Sharing Know-How Why Is It Worth Looking at the Broader Picture?

INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE OF PROTECTED AREA ACTORS Sharing know-how Why is it worth looking at the broader picture?

“Looking at the broader picture softens the boundaries in thinking, finds solutions, and clarifies alternatives, possibilities, new approaches and self-perception.„

Participant in the ANNIKA final workshop

Jens Posthoff

Contents

Foreword 3 Project description 4 Austria Accessibility and inclusion in protected areas: Introduction to the study visit 5 Around the world in 7 days by wheelchair? or: 6 days barrier-free through Austria? 6 Developing possibilities for barrier-free nature: involve people with disabilities! 8 The service chain in barrier-free tourism – practical examples from Austria 10 Information materials for accessibility – practical example of Rolli Roadbook 12 Comparison of aids for people with reduced mobility in protected areas 14 Experience wilderness up close – opportunities for people with visual impairments 16 United Regional development and tourism in protected areas: Introduction to the study visit 18 Kingdom Regional development through trekking opportunities in national parks 19 Recreation and health in protected areas 21 Regional development, tourism and nature conservation: financing options from third-party funds 23 Anchoring protected areas in society and instruments to further strengthen them. 25 Or: how to live more successfully with numerous allies. Cooperation programmes of protected areas and businesses 27 Volunteering and management 29 Germany Regional development and tourism in protected areas: Introduction to the study visit 31 Regional development and engagement of local communities in protected areas through a sustainable tourism perspective 32 Sustainable tourism strategies for protected areas 34 Quality management in business partnerships of protected areas 36 Partner initiatives in protected areas – Müritz National Park 38 Partner initiatives in protected areas – Wadden Sea National Park 40 Tourism management in German and Portuguese protected areas: different settings – equal challenges 42 Finland Alternative financing strategies for protected areas: Introduction to the study visit 44 Cooperation between protected areas and companies 45 Health care as a source of funding for nature conservation 47 Volunteering in Finnish national parks 49 One perspective on protected area financing: Cost saving and cost reduction 51 Netherlands Education for sustainable development in protected areas: Introduction to the study visit 53 ESD with youth: the example of “Junior Consultant Agency” 54 Primary school education opportunities: the example of "Vogelreise" 56 GPS rally as an education opportunity 58 Strengthen the impact of ESD: final presentation of educational programmes 60 Qualification of volunteers in the educational work of Dutch national parks 62 Volunteering as an opportunity for ESD 64 Visitor centres in Dutch national parks 66 Lessons learned and Outlook 68 Imprint 70 fore word 3

Dear Reader,

It has been recognized for decades that Terefore, with this booklet we will environmental and nature conservation take you on a journey. Follow the 30 issues need to be addressed not only or so study visit participants to fve regionally, but also globally and with European countries. Tey focused on cross-border cooperation; this has contemporary themes in protected been the basis for a large number of areas: inclusion and accessibility, regional Prof. Dr. Beate Jessel Guido Puhlmann Photo: privat Photo: EUROPARC international agreements, such as the development and tourism, education for Deutschland Convention on Biological Diversity sustainable development, and alternative (CBD) or the climate change agreement. fnancing strategies. Allow yourself to be conservation organizations in Austria, If one looks at the extent to which their guided by a variety of proven and inspiring the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, goals have so far been fulflled, it is clear practical examples, working practices, and Finland, and Germany. Tey were that dealing with such “Herculean tasks”, conservation management strategies that willing to share their knowledge and like climate protection and the the participants experienced abroad, experiences as hosts. We also thank all preservation of biodiversity, requires a discussed with local colleagues, and the participants in the study visits for their much greater efort not only from analysed for their signifcance in their intensive participation. From these, we politicians and business, but from own protected areas. can all draw forward-looking conclusions society as a whole at a global, regional, on the further international exchange of and local level. In retrospect, we can summarize thus: knowledge and expertise between those the study visits enriched the participants involved in protected areas. Undoubtedly, protected areas make and hence their protected areas. On the an indispensable contribution to the one hand, they brought home from the Following on from the international study preservation of biodiversity. In order to exchange with the foreign hosts tangible visits, we hope that this booklet will give ensure the necessary management of ideas for implementation and practical you interesting and inspiring insights into protected areas and to adapt them to the solutions. On the other hand, we can the variety of issues being worked on in increasing tasks, a sufcient number of unquestionably speak of broadening protected areas. well-qualifed employees must be available, horizons, of raising awareness of in addition to adequate fnancial resources. diferences in working conditions and It is also very helpful for the ongoing deve- cultures. An understanding of this is lopment of the competence of those invol- indispensable for any subsequent ved in protected areas to look at the wider cross-border cooperation. Building on Prof Dr. Beate Jessel picture; that is, to learn from each other this, the project has demonstrated the President German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation in an international context. Tis was the high value of international exchange of focus of the project “Akteure aus Nationa- expertise – for the participants, for the len Naturlandschaften im internationalen protected areas involved, and for the Kompetenz-Austausch (ANNIKA – political and social issue of “cross-border Actors from National Natural Landscapes cooperation in nature conservation”. Guido Puhlmann President EUROPARC Deutschland e. V. in International Competence Exchange)” We would like to thank all those with its fve-week, cross-border study who supported and facilitated the visits by full-time staf and volunteers multifarious exchange of expertise within from German National Natural the framework of the project: to the Landscapes and foreign protected Federal Ministry of the Environment for areas, including intensive preparation fnancing the project, as well as to the and evaluation. protected area authorities and nature pr ojec t description 74

Katja Arzt Erika Hofmann

Project description Actors from National Natural Landscapes in the International Exchange of Competence (ANNIKA = “Akteure aus Nationalen Naturlandschaften im internationalen Kompetenzaustausch”)

Project period: October 2015 – August 2018

Core content: •A total of five one-week study visits by full-time and voluntary actors from protected areas on defned specialist topics and the general topic of “Volunteer management”; the programme consisted of excursions, lectures, and discussions with local experts • “Accessibility and inclusion in protected areas” (Austria) 04-10/09/2016: Donau-Auen NLP, Purkersdorf NRP, Gesäuse NLP, Kaunertal NRP • “Regional development and tourism in protected areas” (United Kingdom) 17-22/10/2016: Brecon Beacons NLP, Wye Valley AONB, Te Cotswolds AONB • “Regional development and tourism in protected areas” (Germany) 14-18/05/2017: Mritz NLP, Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea NLP • “Alternative financing strategies for protected areas” (Finland) 24-30/09/2017: Nuuksio NLP, Leivonmäki NLP, Southern Konnevesi NLP, Isojärvi NLP • “Education for sustainable development in protected areas” (Netherlands) 01-07/10/2017: De Sallandse Heuvelrug NLP, Weerribben-Wieden NLP, Dwingelderveld NLP, Drents-Friese Wold NLP • Translation of EUROPARC Deutschland technical publications into English and their international distribution •A total of four two-day introductory workshops for German participants in study visits • Two-day fnal conference, amongst others for German participants to refect on project experience and draw conclusions • Present publication with participant reports and project fndings • Project evaluation, amongst others in the context of evaluation of the introductory workshops and the study visits by participants, participant reports on the special subjects of the study visits, and the master‘s thesis “Between Global Claims and National Reality: International Activities for Protected Areas by the Example of the ANNIKA Project” (Clarissa Plendl, University of Applied Sciences Fulda, 2017)

Participants: • From Germany: 24 participants; of which 13 full-time ofcials from administrations of National Natural Landscapes, 6 full-time employees from associations/foundations, 4 volunteers, 1 former full-time employee from a Cameroonian national park • From protected areas of other countries: 7 participants; including 6 from administrations, 1 volunteer

Acronyms and AONB Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (protected landscape category in the United Kingdom) abbreviations ESD Education for sustainable development IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature IVN Instituut voor natuureducatie en duurzaamheid (Conservation and environmental education organization in the Netherlands) NGO Non-governmental organization NLP National Park NRP Nature Park austria 5

Christian Grassl

Austria: Accessibility and inclusion in protected areas Introduction to the study visit

Protected areas visited barrier-free since 1 January 2006 (with a conservation areas. Another large • Donau-Auen National Park transitional period of 10 years); this also protection area category in Austria is (Vienna, Lower Austria) includes publicly accessible visitor “biosphere park” (biosphere reserve). • Purkersdorf Nature Park facilities in protected areas. However, (Lower Austria) theory and practice are also still far apart Protected area administrations: Te • Gesäuse National Park (Styria) in Austria. In Austria, matters of nature support agencies for national parks are • Kaunergrat Nature Park (Tyrol) conservation fall exclusively within the non-proft limited liability companies competence of the federal states. Federal whose shareholders are the federal and Background information law provisions only regulate cooperation state governments. Tey employ Austria, like Germany, has committed between the federal government and the permanent staf throughout the year (for itself via the UN Convention on the federal states in the establishment and the visited national parks, approximately Rights of Persons with Disabilities to maintenance of national parks. 20-25 people), plus seasonal workers. create conditions for equal participation Additional national park rangers work in society. Te diference: Te German Protected area categories: Te six mostly on an independent basis, mostly Federal Equal Opportunities Act Austrian national parks – designated since in visitor care. Te agencies for nature essentially applies only to public agencies the beginning of the 1980s – correspond parks are generally associations whose at the federal level, the Austrian Federal to IUCN Management Category II. For members include local communities, Disability Equality Act applies the almost 50 nature parks, the following tourism organizations, and other fundamentally and also includes the applies:„Nature Park“ is not a separate regional actors such as landowners and private sector. All public transport and protection category but a predicate given infrastructure managers. buildings therefore have had to be to nature conservation or landscape

What did we discuss, what were the important fndings? • Accessibility should also allow people with disabilities direct experience of nature. • Accessibility also means comfort for non - disabled people. • Accessibility goes beyond measures for people with reduced mobility. • Technical aids for the mobility impaired have advantages and disadvantages. • Of-road tours for the blind are an innovative idea for German protected areas. • Regional networks are indispensable for the implementation of accessibility in tourism services. • Implementing accessibility is a process that takes time and perseverance. • Accessibility must be honestly communicated in order to remain credible and inviting. austria 6

Around the world in 7 days by wheelchair? or: 6 days barrier-free through Austria? (Text basis: Christian Grassl, Berchtesgaden National Park Authority)

Seven people, including a wheelchair user, travelled for six days by public transport to four Austrian national parks and nature parks – meaning many impressions, real life experiences of barriers as well as accessibility, and stimulating exchange with experts on site. Each protected area visited has its own “character” with regard to accessibility; selected aspects of them are outlined below. And each is a piece of the puzzle in the overall picture. So fnally – with a view to Austria and Germany – the question arises,“where do we stand?”

National parks and nature parks with specific ‘‘barrier-free” accessibility In Donau-Auen National Park, environmental education is designed according to the two-senses principle; that is, it should be possible for visitors Orientation for visitors with reduced mobility in Gesäuse National Park (Mareike Garms) to receive information using at least two senses. With relatively simple normal. Pupils of all ages receive the In Gesäuse National Park the basis of equipment, the National Park opportunity in Purkersdorf Nature Park visitor facilities and infrastructure is an Administration thus sensitizes a very to step into the role of visually impaired overall concept for nature experiences wide public to the protection of animals or handicapped people with inclusive with active elements, especially for and plants native to the Danube, for educational ofers and to get new families. Tese ofer interesting contents example in the outdoor area and experiences of nature with diferent senses. for comprehension (tactile) and underground Danube aquarium on A central part is the “Blind Date” nature investigation (visual). Te perspective Schloss Orth – both accessible by trail, recently revised with the support of, of “Nature experiences for mobility wheelchair. A highlight is that visually among others, a school for the blind and impaired people” is integrated into it. An impaired people can use of-road tours to visually impaired. Te barrier-free route outstanding, special ofer for wheelchair explore the cut-of meanders of the has a very simple but efective guidance users is the “barrier-free hiking guide” Danube in the area (see section system using a wooden handrail and with descriptions of twelve diferent “Experiencing wilderness up close – 15 panels in written script and braille, wheelchair-suitable tours in conjunction ofers for people with visual impair- ofering nature experiences and with a Swiss-Trac (see section ments”). It is perceptible that value is information to mobility-impaired as „Comparison of aids for people with placed on well-trained, experienced well as visually impaired people. One reduced mobility in protected areas“). employees. conclusion: seeing the panels with rather Gstatterboden National Park Information long, complicated texts and directions in Centre is very challenging with its „Tere are diferent people, sometimes braille, it makes sense to focus more on elaborate architecture and smart geology they happen to be blind,” says the Director the KISS principle – Keep It Short and exhibition, but it no longer meets the of Purkersdorf Nature Park, formulating Simple. current requirements of a barrier-free the view of disabilities as something and inclusive exhibition. As is general in austria 7

In Germany, there are about 13 million people, from infants to senior citizens, who all beneft from barrier-free services. Te problems arise in mainstream society and almost every family is afected: sometimes a pushchair is needed, but there are diferent sizes, language levels and learning processes to be confronted.

It is still assumed that consistent implementation of accessibility is only possible with elaborate, detailed, and therefore cost-intensive planning. In old buildings you can use simple tools to overcome the restrictions which create hurdles in life – mobile ramps for wheelchairs or large room numbers on the doors for the elderly with visual impairment Unfortunately there are still too few experts in this area, especially with knowledge about fnancial funding opportunities. However, those who think from the outset in terms of planning accessibility and interview locally severely handicapped people for their expertise, will save a lot of money and tough negotiations on whether a meaningful and sustainable investment can be made (see “Model Management Plan on

Karlesjochbahn in Kaunergrat Nature Park: naturally also suitable for wheelchair users (Tobias Wiesen) Accessibility” in Berchtesgaden National Park and section“Developing possibilities for barrier-free nature: involve people with protected area visitor facilities, how well rather than something contrived has handicaps!”). A guiding principle: with the handling of severely handicapped developed here, with accessibility demographic change, we should all start to people succeeds and how extensively the highlights such as the Piller Moor high think, feel, and act fully accessible. building’s possibilities are used by people moor trail and several viewing platforms with disabilities depends on trained staf. over 3,000m in height. Conclusion: Perfect accessibility has not yet been nothing is impossible if important actors achieved in Austria. Nevertheless, Kaunergrat Nature Park – a good are one hundred per cent convinced, barrier-free ofers work and are accepted, partner for the whole region the local council, tourism managers, the as some best-practice examples in Austria Despite its narrow, high mountain nature park manager, and this conviction have shown. Tese should be advertised in location, Kaunertal and the adjoining generates widespread acceptance in the wider networks and on general travel Kaunergrat are still well developed; much region. platforms, as accessibility equates to has been done thanks to a lot of heart and higher comfort and better-quality ofers. good contacts to get funding in a short Accessibility in Germany and Austria Success comes with visitors! time to get disabled visitors “on their feet”. – where do we stand? Te entire region, with 400,000 overnight Barrier-free experience of nature is in its stays a year, ofers many recreational infancy in Germany, as well as in Austria, activities for the mobility impaired, and is still piecemeal everywhere. Te fact including skiing, cycling, and hiking. In that serving a minority actually benefts terms of accessibility, something tangible many more people is not very well known. austria 8

Developing possibilities for barrier-free nature: involve people with disabilities! (Text basis: Veit Rifer, Volunteer at Saxon Switzerland National Park Centre)

Te following report includes my very personal views and thoughts as a wheelchair user on the subject of accessibility, and therefore does not claim to be objective. People concerned with their own handicap often have a diferent perspective on the topic than people who do not have to deal with it from their own practical point of view. Of course, the views of people with physical, sensory, and cognitive limitations will often be diferent – depending on their own self-perception and their perceived position in society. My statements are based on the following assumptions: • People with disabilities actively shape No steps on the way to “Adlerblick” viewpoint in Kaunergrat Nature Park (private archive Veit Rifer) their own lives, using support from third parties where necessary. has had a signifcant impact on quality. visitors (see section “Te service chain in • People with disabilities communicate Teir involvement changes the sensitivity barrier-free tourism – practical examples clearly, but politely, with third parties to the topic of the respective protected from Austria”). Tanks to contacts with a about their need for support. area management and, more specifcally, self-help group for the blind and visually • People with disabilities want to be their overall strategy. impaired, the knowledge of those in treated in the same way as others – question was used for practical solutions without preference, without special In Donau-Auen National Park, staf in the implementation of accessibility. treatment, without exclusive ofers – from Austrian Federal Forests have been and accept help if needed as working together for some years with In Gesäuse National Park, among the compensation for disability-related the international organization “Friends services focussed especially on people with restrictions. of Nature” and a local self-help group reduced mobility is a barrier-free hiking for the blind and visually impaired. In trail and rentable wheelchair traction Austrian parks cooperating with the efort for more accessibility, one tries devices. During the design of the disabled people to intervene as little as possible in natu- barrier-free “Leierweg” theme path, in In each of the protected areas visited in ral conditions, but rather relies on the Austria, eforts are being made to make needs-based support of visually impaired nature accessible to people with handicaps. and blind visitors in the form of personal It is not only about the barrier-free design accompaniment on tours through the of visitor facilities, such as information areas (see section “Experience wilderness centres, but also to experience activities in up close – opportunities for people with the natural environment, in the heart of visual impairments”). the protected areas. Te fact that people with disabilities actively participate and Purkersdorf Nature Park ofers, among are involved in the development and others, a discovery path tailored to the Over the moorland by wheelchair: Piller Moor trail in Kauner- design of (largely) barrier-free experiences needs of blind and visually impaired grat Nature Park (private archive Veit Rifer) austria 9

especially in Kaunertal. Nowhere else immediate implementation of one on the journey did I have the feeling hundred per cent accessibility, but rather that it was so easy to be a human with considers the possibilities for the a handicap. participants in a much more practical way.

