rise, destroying forests, landscapes,biodiversity, fertile soil and hydric resources at anunimaginable scale.

By Marina Silva

Marina Silva

former Minister ofEnvironment in Brazil

between 2003-2008. Duringher mandate, Marina created

25 million hectares of new National Parks andinvolved over 12 million young people in

environmental actions all over the country.

33New Values, New Voices, New Visions

To have, or not to have?

We do not want to be immortal, as theEgyptian desired, nor wise and free, as

the Greek wanted, or neither great andstrong, as the Romans praised. We do notwant to be saints or knights, as the medievalEuropeans wanted. Now, we want to have,and to own things.

The meaning has inverted: before, beingvirtuous opened the possibility ofearning valuable things; now, havingvaluable things may give us the means tobe respectable, admirable and virtuouspeople.

We can “be” infinite things withoutexhausting the planet. However, in order to“have” more, we collide with naturalboundaries. In four centuries, we crossedthose boundaries and won our struggleagainst nature restrictions… And by doingthat, we destroyed the source of life. Wewalk towards collapse.

How to overcome the civilization crisis?

I believe this is only possible if, within the crisissystem, a significant amount of people unleash an

identity-breaking pressure from the current system.World change will not come by a prolonged andreasonable planned transition, nor by a quick,abrupt and violent rupture. The old dilemma“reform vs. revolution” has expired.

There will be no place in the world forexcessive consumption. The planet cannotsupply our infinite desire of having things, butour planet is the best environment there is forus to exercise our infinite wish for being. Ofbeing the best artists, poets, writers, cooks,educators, physicians, people.

Change can come from a type of alternativeenabling mutation. It shall change mentalities,values, meanings, and ideals. And then, it will alsochange the way we produce, consume, and relate toeach other and to other forms of life.

It is necessary to add to the great ideals of theFrench Revolution of equality, freedom andfraternity, the ethical imperative of sustainability.

Cover theme:New Voices,

New Visions, New Values

www.europarc.org

PROTECTED AREAS IN -SIGHT - EUROPARC Federation · 2018-02-23 · Protected Areas In-Sight 3 The...

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