Comparison with Saxon Switzerland Involving people with disabilities National Park Region promotes practicality Similar to the protected areas visited in In my opinion, the participation of interest Austria, there are a few dedicated and groups or individuals with practical life handicapped people in my home region experience as a disabled person who support local stakeholders in the contributes signifcantly to a user-oriented selection and planning of measures to development of barrier-free infrastructure.

Front cofer of barrier-free hiking guide improve accessibility infrastructure. Tese How local decision-makers perceive the people on the Czech and German sides of wishes and needs of visitors in this target the mountains are usually volunteers and group often depends on the intensity of addition to those responsible for the provide advice to institutions when needed personal exchange with those in question. National Park, the planning ofce tasked (e.g., National Park Administration), However, it should not be forgotten that with this job brought on board the organi- tourist service providers (e.g., hotels), this type of communication is not a sation Lebenshilfe Ennstal and several of and associations (e.g., tourism one-way street. Only when people its mobility-impaired clients. associations). In addition, further projects with mobility, sensory, or cognitive A“barrier-free hiking guide” includes tour in this environment are implemented by limitations actively participate in the suggestions for hikes in Gesäuse using a associations and clubs. However, since design and improvement of accessibility Swiss-Trac wheelchair tractor. An active their implementation is usually fnanced on the ground does this ensure that the wheelchair user from the region was by grants, these activities often end when projects are tailored precisely to their instrumental in its development; also, the funding or the project ends. Terefo- needs. Te sustainability of barrier-free through their voluntary and hands-on re, above all it is the continuous personal opportunities and activities, their work, she assisted in preparation of all commitment of participants from the perception and acceptance stands or falls the essential information. ranks of public administrations as well on the involvement of all involved. as the interest groups and business In contrast to the above-mentioned associations, in addition to commitment protected areas, the stakeholders in from private individuals, that over the Kaunergrat Nature Park already have years develop extensive informal networks many years’ experience of dealing with and attracts other interested parties. people with reduced mobility. It is quite Last but not least is the strategy of clear that they extensively consulted on taking small steps that has been jointly accessibility here, with a view to the pursued; it does not demand the practicability of appropriate measures. Te reason for this is a wheelchair user permanently employed in the district, whose job is partly fnanced by project funds. Tis very committed young woman uses her knowledge to help private and public decision-makers during the preparation, planning, and implementation of projects to improve accessibility in the region. Her perspective as someone directly afected by the situation helps to avoid poor decisions. In Kaunergrat Nature Park an open-minded climate has been developed for visitors with disabilities, Barrier-free hiking guide for Gesäuse National Park with twelve tour descriptions, including the Leierweg austria 10

Te service chain in barrier-free tourism – practical examples from Austria (Text basis: Mareike Garms, formerly Black Forest National Park Administration)

“Information” chain link and example of Weisseespitze Hotel in Kaunergrat Nature Park In barrier-free tourism, precise planning plays a key role before a trip, and therefore so does information gathering.

Te barrier-free four-star Weisseespitze hotel – the “frst wheelchair hotel in the Alps” – is located in Tyrol near Kaunertal Glacier. It is considered a pioneer in the region, where accessibility is now given up to a height of 3,108 metres. Te hotel appeals in particular to people with reduced mobility. It also ofers a comprehensive range of recreational activities: mono-ski, Swiss-Tracs, handbikes, and a Wheelchair Roadbook with a multitude of barrier-free holiday Tactile paving in Purkersdorf Nature Park, to be touched with opportunities in the region (see section white canes, helps give orientation (Mareike Garms) “Information materials for accessibility – People with disabilities have a right to practical example of Rolli Roadbook”). self-determined and comprehensive participation and equal opportunities. Te communication of barrier-free This also means that a journey without opportunities by the three Te tourism service chain (eigene Darstellung/own diagram) barriers can take place. In order to stakeholders (Kaunergrat Nature guarantee a barrier-free stay at a holiday Park, service providers, and tourism “Orientation & Mobility on site” chain destination, it is essential that consistent organization) is exemplary. Worth link and example of “Blindenpfad” in attention is paid to the tourism service particular mention is the communication Purkersdorf Nature Park chain. This consists of many individual of detailed information, for example the An adequate number of barrier-free services, such as arrival and departure, indication of overnight accommodation mobility services for all means of transport, and leisure facilities on site. ranging from “totally wheelchair friendly” transport and guidance on the ground, Every single service afects the entire travel to “restricted wheelchair access” on the such as information panels or signs and experience. A weakening or failure of a Nature Park homepage, and detailed waymarking, should now be part of the chain link can lead to complete failure or information on tourist opportunities in equipment standard of successful tourist even termination of the trip. It should be the Wheelchair Roadbook. destinations. Purkersdorf Nature Park has noted that diferent visitor groups, even in developed a sensory nature adventure trail barrier-free tourism, have diferent One criticism is that, although one under a project called “Blind Date”. Along demands on the service chain. hundred per cent accessibility is the one-kilometre route there are 18 new communicated in the ofers aimed strongly panels in Braille and written script. at people with reduced mobility, it is not Handrails, wooden structures, tactile so for people with visual impairment, for paving, and explanations on the panels example. point the way. Te path also ofers sighted austria 11

people a special chance for sensory In Donau-Auen National Park there is perception. A positive aspect is that the a guided tour for visually impaired and concept follows a more inclusive approach. blind people (see section “Experiencing Te path was not created exclusively for wilderness up close – opportunities for visually impaired people and ofers people with visual impairments”). Te hands-on areas for all visitors. However, participants are repeatedly invited to the panels contain too much information examine special features along the way. and are not well illustrated. Furthermore, Te shell of a great ramshorn snail is both visually impaired people in particular a tactile object and a memory at the same require detailed information in advance time:“Tis snail is missing from my about the location as well as accessibility. collection at home.” Tere is a train station in the immediate vicinity, but there is no guidance from Barrier-free tourism in the Black there to the path. Forest National Park In the Black Forest National Park, Touch, smell, and taste play key roles for people with visual impairments during the of-road tour in Donau-Auen “Offers on site” chain link and example barrier-free nature tourism plays a key National Park (Mareike Garms) of the theme path at the Willow Dome, role, in which all service providers have Gesäuse National Park to work closely together – as a connector, transportation concept. Te National Activities during a visit signifcantly co-operation partner, and direct tourist Park principle of “We remove existing contribute to the satisfaction of visitors. provider of, for example, guided tours in barriers and do not create new ones” Te Willow Dome Discovery Centre in sign language. It is therefore necessary to applies, among others, to the building of Gesäuse National Park ofers, among approach the respective service providers the new information centre, the creation of other things, the “Leierweg” barrier-free of the National Park region with the topic new paths, and route maps. Te practical hiking trail, which specifcally targets of “accessibility”, for example as part of an examples from the study visit in Austria wheelchair users. Swiss-Trac wheelchairs information event or further training for confrm the relevance and importance of can be rented from the Willow Dome. partner companies. Te tourism concept, internal and external communication for Numerous discovery points especially which was developed together with the National Park work. geared to wheelchair users have been National Park region in 2017, contains installed along the route. People without the concept of making accessibility a disabilities should be able to experience cross-sectional task, as well as creating a them as explicitly uncomfortable to sensitize them to “handicaps”.

A positive aspect is the conceptual development of the hiking trail with the participation of interested groups. Furthermore, the routing is clear and the discovery points are explained in easy language.

“Memory” chain link and the example of of-road guide A visit or a trip is refected on afterwards and recorded in a variety of forms, for example in photo albums, holiday tales, travel blogs, and souvenirs. Depending on the degree to which travel objectives were fulflled, a level of satisfaction develops, which in turn increases the probability of a new trip to the destination area. Bridge over the Enns in Gesäuse National Park with a view through the railing at wheelchair height (Mareike Garms) austria 12

Information materials for accessibility – practical example of Rolli Roadbook (Text basis: Beatrix Knappertsbusch, Kellerwald-Edersee National Park Authority)

“Piller Moor Trail” in Rolli Roadbook – a critical view Te map of the Piller Moor trail has the Swiss-Trac symbol in the top right-hand corner. Swiss-Trac can be rented from the nearby Naturparkhaus (Nature Park Centre). To get to the starting point of the tour, you either have to take the Swiss- Trac by car to the car park entrance to Description of Piller Moor in Rolli Roadbook Front cover of Rolli Roadbook Piller Moor, or take the Swiss-Trac from the Naturparkhaus car park to Piller People with a disability depend heavily on Moor. Unfortunately, there is no barrier- detailed information for their endeavours. On the introductory page, icons are shown free hiking trail or pavement on the route, Te Rolli Roadbook – presented during which are used on subsequent pages, so the road must be used. Tis is also very the study visit to the Kaunergrat Nature for example to show the location of a popular for motorcycle tours and thus Park – gives good suggestions for restaurant. A positive is that the heavily used. Te Rolli Roadbook does accessibility information in Kellerwald- assessments of the paths were made by not give any information about the Edersee National Park in terms of wheelchair users and are thus subjective. possibility of leasing Swiss-Trac in the comprehensiveness, clarity, and It should also be recommended to bring a Naturparkhaus, nor about the distance information content. companion. Te Rolli Roadbook diferentiates between tours with Swiss- between the Naturparkhaus and the entrance to Piller Moor or the rather Rolli Roadbook in detail Trac (i.e. with a wheelchair tractor), dangerous approach by Swiss-Trac to the Te Rolli Roadbook presents 84 pages of excursions, cultural tours, hiking routes, starting point. excursion destinations and hiking trails hand bike tours, and viewpoints. Tis for visitors with reduced mobility in the division is very successful, as it appeals to border area between Italy, Switzerland, both diferent age groups as well as those and Austria. It provides a lot of easy- who are more athletic or culturally to-understand information and is very interested. Te tours are described in handy as a printed edition in a ring binder more detail on the following pages. Each format. Te manual can be downloaded tour has a map showing the route from from various websites. On the frst two start to fnish in diferent colours, pages its handling is described in Italian analogous to the trafc light system. Icons and German, the following critical review refer to parking, as well as refreshments is purely of the German information. Te and handicapped accessible toilets in the introductory page is very descriptive with immediate vicinity. Te following is a brief internationally understandable symbols. list of the most important facts (starting With the help of a trafc light system, point, end point, difculty level, surface paths are divided into diferent levels of condition, route length, duration, address) difculty: green means a smooth surface as well as a detailed text, further details with slight gradients while red inter alia of the route, and information about the signifes gradients or difcult obstacles. In location, culture, other highlights in the addition, a scale of up to fve smileys helps area. in the overall rating, ranging from easy/ comfortable to strenuous/difcult. Overview map of Piller Moor in Rolli Roadbook

1 Publisher: RegioL, Regionalmanagement fr den Bezirk Landeck; Download: https://www.kaunergrat.at/uploads/tx_bh/rolli_roadbook.pdf austria 13

I would also like to comment on the text. Finally, it makes sense to add a rolli details of the route. Te paths are either symbol on the front cover to catch the gravel paths or boardwalks. Tese are attention of the target audience. easily accessible by wheelchair and Swiss- Trac. During our visit, however, one of our Tese improvements should be wheelchair participants got a wheel stuck incorporated in a new edition. Te between two wooden planks. Since he is benefts of this approach are reasons of very athletic, he was able to free himself. A cost and the fact that the leafets are less able wheelchair user would have had Classifcation of routes in Rolli Roadbook established in the region and have a large to wait for help. sphere of infuence through word of length in kilometres and height profles for mouth. Accessibility information in the circular routes. On the overview map, Kellerwald-Edersee National Park the sections of the route which are suitable In Kellerwald-Edersee National Park for people with restricted mobility are there is still no specifc print material marked with corresponding symbols. about accessibility such as a leafet or booklet. Barrier-free ofers, such as In a new edition, it would be good to also tours with wheelchairs and prams or mark a route for wheelchair users which guided tours in German sign language, leads to Quernst chapel; this route is only are advertised in the annual calendar of for skilled wheelchair users. Further events, through press releases and on the information about surface conditions and National Park homepage. Since 2018, the the time needed to complete this section calendar of events is marked by symbols by wheelchair should be added. (wheelchair user, symbol for visually Furthermore, at the chapel there is a dry- impaired and blind people), and an extra compost toilet, which is also equipped for page also indicates the barrier-free ofers the disabled. Unfortunately, this leafet and gives tips for hiking on your own as currently only contains the “WC” symbol. Wheelchair-suitable dry compost toilet at Quernst chapel well as the information facilities. Since It would be possible to insert another (National Park Kellerwald-Edersee) each group of people with disabilities rolli symbol here. Disabled parking spaces places special demands on print media, already available at the National Park such as Braille or simple language, it will entrance at Kellerwald-Uhr, but not be possible to create one leafet for unfortunately not marked explicitly on all audiences and ofers. Given that the overview map for the hiking trails or Kellerwald-Edersee National Park has the journey. Again, a rolli symbol would a fairly wide range of options for people help. Te relevant information for the with limited mobility, this could be a target audience should be described in the thematic approach for a new leafet, or it would make sense to supplement existing leafets with information on accessibility. Rolli Roadbook ofers good assistance.

Add accessibility information to the path leafet Tere are specifc possibilities for improvement in the “Quernstweg and Dreiherrenstein– Route” path leafet. Tis leafet describes two hiking routes, which provide information about traces of history in the National Park with the help of numbered stops and maps. Te leafet contains information about the route Overview map of Quernst in Kellerwald-Edersee National Park (from „Quernstweg and Dreiherrenstein Route“ leafet)

2 https://www.nationalpark-kellerwald-edersee.de/de/service/downloads/kartenundwandern/downloads/00034_1328_Flyer_Quernst_de_Aufage_8.pdf austria 14

Comparison of aids for people with reduced mobility in protected areas (Text basis: Tobias Wiesen, Eifel National Park Administration)

complement to the abovementioned resulting in a fnal price of several barrier-free opportunities. Te small size thousand Euros. of the traction device also means it can be easily transported between the various Zoom Uphill – in use in Eifel barrier-free facilities in the National Park. National Park However, as thus far there are only two Since 2016,“Zoom Uphill” all-terrain devices available for hire, use by larger wheelchairs have been used in Eifel groups is not possible for the time being. National Park. Tey are approved as electronically operated wheelchairs and Swiss-Trac is a wheelchair tractor that can may thus operate in forests without any be connected to any wheelchair in just a legal problems. For beginners it takes few moments, provided that the coupling a bit of getting used to, but it soon is available. Operating the device only becomes routine. Te device also managed requires short familiarization and can be gradients of up to 55%, and the surface Swiss-Trac wheelchair tractor (Tobias Wiesen) learned quickly during a self-test. During driven on can be almost ignored; from Making natural treasures accessible to all the test drive diferent gradients were mud to very coarse gravel, all surfaces were people – with or without disabilities – this negotiated with no signifcant limitations. mastered. goal requires, amongst other, resources for However, the journey was mainly on people with reduced mobility. Experiences asphalt or a good forest track. According Te devices are leased via an external from national parks in Austria and to the manufacturer, Swiss-Trac can provider. As a certifed National Park Germany show issues to be considered. handle climbs of up to 20%. A positive was the choice of two diferent speeds. Swiss-Trac – in use in Gesäuse However, a lever must be pressed National Park constantly for steady driving, which over During the study tour in Austria, time is quite tiring for the inexperienced. participants were able to get to know and test the well-known Swiss-Trac resource When acquiring Swiss-Trac for in Gesäuse National Park. Te institutions, such as National Natural National Park website informs you that Landscapes, one aspect is particularly the equipment is available for rental and important: to attach it to a wheelchair, can be used at the three visitor centres a coupling must be present. In order to (Admont Information Ofce, Willow avoid lengthy conversions, a wheelchair House Discovery Centre, Gstatterboden with a coupling is often ordered alongside National Park Pavilion) as well as on the actual traction device. As a result, “Lettmair Au” theme path and “Leierweg” visitors who want to rent Swiss-Trac for a barrier-free hiking trail. Te rental fee is tour at short notice can start immediately. 25 Euros per person per day. Choosing However, it is then necessary to leave their Swiss-Trac for activities in Gesäuse own wheelchair and get into the ofered National Park seems to make sense since wheelchair. Te cost of the purchase the devices ofer a very good technical increases with the additional wheelchair, Four-wheel drive ‘‘Zoom Uphill’’ (Zoomability) austria 15

Joëlette with attendants (Pilar Elloriaga, Wheel the World, Joëlette and Co)

Forest Guide, it offers tours with Zoom A disadvantage compared to the other Joëlette offers good opportunities to Uphill, amongst others. Basically, the two resources mentioned is the need to get people with disabilities into the real devices can only be borrowed as part of a switch from your own wheelchair to the couantryside. Even gradients over 20% can guided tour. The National Park Zoom Uphill. Not everyone is willing be overcome, whereby the use and thus Administration includes the offer in its or able to do so. In addition, the rental the “limits of experience” always depends own marketing and advertises the fees are rather high, especially in on the accompanying people. For guided tours, for example, in leaflets, on comparison to Swiss-Trac. For a two-hour example, teamwork can be strengthened the homepage, or at fairs. Especially in the tour, the provider wants 89 Euros. in a school class using the Joëlette, as areas of visitor guidance and information, However, the tours take place in the students can also be attendants. In more there are advantages for the National company of a certified National Park difficult terrain, however, adults should Park; the guided tour leaders can act as Forest Guide and thus come with a wealth operate the Joëlette. multipliers for it. All sides benefit from of information about the route and the each other, which makes it a very good region. At around 16,000 Euros, the From the author,s point of view, the example of collaboration. acquisition costs are the highest in necessity of two accompanying people comparison to the two other described represents the greatest disadvantage In order to avoid possible conflicts with products. The provider in Eifel National for use in a National Park (Eifel), other visitor groups, an agreement was Park is also the general importer for especially with groups. Often only a few concluded in advance between Eifel Germany and Luxembourg. accompanying people are present, or National Park Authority and the tour the support is provided by a ranger. In provider. This regulates, amongst others, Joëlette – an environmentally friendly this case, they would have to operate the the permitted maximum speed to but labour-intensive alternative Joëlette at the same time as conducting the 6 km/h (it is capable of 20 km/h), the A Joëlette is a single-wheeled wheelchair actual programme. This is not practical. supervision of groups by certified National which can be used off-road to give people But for a family that wants to do a hike, Park Forest Guides, or the approval of with disabilities the chance to experience the Joëlette certainly makes sense and paths to be used. A map with all hiking the countryside. It is certainly the most enables a relative with disabilities to trails in the National Park is attached to environmentally friendly as a non- participate in difficult hikes. the agreement, on which the paths motorized wheelchair. Two attendants are approved for the devices are clearly required to use it: the front person takes marked. By choosing certain routes, care of pulling and steering, while the the character of smaller paths can be rear one is responsible for balance. The maintained to appeal to hikers, since personal experience of the author (all they are not used by the devices. three “positions” tested) is mixed. A austria 16

Experience wilderness up close – opportunities for people with visual impairments (Text basis: Harald Wieck, formerly Kellerwald-Edersee National Park Authority)

“Accessibility and wilderness” is an tour with this target group a maximum exciting topic, especially since at frst distance of about three kilometres should glance not many implementation options be planned. seem feasible. But if you go deeper into the subject, then there are opportunities that According to the guide, visually impaired were previously thought of as unfeasible. and blind groups regularly come from the metropolitan area of Vienna. Tese Of-road tour for blind and visually discovery tours in the countryside are impaired people received very positively, as they represent a Of particular interest in Austria was the welcome change to otherwise monotonous pragmatic approach to “accessibility”. In routines. Organizing such trips does not In 2016, to mark the 10th anniversary of Quernst chapel in particular, the day in the Donau-Auen incur major outlay for the organizers, as Nationalpark Kellerwald-Edersee, a tactile scale model was National Park has shown that, with there are always accompanying people in inaugurated in front of it. (Harald Wieck) relatively little efort, an eventful day these groups, who can point out e. g. the in the wild can be designed even for nature of the ground, branches at face few natural options for implementing blind and visually impaired people: On level and what to experience. Tis practical accessibility. An exception is the area of our excursion, which started at Schloss example has shown that such trips should Euler/Quernst, which is relatively fat Eckartsau, there were two visually be practicable in other protected areas and already has a good infrastructure for impaired participants. Te approximately too, provided the routes are not too long. people with reduced mobility. Opened in two-kilometre hike led across rough Since there are thus far not so many 2017, KellerwaldUhr Information Centre, terrain into a dry Danube side arm. Te ofers of this type in Germany, there is with its wheelchair suitable area, is an two ladies mastered this stretch completly the possibility to develop further tourist ideal starting point for experiencing nature by themselves, within the orientation of customer groups. for the blind and visually impaired. Only the group. In addition to their pronounced about 1.6 kilometres from KellerwaldUhr other senses, they only have their white Accessibility in National Park is Quernst chapel, on the edge of the canes. It was interesting that in particular Kellerwald-Edersee National Park. A multifunctional and the smelling and feeling of leaves and Kellerwald-Edersee National Park, with barrier-free route leads to this chapel. In other objects was very pronounced its almost 6,000 hectares of truncated addition to walkers, it is also used by horse and done very intensively. For a guided low mountain landscape, ofers very carriages and wheelchair users. It also serves the staf of the National Park as an important feeder road into the area.

Te idea: Quernstpfad for the blind and visually impaired Alongside the barrier-free route between KellerwaldUhr and Quernst chapel, there is the so-called Quernstpfad, which is a diverse, narrow path over fallen trees – maximum 30 cm high – and leads past various deciduous and coniferous species. Our goal is to make this approximately 1.6-kilometre-long route accessible to the

“Of-road” excursion onto a dry riverbed of a side arm of the Danube in Donau-Auen National Park; in the background is the hiking guide with the two visually impaired participants (Tobias Wiesen) austria 17

After a successful survey, the ofcial nationwide logo “Reisen fr Alle”, as per Deutsches Seminar fr Tourismus (DSFT) Berlin e. V. blind and partially sighted as part of the by specially trained rangers, exciting and with the German Blindenstudienanstalt nationwide “Reisen fr Alle” (“Travel for adventurous guidance should be given in “blista” (an Institute for Blind Studies) everyone”) certifcation programme. Here cooperation with the group helpers. and the company “freiheitswerke”. If these we enter new territory in Germany. Te discussions are positive, implementation existing implementation of accessibility Te cost of this redesign will amount of the project could begin before long. in the Euler/Quernst area is only just the to about 13,000 Euros. Since the beginning of a total area of accessibility. implementation can be done by our own ranger staf, the costs will only extend to Existing facilities: the guiding rope and certifcation. • Two disabled parking spaces at KellerwaldUhr National Park entrance In combination with the wheelchair • Wheelchair access to Quernst chapel accessible main route, there is a circuit • Scale model of the chapel for the blind of almost three-kilometre that can be and visually impaired marketed as a half-day trip. After • Disabled toilet close to the chapel. completion, the route should be certifed with the nationwide “Barrierefreiheit Measures necessary: geprft” (“Accessibility checked)” • Redesign of Quernstpfad into a certifcate and published on the National discovery trail for the blind and visually Park website and on www.deutschland- impaired, with advice from experts on barrierefrei-erleben.de. For the redesign legal requirements and possible of the Quernstpfad, there are discussions implementation of the path • Design and construction of KellerwaldUhr information centre as a barrier-free “facility for all”, with completion in 2017. Redesign of Quernstpfad Due to its narrow width (about 50 cm), the existing path to Quernst chapel is only suitable for single-fle use. On the track there are fallen trees from a storm which have to be crossed. To enable all visually impaired and blind people to hike as independently as possible, it should be clarifed with experts whether a guiding rope should be attached to the hillside. In addition, it must be clarifed to what height the laying trees are acceptable on Te Euler/Quernst area in Kellerwald-Edersee National Park: on the left the Rolliweg (wheelchair route), in the middle the planned the path. Since these tours are stafed discovery trail, and on the right the challenging hiking trail (GIS Landesbetrieb Hessen-Forst) u nited kingdom 18

Jens Posthof

United Kingdom: Regional development and tourism in protected areas Introduction to the study visit

Protected areas visited Protected area administrations: Te • Brecon Beacons National Park (Wales) national park authorities are independent • Wye Valley Area of Outstanding and state-funded administrations, but not Natural Beauty (Wales and England) state-run. Te land in national parks is for • Cotswolds Area of Outstanding the most part privately owned, including Natural Beauty (England) organizations like the National Trust or public institutions. Te management Background information of AONBs is carried out by regional Protected area categories: In the authorities and municipalities. Te larger United Kingdom, the protected areas AONBs are managed by independent categories National Park and Area of authorities. Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) refer to historically evolved cultural landscapes. Tey correspond to IUCN management category V (Protected Landscape) and are thus more comparable to nature parks or landscape conservation areas in Germany than to national parks. Specifcally, national parks in the United Kingdom do not focus primarily on nature conservation and biodiversity, but on scenic beauty.

What did we discuss, what were the important fndings? • People are the centre of attention in all the areas visited, meaning that man comes first, then the landscape, and only after that the plants and animals in the countryside. • Volunteers are extensively involved in all visited protected areas and are held in extremely high esteem. • The ambassador concept is extremely effective for public relations and image building. • Digital systems are very effective in planning and management, for example in volunteer management. • Tourism: the positive attitude of „Tourism is our friend“ determines the work of the protected area administrations. • A good combination of nature conservation, art and culture strengthens the protected areas. u nited kingdom 19

Regional development through trekking opportunities in national parks (Text basis: Michael Lammertz, Eifel National Park Administration)

with better conditions for drying clothes government support for maintenance. and equipment. Good preparation is Maintenance and repair is done through essential; this is especially true for the volunteer work. The Brecon Beacons western stages, as accommodation is not National Park has 138 volunteers (with always available and it may be necessary to 122 full-time staf ), who work around organize a shuttle. Alternatively, you can 12,000 hours each year. Organization carry a tent and camping equipment and of the volunteer work is done very legally camp along the route. Both have professionally (see section “Volunteering View from the Beacons Way in the Brecon Beacons National drawbacks: the additional weight (tent) and management”). Park ( Jens Posthof ) reduces the experience of the countryside, One way of extending the length of and a shuttle interrupts the “fow”, which stay of national park visitors, and thus can prevent that special mental relaxation A comparison: “Wilderness Trail” increasing tourism value, is the achieved during longer uninterrupted hiking ofer in Eifel National Park development of attractive multi-day trekking tours. According to information In Eifel National Park there has been opportunities. For this purpose, hiking from locals, only a very few people a similar hiking ofer since 2007: the ofers in national parks are appropriate as attempt the full length of the route. “Wilderness Trail – four days through they allow one to immerse into nature, Eifel National Park” also crosses the and other means of mobility are usually So far, no bookable arrangements have entire National Park, from south to limited. Trekking-routes crossing a been developed for the entire Beacons north. With an overall length of 85 km, national park are a special opportunity. Way. Guided, multi-day hikes are ofered divided into four daily stages with a total on sections by the Brecon Beacons Society of 1,891 metres of altitude diference and Te Beacons Way – a trekking (an outdoor organisation and a private 2,251 vertical metres of descent, the opportunity in the Brecon Beacons guided-walk organiser), but so far it has Wilderness Trail is also a challenging National Park received little response; the reasons could long-distance route. Te Beacons Way crosses the whole of not be determined by the author. the Brecon Beacons National Park, from The main diference to the Beacons Way west to east over a distance of 152 km, The Beacons Way is not classifed as a is the Wilderness Trail‘s comprehensive mostly along the ridges and often of the National Trail; that is, there is no package that allows physically ft people beaten track. It includes eight daily stages of 14-23 km. Te captivating route passes through landscapes with high hills and deep valleys, as well as extensive moorlands, and it includes many of the most spectacular viewpoints in the National Park. Trough the installation of eight works of art along the route, the path also has a cultural aspect. Depending on the section, the route can be demanding and needs good physical ftness, as well as knowledge and experience in map reading and compass work because the route is not continuously waymarked. Summer is the recommended season, The route of the Beacons Way in the Brecon Beacons National Park (Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, Karte/Map: Crown copyright and database rights 2018 Ordnance Survey 100019322) u nited kingdom 20

to hike, even if they have no navigation Recommendations for the Wilderness experience or are willing or able to carry Trail, Eifel National Park a lot of luggage, including a tent. Te While the Beacons Way has the image package includes: comprehensive of being suitable as a complete route just waymarking, booking of tourist for adventurers, the Wilderness Trail arrangements with a tourist organization has so far lacked a corresponding low- cooperating with the National Park budget variant with this image. Tis could Administration (Monschauer Land be achieved through the establishment Touristik) with overnight stays between of ofcial nature camp sites along the all daily stages, usually with an ofcial Wilderness Trail, that is sites acceptable in partner of the National Park (Eifel terms of nature conservation and suitable National Park hosts), hiking map and for a natural experience. Teir use must of book, return transport from the end point Te Wilderness Trail in Eifel National Park course be according to well-defned rules to the starting point with the trail express (map base LVermA NRW, Bonn 2006 (number of tents per pitch, number of map graphics Nationalparkforstamt Eifel, N. Kolster) bus, stamp booklet, as well as a certifcate nights, etc.). Technically, such trekking and pin badge for completion of the entire support of the National Trail, with camps could base themselves on the trail. which the above-mentioned optimization concept of nature camp sites in Nordeifel measures could be funded. Te classifed Nature Park (near Eifel National Park) With the package, the following additional Cotswold Way in the Cotswolds AONB which have been operating since 2015. options can be booked: luggage transport, receives state funding of £67,000 a year. Te establishment of this low-budget be accompanied by registered National variant for the Wilderness Trail would Park guides and forest guides, With 4.8 million day-visitors per year, the have the following advantages: 1) accommodation at one central location potential for the Beacons Way seems quite channelling the current wild camping in on all days with a shuttle service to and large. In addition, the example of the Eifel the National Park; 2) customer retention from the start and fnish points of each National Park Wilderness Trail, with only of today‘s “wild youth” who return at a daily stage. Te Wilderness Trail can be 870,000 visitors per year, shows that later age with better fnancial resources booked by Germans two or three times signifcant volumes can be achieved and book the Wilderness Trail package per year as a week of paid educational through attractive crossings of national with accommodation at National Park leave (‘Bildungsurlaub’). Since the launch parks if the package is fully-developed. partners. of the Wilderness Trail, more than 5,000 Te fact that this would somewhat people have booked the package, with jeopardise the image of the Beacons Way Elements of the outstanding volunteer at least as many visitors organizing the as a trail for adventurers is a price worth management in the Brecon Beacons could hike themselves. Including 20 weeks of considering. be transferred to Eifel National Park to paid educational leave weeks, the value optimize the use of volunteers in the feld, added generated by the Wilderness Trail including on the Wilderness Trail. amounts to around €250,000 per year.

Recommendations for the Beacons Way, Brecon Beacons National Park Te value added of the Beacons Way could be signifcantly increased if 1) the existing infrastructure gaps were closed by the establishment of overnight accommodation in the eastern part, plus continuous waymarking, and 2) the package is improved, especially in the form of an ofer of return transport to the starting point. Tere should be an attempt to classify the Beacons Way as a National Trail. Tis would be very helpful for marketing and would signify national Accompanying materials for the Wilderness Trail in the Eifel National Park (Sylvia Montag) u nited kingdom 21

Recreation and health in protected areas (Text basis: Natalie Beller, Black Forest National Park Administration)

Recreation and health are becoming more and more important in modern times, with stress and the hectic and increasingly complex and fast processes of everyday life. Te countryside ofers space for activities, recreation, encounters, awareness, as well as air quality and a healthy climate, thereby infuencing one‘s own quality of life (Ensinger, 2016 ).

Prescription Walks – Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Te “Prescription Walks in Winchcombe” project was developed in the Cotswolds AONB on a voluntary basis through the “Walkers are Welcome Winchcombe” initiative, in cooperation with the AONB management. It is aimed in particular at people with physical disabilities and those In the “mindSCAPE” project, people with dementia are taught to do handicrafts with natural materials (Wye Valley AONB Partnership) who are physically impaired or ill, but also at single people, often elderly, without a sought from the health insurance or health there is no direct reference to the social network. Te aim is to promote care services. In this case, the project hopes protected area. What is relevant is exercise physical and mental health and well- to cover its costs by receiving a fnancial in the countryside, not characteristics being through exercise in the countryside sum for each prescription issued. such as wilderness or cultural landscape, – a natural remedy. Just like any other so the landscape characteristic should be prescribed medication, the patients are Prescription Walks have the opportunity adjudged by this. given a prescription emphasising nature as to be developed as an ofer not only for the a remedy and are encouraged to use it. Te local population, but also as a tourist mindSCAPE Project – Wye Valley routes are matched to an individual. Te product, for example in cooperation with Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty seven circular walks in Winchcombe, with spa clinics, health hotels, hiking guides, Te Wye Valley AONB‘s “mindSCAPE” a length of 1-2 miles, are simple and easy or as part of occupational health project focusses on dementia patients to walk with plenty of seating. management. Prescription Walks could and their carers; it was commissioned be used preventively as well as for by the Wye Valley AONB in 2014 in In the six-month pilot phase with rehabilitation. Unfortunately, the coopera-tion with the Forestry accompanying monitoring, the prescribed landscape itself plays no role, therefore Commission, Forest Dean District walks should be issued by a local doctor Council, Dementia Adventure, the free of charge. Patients can walk Alzheimer‘s Society, and initiated by the independently on a walking schedule or Forest of Dean Dementia Alliance. It is join a guided weekly health walk. Regular funded by the National Lottery for four visits to the doctor show whether well- years. being and/or state of health have changed. Assuming a successful pilot phase, People with dementia often feel isolated, recognition of prescriptive walks will be mindSCAPE Logo have no access to natural space or do but

3 Ensinger, K. (2016): Achtsamkeit, Naturerleben und die Erfahrung von Erholung, Umweltpsychologie. 20. Jg., Heft 2, 95-111. u nited kingdom 22

observations are regularly discussed nature, for example in the nursing home. together in the group. In addition, in Te Black Forest National Park is also the second year, an external agency was planning a health day as an ofer for commissioned for evaluation. Te project occupational health management, as well is very professional. It ofers great as a “Health Week in the National Park” potential for working together with the in cooperation with clinics. In addition, it region and the people who live there, as is considering having the main topic of the well as the possibility of strengthening the National Park annual programme 2018 importance of the countryside, and thus of with a focus on recreation/relaxation/ nature conservation. health and having targeted events, such as awareness walks.

Findings and conclusions Te mindSCAPE and Prescription Walks projects have shown that the topic of recreation and health is important for a protected area far beyond the simple tourist link. Rather, this should be Map showing the Prescription Walk routes (Robert Talbot) considered under the umbrella of “regional development”, be it in services with limitations, and they cannot socialize for sick people (e.g. in cooperation or participate in recreational activities. In with clinics), or preventive (e.g. in this project dementia patients and their occupational health management). In carers (family or professional) should be addition, the projects in British protected encouraged to do so in monthly areas made it clear that regional partners workshops. At the same time, it is the goal and sustainable fnancing are essential. to (re)establish physical and mental One fnding is that the reference to the well-being and a connection with nature. protected area must be clearly stated. After Creativity and community have an all, the countryside itself and its resources important role in the workshops. are the basis for health and recreation. Activities include designing with natural materials, wood carving, or woodland Te Black Forest National Park walks. Tey take place outdoors, with Administration is already working very Tympanum workshop in the open air, an ofer from suitable premises used in winter or in bad well together with the tourism region, for “mindSCAPE” project (Wye Valley AONB Partnership) weather. In the frst year, the artists and example in the development of a common volunteers who held the workshops were tourism concept. Tis concept also specially trained in dementia or frst aid. includes the area of health. On the basis of scientifc research, ofers for “National After each event, a simple written survey Park Experience & Relax” are being is conducted to discover the satisfaction developed as part of the concept. During of dementia patients and carers; every internal discussions in the National Park six months there is a more detailed one. Administration, the mindSCAPE Despite assistance, a response from project met with a very positive response. dementia patients is only partially However, the Administration currently possible. Qualitative results are therefore lacks the human resources to build such often based on personal, individual a project/study. Te frst step is to work discussions. Te workshops will be together with a partner from garden additionally documented by photography; therapy next year. Tis planning is based the artistic work will be kept for later on a similar idea: bring nature home comparisons. Te impressions of the for people who no longer have access to u nited kingdom 23

Regional development, tourism and nature conservation: fnancing options from third-party funds (Text basis: Denise Horstmann, Kellerwald-Edersee National Park Administration)

Te Wye Valley Area of Outstanding along the Cotswold Way, the AONB Natural Beauty is also working on a core receives approximately £30,000 a year. budget and earns additional funds through In addition, there are donation schemes third-party funded projects. For example, (e.g. the “Visitor Giving Scheme”) in funding from the National Lottery for which visitors are automatically asked to the four-year project “mindSPAPE” donate £1 on their online accommodation (see section “Recreation and health in booking (see section “Cooperation protected areas”) of £30,000 and funding programmes of protected areas and for the biennial “Wye Valley River businesses”).

Marking the Cotswold Way – donations for guided walking Festival”. Te latter takes place for two tours are welcome income for the Cotswold AONB weeks along the River Wye, with 28,000 Fundraising for Kellerwald-Edersee ( Jens Posthof ) coming last year to see nature and culture. National Park In Great Britain, protected areas rely A big plus for the AONB is that the Te following donation income heavily on specially raised funds and festival revenues remain with the opportunities are paramount as fnancing donations to fnance their work; they protected area administration. options for the National Park because are attracted and used in particular for other sources of funding have already been regional development and tourism. Teir successfully developed. experiences are inspiring for the National Natural Landscapes, which would gain Due to the special position of the new scope for action through a more public administrations and in compliance extensive acquisition of third-party funds, with the budget law, it requires a lot of such as donations – for example easier efort to manage all the donations that implementation of short-term projects reach Kellerwald-Edersee National Park and freedom in the content orientation Authority. Tis also means that frequently of investment. recurring donations, such as the “Visitor Giving Scheme” in the Cotswolds when Examples of fnancing from British booking a hotel, are rarely used. Te fact protected areas is, if donations are transferred to the state’s Te mixed funding of the Brecon Beacons account, they would go into the general National Park is, among others, from state budget. In order to ensure the basic Welsh state funding, from requested availability of funds for a specifc purpose Leader grants, and from tourism revenues. in the National Park, booking it via a For example, tourism companies pay an Cotswolds Visitor Giving logo support association (‘Frderverein’), a annual fee for services such as further foundation, or a similar institution is education and consultations through the expedient. For this reason, all donations National Park in the Green Tourism In the case of the Cotswolds AONB, in Kellerwald-Edersee National Park Business Scheme. Te revenue from guided walks are an important source are made through the Frderverein, a visitor centres, which are mainly operated of income. Visitors appear to be more registered and non-proft association. It free of charge by volunteers, is not enough afuent and willing than in the can easily accept smaller donations with to generate a proft. No funds are taken for aforementioned protected areas. Trough a donation receipt and use it with other events such as tours of the Park. voluntary donations for free guided tours donations for a project. For example, u nited kingdom 24

in the past it has thus been possible to fnance exhibition modules in the National Park Centre and BuchenHaus, as well as an electric wheelchair for handicapped people.

Te potential for donation income has certainly not been exhausted. Inspired by examples in the visited British protected areas, below there are three ideas for publicising future donation in Kellerwald-Edersee National Park and other National Natural Landscapes.

Idea: species sponsorship In Kellerwald-Edersee National Park there are about 630 higher plant species Te German Kellerwald-Edersee National Park can promote sponsorship with its special habitats and their species and 4,484 animal species. In the “species (Stephanie Schubert) sponsorship” donation programme, donors actively support the protection of to explore several protected areas. Te currently has two facilities where entrance and research into fora and fauna through total collected donations can then be used, fees can be paid and shop items can their donation. Donations received for example, for projects of EUROPARC be bought. Tis can also lead to an through sponsorships are used by the Germany, from which many protected opportunity for visitors to voluntarily Friends of the National Park for various areas beneft. round up. Te diference will be invested projects, such as scientifc activities based in new exhibition modules at the facilities. on works contracts, to look after well- Idea: “rounding up” for the Tis, in turn, creates benefts for the known species, or to discover and study National Park donors themselves. Tis system can also new species. It makes sense to set a “Rounding up” is an already widespread be applied to all protected areas in minimum value for the donations, so donation system. For example, if you Germany and, when handled through that no undue burden arises in the are shopping in a grocery shop, you can EUROPARC Germany, beneft many administration of small amounts. All voluntarily round up the total to the next protected areas. patrons are visually publicised in a full Euro. Te diference is often donated prominent place with the selected to charitable projects. Te National Park animal or plant species. Tey also receive a certifcate.

Idea: charity walk Similar to the well-known “charity run” format, Kellerwald-Edersee National Park ofers a charity walk: people donate a pre-agreed amount of money per person for a certain period of time. Tese funds could be used, for example, for management measures such as road construction, signage, or information points. Tis donation variant could be extended to several national parks. In this case, the participants receive a stamp card, on which they can receive a stamp for each of the protected area that has been hiked General sponsorship is already been ofered by the friends’ association of Kellerwald-Edersee National Park in. Tis gives them the additional incentive u nited kingdom 25

Anchoring protected areas in society and instruments to further strengthen them. Or: how to live more successfully with numerous allies. (Text basis: Roland Schulz, formerly Naturwacht Brandenburg)

My personal impression from Great areas with the population (see section Britain: the well-being and experience “Volunteering and management”). of people are at the forefront. In the end, this also serves the landscape, the animals To integrate visitors: their opinion is and the plants, but only after humans. requested in many places. Visitors can put Brecon Beacons, Wye Valley and the red hearts on a map of the Brecon Beacons Cotswolds are cultural landscapes with National Park, on their favourite place, a well-established traditional uses. Tis place where they had a special experience, connects the visitors, and even more so the an exceptionally friendly encounter. Tey Visitor opinion is in demand: visitors stick red hearts on a map locals with the protected areas: they feel can write postcards, note down what they of the Brecon Beacons National Park to mark their favourite place ( Jens Posthof ) that they are sharing in these uses and the like, what should be improved. It also gives beauty, which must be preserved together. them the opportunity to connect through a temporally-limited entity. Nowadays, Te attitude on the part of the protected interaction with the protected area, to it is festivals where people cycle through area administrations is noticeable work for its future. Every little counts! the countryside and enjoy community everywhere:“All our work is based on cultural events in the evenings, outdoor partnership!”, as put by Richard Tyler, Crossover ofers: nature plus X art events such as the Wye Valley River Manager of Sustainable Tourism in the Te approach of the visited protected Festival, readings in the countryside as Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales. areas convinced us that cultural and part of a literary festival. Trough these sporting events should be linked with combinations, other groups in society can Participation opportunities bring nature, so that culture and nature form be connected and become acquainted with anchoring Numerous opportunities for participation connect the local people with their area and make them open to dealing with it more closely. Te Ambassador Programme is impressive, as well as numerous smaller initiatives such as “5 ways to love the Brecon Beacons”,“Tank you for buying local”,“Edible Cotswolds”, “Local food for breakfast”,” Walkers are welcome” with 120 participating municipalities and perhaps the most notable approach with the “Cotswolds Choice” brand (see section “Cooperation programmes of protected areas and businesses”). In addition, strong volunteering in all visited areas ensures a wide-ranging connection of the protected Oriel CriC Gallery in Crickhowell: exhibition room for 40 regional artists and regional product showroom ( Jens Posthof ) u nited kingdom 26

nature through culture and can build their own bridges to nature.

Art and nature also meet in buildings. For this purpose, particular multi-functional focal points can be created. A prime example is the Oriel CriC Gallery at Crickhowell, Brecon Beacons National Park. It is both an exhibition and showroom for 40 regional artists! In the basement are public toilets, a service for tourists that is not to be underestimated. Volunteers answer questions in a large, friendly entrance hall and distribute numerous leafets about tourist attractions in their protected area. Of course, there are books from the region and many typical products for sale, and comfortable Poster “National Parks Wales: Open for Business” ( Jens Posthof ) seating invites you to linger. Te gallery organizes bus trips as well as helping local schoolchildren with their homework. Comparison with Brandenburg’s broad, common, and therefore unifying National Natural Landscapes basis in society. Tis connection should Tradition and future supported by For the employees of British protected be strengthened in Brandenburg. protected area authorities areas, talking to people is more important AONBs are often places where traditions than in Brandenburg. In Brandenburg, Findings and conclusions live on which would otherwise be there are participative engagement Te conclusions are simple: take your time lost. Tus, they stand for identity, opportunities, but in my opinion much to inspire people from near and far for preservation, community, and act as less and not as low-threshold as in Britain. their special landscapes and their wealth. a breakwater against the virtual food. Tere is signifcant room for improvement How? Exciting children‘s activities such Te Cotswolds AONB‘s Old Prison here. Te fact that the combination of art as the Junior Ranger programme of the information centre ofers courses for 12 and culture can succeed was impressively Naturwacht Brandenburg. Tere was a regionally-based crafts, such as dry stone demonstrated several years ago by an time when Brandenburg was full of round walling or blacksmithing. event by the Stiftung NaturSchutzFonds tables. Te time is right again to launch a Brandenburg. In the Berlin Konzerthaus, variety of projects in the areas which are In economically important tourism the Junge Philharmonie Brandenburg planned and realized by interested people promotion, the Administration maintains dedicated its spring concert to nature from all walks of life in their areas. Tat good cooperation with regional players. conservation and the Naturwacht (ranger creates and binds roots. Joint cultural Te Administration in Brecon Beacons organization). In addition to many other festivals, sports activities or art, always in organizes 25 further education ofers accompanying events, rangers distributed conjunction with and in the context of per year for tourism providers. Trough brochures and two Brandenburg ministers local nature. support programmes, they also assist them advertised on stage for visits to National with individual advice on how they can Natural Landscapes in Brandenburg. For signifcantly improve their ofer with low us, events of this kind are unfortunately investment. rather the exception.

Te striking communication of the So, there are attempts in Brandenburg, achievements is appealing: colourful but so much more is possible. And then posters tell how the AONB prepares the we come to sponsors. Sponsors are way into the future of these rural regions. traditionally more generous in Britain “How we made a diference 2015/2016” than in Brandenburg. Here are still Te “Dry Stone Walling Academy” in the Cotswolds AONB: traditional crafts are taught in workshops, such as dry stone wall or “National Parks Wales Open for undiscovered treasures. Overall, in Britain construction (Stephanie Schubert) B u s i n e s s”. the subject of cultural landscape is a u nited kingdom 27

Cooperation programmes of protected areas and businesses (Text basis: Anja Szczesinski, WWF Wattenmeerbro)

qualifes for re-certifcation. Visitors can Te Cotswolds Choice – Cotswolds see the Brecon Beacons Ambassador logo Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at more than 120 Ambassadors, including Another approach to business accommodation, restaurants, and tour collaboration is the Cotswolds Choice operators. regional brand to promote landscape- friendly, regional products. Visitors Visitor Giving Scheme – Cotswolds have the opportunity to contribute Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the preservation of the landscape Te “Farm Shop” ofers numerous regional products as an Ambassador of the Brecon Beacons National Park In the Cotswolds AONB, working with and sustainable development by (Denise Horstmann) businesses as part of the Visitor Giving purchasing these products. Cotswolds Cooperation programmes between Scheme focuses on providing fnancial Choice membership is open to any protected areas and largely regionally- support for nature conservation through regional business that meets quality, based businesses are, in many places, tourism. Since the launch of the environmental, and sustainability a valuable and efective instrument for programme in 2013, 19 participating criteria and adheres to certain landscape promoting nature conservation objectives, companies have donated £16,600 conservation standards. Te area of origin nature-friendly holiday experiences, and through the Visitor Giving Scheme. So for Cotswolds Choice products is defned sustainable regional development. far ten projects have been supported, as the area of the Cotswolds AONB and including restoration of habitats and the the Cotswolds Joint Character Area. Ambassador Scheme – improvement of hiking and riding trails. Full members are companies involved Brecon Beacons National Park in the manufacture, processing and Te Ambassador Scheme in the Brecon Te programme was initiated by a local distribution of products. In addition, Beacons National Park is designed for hotel, which asks for a donation of £1 in they must lie within the said region or tourism businesses and individuals who the booking process to directly beneft a two- to (in exceptions) fve-kilometre feel connected to the National Park and the Cotswolds AONB, to which it adds wide bufer zone. Associate members wish to provide their visitors with quality a further £1. At the time of booking, the include organizations and individuals who information and a special National Park donation is displayed as an “opt-out” ofer. support the programme. Members are experience. A prerequisite for recognition Tis means that visitors automatically entitled to use the brand name and logo as an Ambassador is a three-day training donate unless they disable the option. in connection with the qualifed products. session (“Sense of place” module)to get to Te costs of the accommodation and the In addition to promoting landscape know the National Park (even better) , to additional donation are clearly shown. protection and regional identity, the study the history and cultural heritage of programme aims to provide networking the region (“Park in your heart” module) opportunities for its members, as well and to deal with the subject of visitor as providing expert advice and funding service (“Customer Service” module). on issues such as environmental and Participants should understand what quality management, value creation, and makes a visit to the Brecon Beacons marketing. Te programme was launched National Park so special and can thus in 2014 and presented during the study provide excellent visitor information and visit; however (as of early 2018) it is a comprehensive “National Park Service”. apparently discontinued. Te certifcate is awarded for one year. Participation in further training courses or Certifed: the operator of “Te Grange Guesthouse” is a the annual “Ambassadors Exclusive Event” National Park Ambassador (Anja Szczesinski) u nited kingdom 28

German and British examples: for National Park products has been comparison and transferability discussed several times, but the Compared to the Ambassador Scheme procurement council has so far always of the Brecon Beacons National Park, the voted against it on the basis of the high criteria and the application process are complexity of the criteria and the time- relatively strict and complex, which on consuming and labour-intensive quality the one hand certainly creates a hurdle for control. However, the issue of product potential partners, but on the other hand branding is still relevant at the level of preserves the programme‘s high standards the World Natural Heritage Site and the of quality and sustainability. “Cotswolds Choice” example provides interesting experiences for the further A programme similar to the Visitor development of “branded” Wadden Sea Giving Scheme is currently not available in products in the Dutch and Danish Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Wadden Sea region business cooperation. Park. In its 2014 study “Reisen und

Cotswolds Choice logo schtzen – Wie kann Tourismus fnanziell zum Schutz des Wattenmeeres beitragen?” National Park Partners in Schleswig- (“Travelling and Protecting – How Holstein Wadden Sea National Park Tourism Can Contribute fnancially to In Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea the Conservation of the Wadden Sea?”), National Park, the National Park Partner the WWF examined various fnancing Programme ofers tourist businesses, instruments, including donations and municipalities, and nature conservation voluntary contributions, and assessed associations in the region the opportunity their transferability to the Wadden Sea. to work together with the National Park Te Visitor Giving Scheme represents a Administration. Te main purpose of (further) illustrative example which could the partnership is to protect the natural particularly be transferred to the National environment and to bring it to visitors to Park or, moreover, to the Wadden Sea the west coast of Germany. Tere are now World Natural Heritage Site. more than 170 National Park Partners from a wide variety of categories, from Even a regional brand such as “Cotswolds mudfat and tour guides to hotels and Choice” does not exist in Schleswig- restaurants, from galleries and museums Holstein Wadden Sea National Park. to tourist leisure facilities and transport As part of the National Park Partner companies. Recognition as a Partner is Programme, the question of a category Cotswolds regional products (Anja Szczesinski) based on a detailed application, which includes a visit by a review group and an external “environmental check” of the company. A public procurement council, in which the National Park Administration, tourism and nature conservation organizations are represented, decides on acceptance. Regular participation in National Park training is obligatory for the Partners. Te recognition is awarded for three years, after which a renewed, simplifed application is necessary.

Partner company of Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park – Hallig shipping company Heinrich von Holdt with the excursion ship MS Seeadler (Stephanie Schubert) u nited kingdom 29

Volunteering and management (Text basis: Drte Ackermann, Saxon Switzerland National Park Centre, and Jens Posthof, Saxon Switzerland National Park Administration)

Tere are six work groups where the constantly involved in this for years, volunteers can do practical work, for resulting in friendships and acceptance example in the uplands or in the visitor for the protected area among the local centre. Tese are managed by a responsible population, and at the same time being volunteer in close consultation with multipliers for nature conservation. full-time staf from the National Park Authority. In addition, there are special Volunteer involvement in the tasks, such as greeting and accompanying Wye Valley AONB A volunteer guide from the Cotswold AONB accompanies visi- visitors, helping the photographic library, In the Wye Valley AONB, about 45 tors to attractions on the Cotswold Way (Stephanie Schubert) assistance with monitoring data, and volunteers support the protected area Involving volunteers in the tasks of a maintenance of interpretation panels. with 2,700 hours of work every year. Te protected area creates identifcation Volunteers have privileged access to tasks are practical work such as landscape through participation. Tanks to the a clear and functional Internet-based maintenance, planting, rehabilitation of involvement of volunteers, a strong communication platform. Tere they dry stone walls, and road construction, regional anchoring of the areas is achieved receive up-to-date information on but also participation in the Junior Ranger in the British protected areas we visited. upcoming tasks and keep in touch with programme as well as assistance with Te hands-on ofers for volunteers their own group. After completion exhibitions and events. correspond to their motivation, such as of volunteer assignments, a report is socializing, spending time with others, completed for the National Park via the Given that the Wye Valley AONB is using craft skills or acquire new ones online platform. fnancially signifcantly worse of than that promote physical and mental health, the Brecon Beacons National Park, this feeling useful, giving something back, and Te favourable conditions which support protected area is even more dependent on protecting nature. the high motivation of the volunteers are volunteering and sponsoring to secure its their autonomous, self-determined work, own share of third-party funded measures Volunteer involvement in the Brecon good coordination and follow-up of the (especially Leader funding). Coordination Beacons National Park tasks via the communication platform, of volunteer work is done via other In the Brecon Beacons National Park, and close cooperation with the full-time supporters, for example the Forestry about 135 volunteers perform around employees, their support and feedback. Commission. 12,000 hours of volunteer work every As a result, the volunteers have been year. Te volunteers normally must be at least 18 years old; exceptions are specifc youth programmes. Weekly, fortnightly or monthly tasks are usual; the volunteers themselves set the agenda. Most activities take place on weekdays, supplemented by weekend tasks. Volunteers provide their own food during the tasks. Because training and qualifcation of volunteers is an expense for the Authority, the volunteers commit to work for at least ten days a year.

Typical task of volunteers: construction of dry stone walls in the Wye Valley AONB (Wye Valley AONB Partnership) u nited kingdom 30

Volunteer involvement in the Cotswolds AONB Around 350 volunteers commit themselves to the Cotswolds AONB, totalling approximately 45,000 hours per year. Tey support the protected area in working groups, for example in practical landscape conservation measures. In addition, they volunteer in networks of communities, farmers, residents, etc., with the aim of establishing trails and help directly in the construction and maintenance of the Cotswold Way. Tey work as hiking guides and support events in the protected area, such as in schools.

In addition to the management of protected areas, many initiatives and associations also ofer volunteering activities, from one-of day tasks to Employees of the company LogMeIn (formerly Citrix) renew a damaged path during a volunteer task in Saxon Switzerland National Park ( Jens Posthof ) continuous long-term cooperation: botanical monitoring, repair of bridges petrol money through associations, warm and appreciative treatment created and fences, monitoring of the public which in turn attract the funds through an almost family atmosphere. footpath network, and fundraising support donations, with training and sometimes A distinctive feature of volunteer are just a few examples. Some associations equipment coming from the protected management is that people’s needs are the ofer training, for example for tree wardens area authorities. focus. Discussions also highlighted the or in landscape management. Te acquired interesting aspect that volunteers bring expertise binds the volunteers even more Similar to German protected areas, new volunteers. intensively. volunteers are mostly active in retirement Based on this experience, the following or pre-retirement age. Te identifcation recommendations are made for German In summary, for the Cotswolds AONB: of the volunteers with “their” area is protected areas: establish an Internet due to the high number of visitors impressive; they carry a high degree platform for the coordination of (approximately 23 million per year) and of responsibility for management of volunteer tasks, allow administrations to the associated high profle, there is also a their area and represent it. Evidence use social media to attract volunteers, and strong interest and a high willingness of of the integration and cooperation of value volunteers better – like fully-fedged the population to get involved here. stakeholders was seen on our study visit employees. in the active participation of British Findings and conclusions volunteers: on the Cotswold Way alone, It is signifcant that the protected area we were accompanied by nine people authorities we visited are for the most part (eight volunteers and one full-time state-fnanced, but land management is employee, who remained in the mainly based on volunteering and third- background). In the protected areas party funding. Many of the management visited, volunteers are fully-fedged tasks that are carried out, for example, in colleagues and an integral part of the Saxon Switzerland National Park by full- Authority’s work. Volunteers have time employees or on the basis of an order autonomy in the implementation from third parties, in the British protected task, which the Authority supports. areas fall into the scope of the volunteer Competition between full-time staf and coordinators and volunteers. Te only volunteers was imperceptible to us. All Volunteers making walking sticks for pilgrimage walks to compensation the volunteers receive is the participants knew each other, and the Tintern Abbey in Wye Valley AONB (Wye Valley AONB Partnership) germanY 31

Stephanie Schubert

Germany: Regional development and tourism in protected areas Introduction to the study visit

Protected areas visited visitors. Troughout Germany, more Administration of protected areas: In • Müritz National Park than 1,400 businesses from the areas Germany, nature conservation is largely • Schleswig-Holstein Wadden of accommodation, restaurants, crafts, the responsibility of the federal states. Sea National Park transport, education, etc. are working Accordingly, protected area authorities together with park authorities. of the national parks and most biosphere Background information reserves, (and to some extent the For regional development and sustainable Protected area categories: German nature parks), are state administrations tourism in National Natural Landscapes protected areas include 16 National subordinate to the state environment (see “Protected area categories”), the Parks, 17 Biosphere Reserves (16 with ministries. In the case of nature parks, nationwide partners programme plays an UNESCO recognition) and over 100 there are a variety of administrative important role, under which 27 park- Nature Parks. Since 2005, many of them structures and legal forms, including specifc partner initiatives are active; that are presented under the common umbrella associations, administration unions, and is, regional cooperation of the respective brand “National Natural Landscapes”. departments of district authorities. Te administration with outstanding fnancial and personal administrative companies which are in contact with features are correspondingly very diferent.

What did we discuss, what were the important fndings? • Te attractiveness of nature is of great importance for regional development and tourism; protected area authorities require open communication with the population in order to communicate the added value of sustainable tourism. • Foreign visitors rated the National Natural Landscapes Partner Programme as very positive and worth copying; similar approaches in their home countries are still in the early stages or do not exist. • From the companies’ perspective, there are many motivational factors for being characterized as a partner company: marketing advantages, image improvement, networking with like-minded companies, etc. • The goal-oriented integration of non-governmental organizations and volunteers into the work of Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park is based on success factors: division of responsibilities, increased trust, cooperation between colleagues, and support for protected area management (including area management, visitor guidance and information, nature discovery ofers) • The designation of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage “Ancient Beech Forests” in Müritz National Park is accompanied by adapted visitor management with, for example, routing to reduce noise in sensitive areas and with visitor information. germanY 32

Regional development and engagement of local communities in protected areas through a sustainable tourism perspective (Text basis: Jimena Castillo, Kullaberg Nature Reserve, Sweden)

Te inclusion of the community as decision makers and actors is important for fnding a proper balance in the management of a protected area. Focusing on tourism, the consensus of protected area administrations with stakeholders and other local actors is important when processing strategies for sustainable tourism that shall, among others, contribute to the positive development of the communities. Since there are many interests and conficts related to tourism in protected areas, perhaps one of the most important lessons learned from the study trip is the high value of positive interaction between public authorities, private business, and civil society. Teir positive cooperation and welcome participation in regional development ensures transparency and commitment. It encompasses public debate, political decision-making, policy formation and implementation, and fosters a consensus to fnd solutions together in a comfortable and constructive balance.

Regional development and sustainable tourism in protected areas Regional development is a wide-ranging concept that can best be seen as a process

“Learning by doing” and in dialogue with local actors: the study Expertise exchange with National Park Ranger Martin Khn in the mudfat habitat near Hallig Hooge (Stephanie Schubert) group testing the ofer of Kanu Hecht, a National Park Partner Company (Stephanie Schubert)

4 Grefe,a X. (1989) Décentraliser pour l’Emploi. Les Initiatives Locales de Développement. Economica. Paris Grefe, X. (1990) Le Développement Économique Local. Commission Européenne DGV. Brussels Grefe, X. (1993) Société Postindustrielle et Redéveloppement. Hachette. Paris germanY 33

through which a certain number of institutions and/or local people mobilize themselves in a given region in order to create, reinforce, and stabilize activities using the resources of the territory as best as possible (Grefe, 1989, 1990, 19934). Te tourism industry related to protected areas has great potential to improve regional development when combined with the engagement of the local actors who strive for sustainable management of the natural resources.

It is important to mention that the tourism industry has an undeniable impact on the host communities, afecting social, economic, and environmental aspects. On the one hand, creating cooperation relationships between Canoeing - a favoured outdoor sport in Mritz National Park (Stephanie Schubert) protected area managers, municipal authorities, and local actors is essential belonging and maybe pride awakens in history of national parks, it was not easy in order to join eforts for minimizing the members of the community. Seeing to start the dialogue with the community the negative impacts of tourism. On the the economic benefts and contribution to and there were many social sectors other hand, sustainable tourism generates development of the region, stakeholders pushing against the declaration of national long-term benefts for the people, and inhabitants perceive the importance of parks. But, after many years of dialogue environment, and economy of the tourism participating actively in nature protection and collaboration, they work together in area. Sustainable tourism has positive and conservation eforts. Tis sense of something similar to a mutual interaction results in the wellbeing of the inhabitants, belonging leads to sustainable tourism where all the parties beneft from the life quality, and inclusion of local actors as management through environmental cooperation. Based on the experiences in decision makers. A well-planned strategy education, involvement of local people the visited national parks, protected area to develop sustainable tourism improves in nature conservation, enhancement of management must be oriented to open a local facilities, generates new products, natural and cultural heritage, improvement frank dialogue with society while listening services, businesses, and jobs. At the same of natural resources management, and to their demands. I also learned that it time, it maintains a high level of tourist a direct contribution to develop the is essential to build new capacities in the satisfaction and promotes awareness of community economy. tourist sector, create job opportunities, environmental issues and sustainable and promote tourist services to increase tourism practices. Because of the positive Lessons learned from German the economic benefts that lead to positive impacts on local society, it is most likely protected areas regional development. that local people, as a consequence, will One of the most important aspects of the appreciate and value protected areas as an study trip was having the opportunity to important aspect of their communities’ “learn by doing”: the agenda enabled us to development. experience tourism activities ourselves and to establish a dialogue with stakeholders Building a sense of belonging and managers of the protected areas. Once stakeholders have realized the What we learned during the study trip importance of the natural values of was that the managers of the protected protected areas and the social and areas have built up good cooperation economic profts of sustainable tourism, relationships with business owners and and once local people have identifed associations of dedicated residents that the direct benefts of being neighbours develop tourism services in the national Onsite introduction to the specifcs of the holm Hallig Hooge in Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park of protected areas, a sense of personal parks’ area of infuence. Looking at the (Giacomo Benelli) germanY 34

Sustainable tourism strategies for protected areas (Text basis: Giacomo Benelli, EUROPARC Federation)

Lately, protected areas have more often Looking at the general conditions, both been considered as very important tourist parks appeared well supported by the local destinations in Europe. Due to increased communities, with an apparent low level tourist pressure and the important natural of conficts, high investment in visitor features that must be preserved within management and visitor centres, good their borders, it is important for these infrastructure, and local and unique nature protected areas to have well-structured tourism events. By way of example, two strategies in place for developing tourism selected aspects of the tourism strategies in a sustainable manner. For a protected and their implementation are discussed area’s tourism strategy and its activities, in Te very well-developed hiking and cycling network in Mritz below. general it is essential to defne priorities, National Park ofers a wealth of information to visitors (Giacomo Benelli) work out the activities in detail, defne Focus: visitor management and work stages and responsibilities, and While in the Wadden Sea, I noticed visitor centres immediately strive for discussion that the tourism strategy is clearly In Mritz, the administration has built and agreement with all the relevant communicated with specifc and up a system for visitor management stakeholders. comprehensible publications; in Mritz that works well; a trafc strategy plays the current strategic objectives are not an important part in this. Te Park has Sustainable tourism strategies of so clearly published and widely available. reduced trafc access to a minimum, Müritz and Schleswig-Holstein Terefore, the current priorities were not closing roads or restricting them to local Wadden Sea National Parks entirely clear (e.g., nature conservation vs. trafc only, and vehicles are guided to In both visited national parks – Mritz tourism development) and could lead to 23 main entrance gates on its borders. and Wadden Sea – the level of strategic some contradictory perceptions. Monitoring for trafc reduction is planning and implementation of consequently conducted, including sustainable tourism appeared to me signifcant and remarkable. In Mritz (through past experience (2011-2015) with the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas) and in Wadden Sea (through the World Heritage Destination programme), both park administrations have engaged with local stakeholders to develop sustainable tourism strategies. Both these strategies are based on a coherent and reliable volume of data, able to provide a clear baseline from the outset. At the end of their action plan, conceived to achieve the agreed strategic objectives, they are in an excellent situation to monitor and assess the changes that have occurred in their territories.

Environmentally friendly mobility made easy in Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park (Giacomo Benelli) germanY 35

seasonal bus services and events for environmentally-friendly mobility. Tere is a clear strategy for improving the Park’s cycle-hiking-canoe network, which includes well waymarked cycling routes for approximately 60,000 cyclists per year within the Park and in its surroundings. Parking and visitor infrastructure are provided and are connected to the hiking and cycling routes. Visitor centres, bird-hides, observation towers, boardwalks, and so on contribute to guiding visitors to the right places and are all very well maintained. Canoeing is also well managed by providing infrastructure and information along the waterways.

Coming to Wadden Sea National Park, Mritz National Park Information Center in Kratzeburg (Giacomo Benelli) there are various successful stories of involving volunteers and developing partnerships with local stakeholders potential in terms of attractiveness of Recommendations for innovative within the framework of sustainable landscapes, species, and tourism ofers approaches in tourism development tourism that enable the Park to implement for visitors. At present, the guides and Innovative approaches for discovery efective tourism-related events and visitor the services seemed mainly prepared and and nature-based experiences could be management, like the Brent Goose Festival accustomed to work at a national level further developed in a quality approach. In and guided tours on boats. In this context, only and welcome tourists from Germany. particular, given that water is the unique the involvement of local NGOs, with their Overall the command of English amongst selling point of the area, water-based well communicated strategic planning tourist professionals was below average activities need more development and on sustainable tourism, is outstandingly for Europe. Against this background, some innovative input, such as special positive. Another tourism aspect: visitor international tourism is underdeveloped guided tours, more specialized guides centre management is impressive in and one would wonder if this is part of the available, use of electric boats or solar Wadden Sea National Park. Using strategic approach (to focus and prioritise boats, and special accommodation by the the example of Multimar Wattforum: more on the German market), or if this water. Tough the national parks do ofer aquariums with live animals are a major is an aspect that should be addressed attractive activities, more efort can made attraction, modern and interactive by the protected areas during the next to highlight and further develop them, displays, appealing texts, messages, and programming and planning period of their as well as integrate them into existing design as well as visitor services contribute tourism strategy. tourism marketing. Tis implies attractive, to its strengths. From my perception, the motivating, and practical information that Centre’s visitors experience an “excessive” A possible recommendation would be combines natural and cultural highlights concentration of information, activities, to work on a new and updated survey with key activities. messages, and so on. In my opinion it is on future visitor markets. From my also worth discussing redistribution of experience with the European Charter smaller visitor centres within the large for Sustainable Tourism in Protected areas of the Wadden Sea, for example Areas in other European countries, I encouraging excursions to the various would also recommend that the protected areas of the National Park. areas reinforce their attitude and their willingness to share a European vision Focus: international tourists and be open to attract future visitors from Te low number of international visitors other countries. in both parks is surprising, despite the In the Multimar Wattforum Visitor Centre, visitors can experience mudfat fauna frst-hand (Giacomo Benelli) germanY 36

Quality management in business partnerships of protected areas (Text basis: Erika Jzsa, Balaton-felvidéki National Park, Hungary)

Most protected areas are at least partly Quality management in the German utilized by people, for recreation, tourism, protected areas partner programme or farming with an impact on natural In the feld of regional cooperation, the assets. Sustainable long-term management German partner programme applied of protected areas can only be successful by the national parks, nature parks if all of the stakeholders support them. and biosphere reserves, together with People beneft from the ecosystem services EUROPARC Germany, is a good example provided by a protected area; thus, in of quality management: “quality instead the longer term they are interested in of quantity”, enhanced involvement the maintenance of natural heritage. and training of the partners, balanced It is essential to become aware of the distribution of responsibilities and duties common goals which are the basis for between the diferent partners provide fruitful cooperation between the local good results. stakeholders and nature conservation Te EUROPARC Germany working authorities, providing mutual advantages. group (AG) “Partners of National Natural Proper quality management of this Landscapes” developed the following partnership system can remarkably minimum standards, which are applicable contribute to the sustainable development for all partner initiatives in National Mritz National Park Partners at a glance (Giacomo Benelli) of a region. Natural Landscapes in Germany5:

Quality management based on strategies A good strategy, developed by involving all stakeholders and with respect to ecological, economic, and social benefts, is an essential basis for quality management in sustainable regional development. In the context of protected areas and business partners, such a strategy provides the possibility to balance environmental needs and economic interests. Monitoring, appropriate surveys, and studies serve as a very important fundament for those strategies. An example of a successful strategy and quality management in partnership networks of protected areas is the “European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas”; it is recognised internationally as a model Te Hallig Café “Zum blauen Pesel” is a partner business of Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park and ofers regional for high-quality sustainable tourism delicacies (Stephanie Schubert) management.

5 Nationwide Minimum Standards for Partner Initiatives published by: EUROPARC Deutschland e.V, 01 March 2016 germanY 37

•W ritten agreement/contract between the respective administration and its partner: the contract term should be limited and should not exceed three years. After that, evaluation is essential for an extension of the contract. • Cooperation activities: the partner initiative is actively involved in the EUROPARC working group “Partners of National Natural Landscapes” and actively seeks cooperation between the participating areas.

• Advisory body: the administration of the protected area employs an Te website https://nationalpark-partner-sh.de provides informaiton on the partner businesses of Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea advisory body for the development National Park and management of the partnership network. Te advisory body products and informs its guests, destination in Hungary. Te tourism should consist of representatives operates in compliance with typical sector largely contributes to the local, of the administration as well as of regional traditions, nature-friendly, or regional, and even national economy. representatives of the partner businesses eco-friendly, products must be clearly Balaton-felvidéki National Park has and, where applicable, further important labelled. Quality and environmental an extended partnership network with regional organisations. Responsibilities standards for businesses are verifed by local tourism providers and key actors of the advisory body are, inter alia, an Ecolabel, a regional recognised brand of regional development such as hotels, consulting and deciding upon the or a certifcation scheme designated by tourism destination management admission of businesses as future the advisory body. organizations, other service providers, and partners as well as joint advancement of • Designation of the participating local producers. the criteria and procedures. businesses: businesses participating An example for partnership activities • Internet presence of the partner in the cooperation are consistently is the “Balaton-felvidéki National Park initiative: the partner initiative operates named as partner of the national park, Product” brand system, introduced in its own website or a page on the biosphere reserve, or nature park. 2013. It aims to support local enterprises protected area website. Te website • Using the corporate design of the and husbandry by extending recognition should also contain information respective protected area. of their products. Te National Park for potential partners (application • Unified logo and logo use: participating administration organizes lots of events forms, criteria), for the participating businesses use the partner logo, which and uses diferent communication tools partners (internal area), and a link to corresponds to the corporate design of for promoting National Park products. the central website (www.nationale- National Natural Landscapes. A certain process is carried out for the naturlandschaften.de/partner). • Self-perception and reflexion of the approval of the products, including a form • Nationwide minimum standards protected area’s administration: the to fll in, a meeting of a committee where for partners of National Natural administration of each protected area products are examined and sampled, and Landscapes: specifc criteria for the is obliged to review its own criteria and a contract to be concluded with the local partners can be set by the advisory to determine the development goals producers of the approved products for body in compliance with the minimum accordingly. use of the label, including a review of the standards defned by the EUROPARC production process by the National Park working group “Partners of National Balaton-felvidéki National Park: Directorate. Natural Landscapes”. Existing business partnerships and quality certifcation schemes can be used management of the Park product as guidance for the verifcation and brand evaluation of the environmental and Balaton-felvidéki National Park is mainly sustainability criteria. Te partner situated in the north of Lake Balaton, supports the use and/or sale of regional which is the second most popular tourism germanY 38

Partner initiatives in protected areas – Müritz National Park (Text basis: John van den Berg, Staatsbosbeheer, Netherlands)

Partner initiatives in German protected Benefts for a protected area are given areas foster collaboration between because partners… protected area management and regional • are ambassadors of the park, businesses and create a close connection of • inform the public about the protected the enterprises to “their” National Natural area in a qualifed way, Landscapes. Te main aims of the partner • operate sustainably and, as role models, initiatives are: exemplify and promote sustainable and • to protect the natural environment, environmentally friendly behaviour with “Zur Fledermaus” guesthouse is a partner company of Mritz National Park and ofers cosy and authentic accommodation • to enable visitors to experience nature, important multiplier efects, (Erika Jozsa) • to strengthen sustainable regional • give important support in political development. debates on conservation topics, this case the guest house makes use of the • provide certified high-quality, marketing advantages of its partnership Regional partner initiatives in a environmentally friendly goods and with the National Park by presenting national network services from the region, themselves with the logo. Inside the guest For partner initiatives in the German • take part in protected area activities and house there is also a facility to display National Natural Landscapes there is a set events, brochures of the other National Park of harmonized minimum standards and • support and amend protected area Partners. Te guest house stands out by criteria established in the overall national activities and events. organizing excursions with a certifed partner programme (see section “Quality nature guide. As the owner of the guest management in business partnerships of house is a bat “connoisseur”, it also has a protected areas”). small exhibition on bats; additionally, in the garden, there are bat and bird boxes as Benefts for a business are: well as species of plants and trees which • Promotion of themselves as National support insects. Te building is located Park Partner, Nature Park Partner or closely to a place where large numbers Biosphere Reserve Partner; for example, of cranes gather in autumn – one of the representation on a common internet iconic species of this National Park. Kanu Hecht rents out a large selection of boats and has over- platform, on the protected area website, night accommodation for water lovers in Mritz National Park and in information centres with leafets (Erika Jozsa) “Leddermann” restaurant clearly profts and brochures of the partners on display. from the beautiful scenic view on the •A direct line to the park administration Partner businesses in Müritz edge of the National Park over meadows and exclusive information from the park. National Park next to Feisneck Lake. On the restaurant •A range of training and information Two partner businesses in Mritz website the partner logo is only presented material for partners, staf, and visitors. National Park, selected out of 44 in total, at the bottom, and inside the restaurant • Access to an online database with high are the “Zur Fledermaus” guest house the logo was not visible, nor was other quality pictures for their own use. and the “Leddermann” restaurant, both information about the National Park. • Network connections to other partners located in the town of Waren in or on Recently the restaurant moved to another with the option of joint action. the border of the National Park. On the location in the centre of Waren, so this website of the pension “Zur Fledermaus” refects the former situation. and at the entrance to the building, the ”Mritz National Park Partner” logo is A third partner of Mritz National Park clearly visible accompanied with a short is Hecht Canoe Station in Kratzeburg, explanation of the partner programme. In on Kabelick Lake. It is a small family germanY 39

enterprise where you can rent canoes and surf boards, have a light lunch, and stay overnight in simple accommodation. Hecht Canoe Station also organizes excursions in the National Park. Mr. Hecht advocated the Park during our visit and stated clearly that his business could only fourish thanks to the Park. It is obvious that here canoeing is an important way of experiencing one of the essences of the National Park.

A forth National Park Partner is “Alte Kachelofenfabrik” in Neustrelitz, a restaurant, hotel, gallery, and cinema which is located close to the National Park. Te Partner logo is shown on the website, but inside it was not noticed. Te hotel is run on the basis of an ecological In the middle of the forest, in Serrahner Buchenwald World Heritage Site, the small National Park Partner Company concept and is built with nature-friendly Ferienwohnung Vitt ofers nature-oriented accommodation (Stephanie Schubert) materials. It is fully booked during the summer as it cooperates with a tour I saw a fne example of a dining room cooperate with all kinds of enterprises, operator that ofers cycling holidays. decorated with pictures and attributes but that within each market segment they of the Park. An option could be that the should endeavour for high quality. Evaluation of the visited partner menu partly consists of ingredients from businesses the National Park (region). And on a Comparison with the Netherlands Te ambassador function for a protected table mat under your plate there could be At this moment there is no partner area has a diferent implementation with written or visual information about the initiative in Dutch national parks. During the various partners. Te most active Park. Tis table mat would be a device to the rest of the year I will promote a ambassador for me was without a doubt educate guests in an informed way. partner initiative within my organization. Hecht canoe station. Due to the long time Te frst steps are underway. spent outside in the National Park with Te obligation for the partners to attend the owner, there was ample opportunity to partner meetings where they are informed speak about the Park. An important factor about the latest developments within was the enthusiasm of Mr. Hecht, who the protected area are a good basis to himself was very aware of the importance educate guests in an informed way. But of nature. Because he loves nature and there is a diference in the client contact being outside, he makes his living by moments of the various partners, for renting canoes. example restaurants compared to a canoe But at “Zur Fledermaus” guesthouse station. So, I suppose there are diferent we also met a convinced nature and opportunities for partners to advocate the national park lover. Even the name of Park. Tis is a good thing for protected the guesthouse (’Fledermaus’ means areas to realize. Serrahner Buchenwald World Heritage Site Exhibition ’bat’) was based on this feature. So (Giacomo Benelli) here the ambassador function was also Te diferent enterprises operated implemented well. in diferent segments of the tourism market. Te “Alte Kachelofenfabrik” on In the two restaurants – where you spent the one hand was clearly orientated at a most time inside and have mostly no culturally-interested public, whereas the return visit – the opportunities for the canoe station had a more basic product. ambassador function are more limited. Together they reached or covered a broad However, in Wadden Sea National Park public. I think that protected areas should germanY 40

Partner initiatives in protected areas – Wadden Sea National Park (Text basis: Noemi Campo Herrera, Oyambre Natural Park, Spain)

Te core of the German protected area other partner businesses was apparent. partner initiatives are co-operation Following the frst impression, at this hotel agreements between park administrations there was less „partner feeling“ than at and a great variety of local businesses other partners we visited. Another partner that support the idea of looking after the is the shipping company MS Seeadler. It environment through the locals. Tis conducts trips to the biosphere reserve model gives inspiration to the Spanish area of Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea Oyambre Natural Park to promote a from the ports of Schlttsiel and Hallig similar approach. Hooge. Te company ofers regular trips

to various destinations within the islands Catching marine animals with National Park staf on the excur- High diversity of partner businesses and people can also rent a boat for group sion ship MS Seeadler, a National Park Partner company (Giacomo Benelli) in Wadden Sea National Park trips. As an example of informing tourists In total, 178 tourism companies and about the value of the Wadden Sea, our guest house, which gives the opportunity institutions that are especially connected trip on the MS Seeadler to Hallig Hooge to stay longer on Hallig Hooge, a place to Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea was accompanied by a National Park where most people only spend a few National Park have become ofcial ranger who was guiding a big group of hours. Although, because of a lack of time, National Park Partners. Tey meet special children – an excellent experience. After we could not get much direct information criteria and inform visitors and customers fshing sea fauna, the ranger showed and about the experience of being a National about the National Park and the region explained the live animals to the highly Park Partner, the frst impression of the (see section “Quality management in interested children that could observe café was “partner like”. Te café even has a business partnerships of protected areas”). them in a tank on board. fag with the Partner logo in a very visible area next to the house. As a National Park Partner you are On the holm “Hallig Hooge”, the very distinguished as: small and cosy “Café zum blauen Pesel” is All mentioned partner businesses present • particularly environmentally friendly run together with the “Hus Waterkant” the “Partner Nationalpark Wattenmeer” and sustainable, • a quality supplier, where the customer is king, • regionally committed and motivated, • ambassador of the national park idea, • friendly and competent advisor in national park matters.

Te visited partner businesses in Wadden Sea National Park were unique and together they demonstrated the high diversity of enterprises that cooperate with the National Park: the range of these partners comprise, for example, the three-star hotel “Strandhotel Fernsicht”, with more than 50 bedrooms and a restaurant. Here, rather less information about the National Park and none about On the way to Hallig Krog, a National Park Partner company on Hamburger Hallig (Giacomo Benelli) germanY 41

Landschaftsmodell des Wattenmeers am Besucherzentrum Multimar Wattforum Model of wadden sea landscape at Multimar Wattforum Visitor Centre (Stephanie Schubert) logo on the front page of their websites. visitors products and services associated business with the aim of knowing the level with their environmental values of the of acceptation that the brand could have. Cooperation with partners in Spanish Park and diferentiated from the rest by We conducted around 50 interviews in protected areas and the Natural Park their natural and authentic quality. total and in most of them the answer was of Oyambre quite positive, as they felt the brand could Tere are very few experiences in Spain Another example is the “Natural Brand report a beneft in terms of reputation and similar to the partner programme in from the Castillan y Leon”, likewise retention in their business. Germany, more related with local products supported by the Environmental Ministry. than with local business in general: the Te Natural Brand is a distinction of food We did not continue with the project “Natural Park of Andalusia” brand is a products, tourist services, and crafts of partly due to lack of time, although in quality mark awarded by the Ministry of companies located in a protected natural general the perception of the businesses Environment and Spatial Planning of the space in the region Castilla y Leon. A was positive, and some of them wanted Regional Government of Andalusia to commitment to good environmental to be part of it. At the moment this is those craft and natural products, as well practices as well as promotion and something that we might return to. as tourism services – accommodation, dissemination of the values of the catering, and active tourism – that are respective protected natural area, where produced within the Andalusian natural the activity is carried out, must be parks and their areas of socio-economic undertaken. infuence. It ofers the businesses a new opportunity for their promotion and A few years ago we tried to start a commercialization of products and partnership and natural park brand services within natural parks in Andalusia. implementation in natural parks and With the “Natural Park of Andalusia” Natura 2000 sites in Cantabria, taking brand, the population and companies those programmes as an example of settled in the natural park beneft from the what we could do. In the Natural Park of valorisation of the territory and can ofer Oyambre we interviewed most of the local germanY 42

Tourism management in German and Portuguese protected areas: diferent settings – equal challenges (Text basis: Fernando Louro Alves, Parque Florestal de Monsanto, Portugal)

Being a Mediterranean country, our actual context of protected areas in Portugal is completely diferent from the visited parks in Germany. Te main diferences are: 1 the cultural context, 2 the investment capacity, and 3 the ecology of the landscape. Nevertheless, the approach that was followed in the course of the study trip led our discussion to management strategies of protected areas – and these are applicable in any context. Te kind of use, carrying capacity, management of visitors, their impact, strategies for nature conservation, everything can be very easily compared to our own case. Our common challenge is how to attract visitors and, at Multimar Wattforum Visitor Centre of Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park (Fernando Louro Alves) the same time, how to lower their negative impacts on nature. While exchanging of our conditions of fre sensibility. We got about the diferent cultural background experiences and approaches with German insights into the introduction of artistic of the German visitors versus our own, park staf, the perspective of us foreign elements into the forest as attractions regarding high environmental awareness participants, including from Portugal, for visitors, as well as into the positive and cautious behaviour in German constituted a good basis for comparison efects of the rangers. We found out wildscapes. Finally, we got inspiring on several issues. insights understanding the National Park in dealing with the small stakeholders Müritz National Park from a acting inside the Park and not expecting Portuguese perspective to have very big fnancial support from big Parque Florestal de Monsanto in Portugal, entrepreneurs. where I come from, is a forest. Te main natural values of Mritz National Park On the other hand, we could let are the natural ecosystems, such as lakes Mritz National Park beneft from our (something we really miss) and one of the international experiences in subjects like last pristine forests of Fagus sylvatica in redesigning nature paths (slowing them Europe. down, basing them on interesting spots) and turning landscapes into learnscapes. On the one hand, in the course of the Tis goes together with enriching the study trip in Mritz National Park information provided to the visitors and we learned about the Park’s aims and the constant critical question “Do they approaches: the management of Mritz really need it?”. National Park focusses on the non- interference status (rewilding), which Te World Heritage Route in Mritz National Park ofers From a general viewpoint, I personally an accompanying app with a lot of information about the worried that if visitors that usually come seems impossible against the background outstanding beech forest (Fernando Louro Alves) germanY 43

to the Park because of the lakes then turn their attention to the forests, is the sufcient for them? How are you going to manage the increase in visitor numbers?

Inspiration from Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park Portugal has a coastline of more than 800 km. Te majority of foreign and national visitors look for the seaside. Tese kinds of tourists usually generate very big impacts on sensitive ecosystems. Te big issues are redirecting these visitors to a welcoming centre and organizing them to take more advantage of the values, and at the same time lowering their impact. In Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea Untouched nature in Mritz National Park is a big attraction for tourism (Fernando Louro Alves) National Park, we learned about communication with the rangers, environmental responsibility showed good examples: national park guides, and local promotors results, which is probably an efect of the • Improve communication with resulting in acceptance of the Park by involvement of all the stakeholders within stakeholders inside the Park. all the inhabitants, stakeholders, and protected areas. Te lower scale of the • Look for small business partners instead others. It was enlightening to see the partners and the personal connection with of big investors. National Park’s approach in planning the rangers and the park in total avoids • Reorganize the structural function of the main information centre as a facility, greenwashing. the rangers and their training. growing in size as need requires. From • Reinforce the need of support from a Portuguese point of view, it was Tis study trip was especially interesting all the stakeholders involved in impressive understanding the capacity for me – and I think for many other environmental education. of German visitors coming to the beach participants – because we are usually • Organize international cooperation. and, regarding the conservation areas, very involved on reactive tasks concerning • Organize an international fieldtrip to leaving their cars far from the beach and the management of our areas and we our Park? sometimes travelling some kilometres on sometimes “forget” to think “out of the foot or by bike. box”. By looking at other situations we see our own errors and we provide Conclusion from the international solutions both by hearing about other study trip and outlook experiences or just because we are out of One of the themes most interesting on the our context. Te participants came from feldtrip was the subject of volunteering diferent contexts, bringing very diferent and partnership. We saw that there was backgrounds in terms of training, in terms good and very efective volunteer work of organization (NGOs, administrations, organization, which led to them helping etc.), experience and the like. Tis was also in many small tasks. Te partnership a factor of enrichment of the study trip with local and national non-governmental because by this means we could learn with organizations was also shown to be very each other and lose our own “dogmatic” efcient and we in Portugal will need to truth. It is possible to learn more while work more on this subject. Te green talking to other experiences than by labelling as “National Park Partner” (see reading lots of books. sections “Partner initiatives in protected areas – Wadden Sea National Park” As soon as I got to my ofce, inspired and “Partner initiatives in protected from the study trip, I immediately put areas – Mritz National Park”) and some tasks on their way in order to the businesses’ ethical, social and ameliorate our aims and methods. Some finLand 44

Katja Arzt

Finland: alternative fnancing strategies for protected areas Introduction to the study visit

Protected areas visited Protected area categories: Te heart of national parks that have no individual • Nuuksio National Park of the Finnish protected areas are the administration. Teoretically, in this • Leivonmäki National Park national parks and various nature reserves system there are only one to two full-time • Southern Konnevesi National Park (strict nature reserves, mire reserves, etc.). employees per national park. Financing of • Isojärvi National Park All protected areas are based on the nature conservation measures often takes Nature Conservation Act and have place through EU funding. Background information been established since 1930. Te 40 About a tenth of Finland‘s land area is national parks occupy about 2.7% of under protection to various degrees. Finnish territory and comply with IUCN Responsibility for nature conservation category II. Tey are all located outside lies with the Finnish Ministry of the of inhabited areas, which results in a high Environment. Troughout Finland, and level of acceptance among the population. hence also in the national parks, “Freedom to roam” applies. Tis allows all humans Management of protected areas: Parks to move freely throughout the countryside & Wildlife Finland is a department of the and, for example, collect mushrooms and Finnish National Forestry Administration berries. On the same basis, campfres and Metsähallitus and is responsible for the overnight stays (permit required), boating national parks as well as many other and swimming are also allowed in national protected areas and heritage sites. Te parks. regional administrative units of Parks & Wildlife Finland each manage a group

What did we discuss, what were the important fndings? • Stated core assumption: conservation is a task for all of society, therefore financing of national parks must be done mainly by the state. However, this is only very limited. • Intensive cooperation between national parks and partner companies on the ground enables environmental education and nature experiences and increases awareness of the areas. • Communication focuses on the potential of the national parks and their potential uses, such as hiking, fishing, and overnight stays. Tese uses also generate revenue. • Finnish national parks offer a variety of activities for volunteers, for example voluntary Shepherd Weeks, or accompanying people with disabilities on a national park trip. finLand 45

Cooperation between protected areas and companies (Text basis: Martin Rimmler, Black Forest National Park Administration)

Many of the tasks that are typically carried out by German national park administrations are often outsourced in Finnish national parks due to their comparatively low human and fnancial resources. Tis approach leads to extensive and intensive cooperation with companies. In 2016, there were 518 companies ofering services in Finnish national parks. By signing a co-operation agreement with Metsähallitus, they commit themselves to following the principles of sustainable nature tourism when they operate in a national park area. Two statements made by one of Park & Wildlife Finland‘s employees illustrate the understanding Part of a camp in Southern Konnevesi National Park, a partner of Parks & Wildlife Finland (Martin Rimmler) of business cooperations, namely: “Companies are helping us do benefts from reduced capital expenditure. with up-to-date information about the our jobs”, “We want companies to do Te construction costs are incurred, but protected areas, which are not obligatory good business through the national the maintenance, operation, and personnel but usually well-attended. Te content parks”. Te outsourcing of national park costs are left to the tenant. In turn, the of the guided tours is not checked by related activities is presented here by way leasing company has the opportunity to Metsähallitus; they trust that the tours of example: build a business. are carried out in the spirit of Parks & Wildlife Finland. Likewise, the Visitor centres Guided tours companies report the number of guests Metsähallitus, or rather Parks & Wildlife Te shortage of staf at Parks & Wildlife to Metsähallitus every year on a basis Finland, owns 30 visitor centres, some Finland means that the organization of trust. From this they will be charged of which are in joint-ownership with the itself hardly operates any environmental an amount for the maintenance and municipality concerned. Only a few visitor education. In Leivonmäki National Park repair of the paths, fre sites (including centres are operated by themselves; most there is a Friends association, currently frewood), and toilets in the protected are leased to companies, as well as the with about 60 honorary members. areas. Southern Konnevesi National Park Haltia – the Finnish Nature Centre in Amongst others, they lead groups through charges a fee of €1.50 per person to Parks Nuuksio National Park, which we visited. the National Park and specifcally facilitate & Wildlife Finland. In the building there is an exhibition the elderly, people with disabilities, and (paid), shop, restaurant, lecture hall, refugees. With only a small number of and smaller meeting rooms. It is used by initiatives in Finland, the number of regular guests, groups, business people, National Park Friends is low, and Parks and for conferences. Te lease for the & Wildlife Finland often cooperates with centre is one million Euros for the initial private entrepreneurs ofering guided ten years. tours. Tey receive no fnancial support from Metsähallitus, but can determine For Metsähallitus, or rather Parks & Service station with a fuel and catering partner of Parks & the prices of their tours independently. Wildlife Finland near Southern Konnevesi National Park Wildlife Finland, this form of cooperation Metsähallitus ofers free training sessions (Martin Rimmler) finLand 46

Huts/camps In the national parks there is usually also accommodation available in the form of huts or camps. Tese are also operated not by Parks & Wildlife Finland, but by leasing companies, as in the case of Heretty hut in Isojärvi National Park, which we visited. In Southern Konnevesi National Park, most of the income earned by local entrepreneurs is through overnight stays. Metsähallitus advertises the accommodation and tours on its website and in social media – an efective and therefore important method for Catering partner of Parks & Wildlife Finland near Leivonmäki National Park, with old skis and sledges on the walls as features of companies. In addition, social media also regional culture (Martin Rimmler) acts as a means of control for Parks & Wildlife Finland. Customer satisfaction and also cases of divergences from the & Wildlife Finland manages the protected detracting from the communicative guidelines of Parks & Wildlife are visible areas, focusing on preserving nature, while aspect, there are certainly opportunities here. the cooperating companies provide visitor in Germany to make cooperation between care and want to earn protected areas and private companies Partner companies in transport from it. more fexible and to integrate the latter infrastructure more. Te example of Hunsrck- In addition to commercial activity Transference to protected areas in Hochwald National Park serves well here. within protected areas, Metsähallitus Germany Most tours are given over to external, also cooperates with companies in Tere are major diferences between certifed national park guides. In addition, their vicinity, for example with catering Germany and Finland with regard to licensed companies may use the National partner companies along the transport business cooperation with national parks. Park logo for sales items, such as plates infrastructure. From the outside, they For partnerships with National Natural and cups. usually look like of a motorway service Landscapes, there is the ofcial framework station: on second glance, one recognizes of the EUROPARC partner initiative: if that elements of the regional nature and you want to become a partner, you usually culture are incorporated. Tese companies have to fulfl a list of quite demanding have also signed an agreement with criteria. Following its award, the company Metsähallitus committing themselves to publicly represents the respective more sustainable management. It is to protected area, its value, as well as that of be assumed that this is also not checked the environment in general. by Metsähallitus or Parks & Wildlife Finland. Tere is no detailed list of criteria In Finland, this communicative aspect On the ceiling of the partner enterprise (previous illustration) water and fsh are represented as elements of the National Park for partner companies. In addition, there plays a lesser role. Te ofer and the (Martin Rimmler) are no plaques or certifcates indicating service for the visitors are foremost. Tis an award as a national park partner. makes Finnish protected areas more Information material about the protected fexible in cooperation with companies. areas is not available, or only sporadically. But they have to be. On the one hand, It is evident that a partner-ship with the right of access and use of the parks companies in the Finnish protected areas is more extensive and opportunities for is less of an award or indication of a experiencing nature are more supported. special connection with the protected area On the other hand, the fnancial and and its objectives. Rather, it‘s all about personnel framework does not allow for making common use of the region: Parks comprehensive visitor support. Without finLand 47

Health care as a source of funding for nature conservation (Text basis: Hubertus Welt, Freundeskreis Nationalpark Schwarzwald e. V.)

My particular interest in the study visit One approach: raising funds by seem important and correct to me for our to Finland was in regard to alternative, combining nature education with national parks. Several Finnish people additional ways of obtaining resources for health care repeatedly mentioned that the preventative the Black Forest National Park, but also Metsähallitus has chosen the path of and curative efects of forest visits, and for the Friends of the National Park. seeking recognition for health care as a physical activity in the countryside has beneft of national parks. If successful, been investigated with signifcant positive Financing protected areas as a task part of the fnancing of the parks will results. In fact, this refects a truism on a for the whole of society be requested from the health system scientifc basis. Together with the Black Metsähallitus aims for recognition structures. After my visit to Finland, both Forest National Park Administration, I that nature conservation is a task to be fnanced by society as a whole. Tis means that, in addition to those interested in nature conservation, the entire population and all state structures should also be fnancially charged for the preservation of nature and the management of national parks and their facilities. Te strategy of Metsähallitus is thus to meet the everyday needs of the population, but also the business plans of third parties and other state departments with nature conservation responsibilities, in order to bring in this funding. Te focus is, for example, sports and leisure needs, catering requirements of locals and visitors, private tourism ofers, opportunities for small business owners, and the inclusion of ofenders. Te respective target groups and partners accept paid ofers, usage rights, services and the like from the national parks, and thus provide money for the maintenance of the parks. In order to use sources of fnance from other departments, it is also the task of Metsähallitus to win over the respective political superstructure of the respective target groups (e.g., judicial and school administration) and corresponding associations (e.g., municipal associations and tourism organizations) to achieve co-fnancing of the parks.

Trail through Southern Konnevesi National Park (Katja Arzt) finLand 48

establish an ofer as outlined above, which • Find stakeholders and seek the expertise is used to lower blood pressure, reduce of, for example, doctors; use existing stress, lose weight, aid mental health, contacts with management board and so on, and do it in coordination with members the health care system? Tis must frst • Win over politicians and organize be discussed and decided upon by the events on the topic executive committee of the Friends the Park, and then a strong argument built. • Win over organic shops and vegetarian restaurants, as well as nature park “Healthy Parks – Healthy People – Finland, Health and Requirements for implementation in owners to promote the ofer to their Wellbeing 2025 programme” booklet from Metsähallitus the Black Forest National Park customers have therefore decided to look at the Implementation would require, among • Involve electric car suppliers and public question of whether a win-win situation other things, the following measures and transport can be developed for Friends of the Park cooperation: • Include tourism associations and the health care system. • Obtain research results from • Clarify with adult education centres Metsähallitus on the health efects of if such an ofer would be co-fnanced Te idea of the project is to use health the forest/national park visits • Organise training of National Park insurance-fnanced preventative measures • Make contact with the National Park guides on aspects of health in the form of guided walks in the Administration and Department 3 • Find sponsors for this idea National Park area (or beyond) to bring (National Park Planning, regional • Public relations, including in the about the desired health efects, to development and tourism), to include National Park Magazine combine this with teaching about nature, research fndings on nature experiences, and to use the tuition fees for fnancing wildlife, health, and recreation From “Healthy Parks – healthy people in the above-mentioned meaning. Behind • If applicable, research comparable offers – Finland, Health and Wellbeing 2025 this is the knowledge that various health in other regions programme”6 insurance companies already provide their • Contact with local and regional health “Our knowledge of the benefts of nature members with free or heavily subsidized insurance companies, and possibly with and outdoor recreation for human prevention in the form of back exercises, pension insurance institutions, to see if health and well-being has increased nutrition advice, relaxation ofers such they are interested in such an ofer tremendously over the last few years. as yoga, amongst others. So why not Nature has a highly positive impact on our physical, mental and social well-being. Visitor surveys and feedback support this – visitors gain a wide range of health benefts from outings in the wild. Our common goal is to inspire people to move and stay in the natural environment more often and for longer periods. Outdoor recreation activates people and promotes their health, regardless of their age and condition.” (Timo Tanninen, Executive Director, Parks & Wildlife Finland/ Metsähallitus and Jukka Bisi, Director, Game and Fisheries/Metsähallitus)

Simple infrastructure in Isojärvi Nationalpark that supports the enjoyment of nature and recreation (Katja Arzt)

6 Publisher: Parks & Wildlife Finland/Metsähallitus , 2017; Online at https://julkaisut.metsa.f/assets/pdf/lp/Muut/healthyparks.pdf finLand 49

Volunteering in Finnish national parks (Text basis: Mathias Heckroth, Mellumrat e. V.)

Talkoot is a Finnish word for a traditional form of neighbourhood or community help in Finland. Originally, individual projects were achieved through joint work, for example building a house. Nowadays, Talkoot in Finland is an important form of fnancing for many clubs, with members contributing to the club for free.

Volunteering: tradition and beneft for national parks Talkoot also plays an important role in nature conservation work. As the saying goes,“Good for you and good for nature”. Talkoot is not just volunteer work, but an event that also strengthens the sense of community and strengthens the acceptance of nature conservation. Due to its traditional roots, participation in Talkoot is correspondingly high in the Finnish Shepherd Weeks - a popular ofer for volunteers (Outi Ala-Härknen) sense of a societal obligation. amongst others they organize a driving water, to keep track of their general Finland‘s national parks ofer great service and guiding service in the National condition, and to lead them from one opportunities for volunteering. Typical Park for the elderly and/or people with pasture to the next. Very simple huts or voluntary activities are the recording of disabilities. Tis form of volunteering shepherd wagons are used for this. Te special animal and plant species, or the increases awareness, acceptance, and income from the paying volunteers goes maintenance of the cultural landscape opportunities to experience the National back into the sites for their preservation through mowing or clearing work, but Park. and maintenance. Te popularity of also the renovation of important historic the concept is now so great that this buildings or the conservation of animal Vapaaehtoiset paimenet shepherd‘s life has be won by lottery. and fsh populations on state land is luonnonsuojelualueilla – voluntary Every year, there are more than 4,000 partly based on the use of volunteers. Te shepherds in protected areas applications for a total of 142 weeks in numbers are impressive; according to the A special concept of volunteering is the twelve diferent national parks and other Finnish protected area administration Finnish Shepherd Weeks. Te concept protected areas. Metsähallitus, in 2016 3,788 volunteers is a combination of nature conservation participated in 211 diferent volunteer and management; at the same time, it activities in Finnish protected areas. strengthens the relationship of people to Tis contribution of volunteers equals nature and the landscape. For payment approximately 25-person years. of a fee, the arrangement comprises spending a week as a volunteer shepherd During the study trip, we got to know in a location where sheep maintain, and members of the Friends of the National thus preserve, the landscape. Te task is Park group in Leivonmäki National Park; to provide the animals with fresh drinking Metsähallitus Park & Wildlife Finland ofers the popular Shepherd Weeks for volunteers finLand 50

Thanks to volunteers, landscape conservation with sheep can take place (Tiina Hakkarainen)

Te decline of traditional pastoral farming Te Shepherd Weeks concept developed example from Finland. At this point it means that meadows with their rich fora in Finland could be implemented in all became clear to me that a (large) state and fauna are becoming increasingly European countries as a new kind of administration or large non-governmental rare in Finland. Grazing animals keep nature management. organization has more possibilities the landscape open and thus ensure and manpower to acquire funds. biodiversity. During the Shepherd Weeks, Conclusions and learning efects from Many projects of the Finnish nature the valuable landscapes are managed in an the study visit conservation authorities are EU funded. exemplary and efective manner, respecting An important point for me is the Here I see a good chance to also improve traditions, and increasing the acceptance signifcance of public relations. Voluntary fnancial conditions in National Natural of the population through actions and commitment can only be successful if, in Landscapes in Germany. Te issue of experiences. A win-win situation: the addition to the value of the actual work health care through countryside recreation shepherds get access to quality pastures undertaken, it also succeeds in increasing is of great importance in Finland, and that would otherwise be difcult to fnd, the acceptance of nature conservation and could be focussed on more and more in and the volunteer herders help to care for in spreading its benefts to the population Germany as well. the animals. Te operation strengthens in the outside world. Te example of the the volunteers‘ relationship with the Shepherd Weeks makes this very clear landscape and nature, giving them new and, in my opinion, this would be a good experiences and an unforgettable holiday. concept which could be introduced in In carrying out the activities, Parks & Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Wildlife Finland has taken all important Park. Te connection between voluntary aspects into account, from safety and commitment and landscape management liability to potential problem situations. can succeed here. In 2017, the Shepherd Weeks concept established by Parks & Wildlife Finland In addition, the sobering realization is was selected by the European Landscape that ever-diminishing fnancial resources On a joint excursion with volunteers of Friends of Leivonmäki Convention as the best landscape project are shaping nature conservation work, National Park (Katja Arzt) in Finland. From 2018, cow herding weeks not only in Germany but also in other will also be incorporated into the concept. European countries, as shown in this finLand 51

One perspective on protected area fnancing: cost saving and cost reduction (Text basis: Mercy Nambu Diangha; Cameroon, Germany)

Financing is one of the factors that most lodging services, saunas, rental services limits the management of protected for conference rooms, outdoor camping areas. Because fnances impact virtually and camping huts, tents and other tourist everything else that protected area equipment, transportation services, guided management entails, inadequate fnancing excursion, and camping in the parks, as poses great risks, which may result in well as gift shops. reduced protected areas management. Alternative funding strategies are therefore In addition, costs for the seasonal urgently needed and being adopted at maintenance of hiking and biking trails, diferent levels. Amongst these strategies grilling and open camping sites is a are those that save or reduce management burden. In Nuuksio National Park these Nuuksio Nature Centre in Nuuksio National Park: an example of third-party fnanced and externally operated national park costs of the protected areas. costs are reduced through seasonal hiring infrastructure (Katja Arzt) of well-behaved prisoners for reduced Financing Finnish national parks pay. It should be mentioned that this among others by claiming registration fees National parks in Finland are mainly approach gives prisoners the opportunity from the applicants. funded and managed by the government to interact with nature and also the chance agency Metsähallitus, specifcally its Parks to earn pocket money for themselves. Regarding funds solicited from external & Wildlife Finland department, with Additionally, volunteer services help to sources: infrastructure development, such support from regional administrators. fulfl specifc protected area management as the construction of Nuuksio Nature Metsähallitus’ current budgets for tasks that are not fnancially feasible (see Centre at Haltia, attracted additional protected area management are not section “Volunteering in Finnish national funds both from international partners enough to run the entire programme of parks”). In Leivonmäki National Park, a ( Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation) and work for all parks in the country and are business model for volunteering through a regional municipalities (Espoo, Helsinki, expected to face more trimming in the lottery system (Shepherd Weeks) has been Vantaa, Kauniainen, Kirkkonummi and near future. Downsizing budgets has adopted as a cost reduction strategy and Vihti, and Solvalla Nedre). Such co- triggered negative public feedback on park at the same time as revenue for the Park, fnancing acts freed Metsähallitus from activities and biodiversity conservation in general. Creation of additional revenue and adopting strategies to save and/or reduce current costs – and simultaneously improve nature conservation – is a probable way forward and imperative for the fnancing of Finnish national parks.

Cost reduction and saving strategies Leasing protected area management services to private entrepreneurs (see section “Cooperation between protected areas and companies”) has greatly relieved Metsähallitus of specifc responsibilities. At the same time, it has saved costs for implementing activities and tourist services such as running restaurants and German-Finnish „open air“ knowledge sharing in Southern Konnevesi National Park (Katja Arzt) finLand 52

the total cost if it were to sponsor the project alone.

Ancillary efects Te approach of leasing out park management services to companies and communities, together with cooperation with external supporters, achieves social recognition of the national parks as a common project to be fnanced. It is a means of empowerment by Metsähallitus because it ofers, for example, employment opportunities for local entrepreneurs and the integration of prisoners and volunteers.

In Leivonmäki National Park, sales of forest products, including berries and craft Informationen und Erfahrungen aus erster Hand im Isojärvi Nationalpark objects made from fossil material collected Information and experiences at frst hand in Isojärvi National Park (Katja Arzt) from the Park, has helped the community and the Friends of the Park initiative to Suggestions for cost reduction of work and help reduce cost burdens. raise funds for themselves and for the and fundraising in national park Entrance fees have been proven to be Park. A remarkable aspect is the fact that management an efective source of revenue for most the community being fully engaged at this Looking into the future, it is mainly national park services elsewhere. In the level and in close bonds with the National the responsibility of Metsähallitus visited Finnish national parks, entrance Park has helped reduce the costs that and interested stakeholders to ensure fees are not charged, but they should be Park management would have faced for that Finnish national parks continue considered. Adopting the conservation of conducting awareness and sensitization to fourish. First and foremost, the biodiversity as a core principle for carrying campaigns in the community. development of a transparent budget for out the national parks’ mandate and each park that targets specifc programmes sustainably exploiting ecosystem services Inherent limitations of work is imperative. Second, national from within parks for economic gains may Looking at cost saving and co-fnancing, park lobbyists should be granted attract more investors and conservation there are several inherent limitations to opportunities to justify the need for more organizations, as well as additional be considered. On the one hand, leasing funding for the parks in parliament as external funding for park management. tourism activities to private sectors, for these may pave a way to a sustainable Adopting habitat banking or conservation instance, focuses more on business returns. future cost reduction approach, which will banking schemes in park management As a consequence, the lack of a system for beneft the government even further. could pool together a range of credits from monitoring the business risks related to biodiversity conservation and development the state of biodiversity and ecosystem in Te development of a fund-raising schemes, which may help in monitoring the Park makes this a bigger problem for strategy should be a consultative process the parks landscape in the long term. Park management. On the other hand, the involving all interested stakeholders. strategies above may not provide sufcient Limited consultation and networking By brokering arrangements between revenue for regular and additional with interested stakeholders, as was the land-owning communities, planning spending for the Park’s activities in the case with the Friends of the Park initiative authorities and institutions that beneft long term. Finally, tangible contributions in Leivonmäki National Park, left the from good environmental conditions (e.g., from external sources facilitate progress, communities with very little alternative health institutions, education and research but funding from external sources is not funding options. institutions), a lot of money could be always easy to fnd and often comes with a found to create and manage habitats and lot of conditions and restrictions. Adopting eco-tourism strategies with fees to protect threatened and vulnerable charged according to fnancial need for species in the national parks. the park may target specifc programmes ne tHerLands 53

Neele Larondelle

Netherlands: Education for sustainable development in protected areas Introduction to the study visit

Visited protected areas position. Tey correspond in part to Natuurmonumten. Te non-governmental • Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park IUCN management category II, often organisation Instituut voor natuureducatie • Weerribben-Wieden National Park to category IV; in the latter case they are en duurzaamheid (IVN) undertakes • Dwingelderveld National Park more comparable to German biosphere a large amount of educational work in • Drents-Friese Wold National Park reserves or nature parks. Another less cooperation with the protected area stringent protected area category is administrations. Background information “National Landscapes” which, through Te Netherlands is characterized by a their combination of agricultural areas high population density, economically with natural and cultural history, shape intensively used landscape and, thus, the image of the Netherlands. by high pressure on the countryside; but it also has very high environmental Protected area administrations: In consciousness in the population. Valuable the Netherlands, state conservation was natural areas are often strictly protected, decentralized in 2013 and responsibility but are mostly isolated “islands of nature” given to the provinces. Te consequence is, surrounded by intensive agriculture. amongst others, a variety of administrative structures and management forms of Protected area categories: In the the national parks, partly led by the state diversity of protected area categories, the organisation Staatsbosbeheer and partly 20 national parks occupy a prominent by private organisations, for example

What did we discuss, what were the important fndings? •In national parks, much of the educational work is undertaken by well-established non-governmental organisations (NGOs). • In the Netherlands, the concept of education for sustainable development (ESD) is not as strong as it is in Germany. • In national park educational programmes with schools, the involvement of parents plays an important role, thus becoming further benefciaries of the educational content. • The participation of young people through attractive and serious offers makes it possible to firmly anchor protected areas in the region. • Volunteering is very well developed in the national parks; the key success factors are personal contact with and high esteem from the full-time employees, but also Dutch society in general. NE THERLANDS 54

ESD with youth: the example of “Junior Consultant Agency” (Text basis: Carolin von Prondzinsky, Naturwacht Brandenburg)

of providing creative and innovative food for thought with a “thinking out of the box” approach. For teenagers, the appeal lies in the possibility of being involved in something “real” that has opportunities for implementation and whose results they can follow and witness. They develop skills such as being self-reliant, team work and interdisciplinary work, learning to research and interview, they practice organising and presenting, and they can bring their creativity to life. The network of project partners, which has grown steadily for 17 years, speaks for itself: according to the IVN website, around 2,500 students The comprehensive IVN website for the “Jongeren Adviesbureau” increases its visibility, (www.ivn.nl/ivn-jongerenadviesbureau) in 65 schools and 40 companies or (governmental) organisations in 10 Younger children are usually more development of a municipality taking provinces are now involved every year. enthusiastic about environmental and into account various interests in use to nature issues than teenagers. Nevertheless, the production of renewable energy by Evaluation of Junior Consultant educational work with teenagers is a company. IVN acts as an intermediary Agency7 appealing and worthwhile because they between companies and schools and as a The basis for the evaluation is the are better able to use their knowledge professional companion. The teenagers “Qualitätskatalog für außerschulische and act independently. A convincing put together a team of experts, the Junior Anbieterinnen und Anbieter von Bildung approach is the Dutch example of the Consultant Agency, and take on roles such für nachhaltige Entwicklung (BNE) im Junior Consultant Agency, which not as secretary, creative thinker, practical Land Brandenburg (Dezember 2017)7” only provides the tools for sustainable implementer, or presenter. To familiarize (“Quality catalogue for extra-curricular action, but also allows immediate practical themselves with the respective topic, they providers of Education for Sustainable application in “real life”. hold talks with employees of the company and, if necessary, with other experts. After “Jongeren Adviesbureau” – Junior further independent research and the Ablaufplan für Schulen/Roadmap for schools Consultant Agency development of a solution to the problem, The concept of the Junior Consultant they develop a tangible result, such as a Agency was developed by IVN (Instituut model, poster, or report. They present voor natuureducatie en duurzamheid) this to the client and leave it for them to and since 2001 has been implemented use. Within half a year, the companies nationwide with secondary school will inform the teenagers about further students. The project idea is that teens developments. Companies pay €8,000 work on a real job from a company or for project organisation, and €4,000 for (government) organisation. It always repeated cooperation. has a sustainable or social relevance and ranges from campaign development The benefit to the supplier is that the to the sparing use of drinking water young minds are not yet stuck in old in Dutch schools, from regional ways of thinking, but are more capable Roadmap for a “Jongeren Adviesbureau” IVN project ne tHerLands 55

Te following evaluation of the “Jongeren ESD in protected areas in Adviesbureau” refers exclusively to the Brandenburg and the Netherlands criteria for the quality of the ofer and Due to the “ErlebnisVielfalt” (“diverse thereby only to the approach, methods, experience”) programme initiated in 2016 and shaping competencies to be acquired. by Naturwacht (ranger service) Branden- burg, there are now a whole series of Except for the quality criteria marked projects in Brandenburg‘s National in the table with “*”, only those are Natural Landscapes that correspond considered which are assumed as having conceptually to the criteria of the been fulflled with each Junior Consult Brandenburg ESD quality catalogue. Te Agency project. For both items marked educational ofers presented by the Dutch with “*”, the current level of knowledge is colleagues are very professional, caringly not sufcient to assume that it applies in designed, and cleverly thought out. In each individual case. Since the contracts its own way, each fulfls diferent criteria within the framework of the Junior of the named ESD quality catalogue. Consultant Agency must always have a However, most of them do not seem to social or sustainable relationship, there is fully comply with this standard, but testify a lot to suggest that it does. If a task does to a rather open and less conceptually- not have one or both of these features, based (but certainly refreshing) approach the instructor could remedy it with a to ESD. Even such projects can greatly Quality catalogue for extra-curricular providers of education for specially-made one. Tus, the project promote the idea of sustainability among sustainable development (ESD) in the state of Brandenburg Junior Consult Agency can certainly children and teenagers – and sometimes a Development (ESD) in the State of be regarded as a high-quality ESD little less may be more!? Brandenburg (December 2017))”. Tis is programme with regard to the quality of roughly divided into two quality areas, the the ofer. quality of the ofer and the management quality of a project.

Minimum Section Applicable quality criteria in the programme requirement met multidimensional * Variety of topics (X) Approach inter-/transdisciplinary perspective diversity contentious * (X) experience and experiment activating refective action orientation activated X interactive Holistic Methods multimedia appropriate for aims, target groups, content and concept appropriate and sound X tried and tested preparatory supportive X follow up / continuation methods skills interdisciplinary knowledge acquisition and processing X plan and act together with others Shaping recognize and weigh up conficts of interest when social skills X competencies refecting on action participate in collective decision-making processes personal skills can plan and act independently X

Table. 1: Evaluation of the IVN “Jongeren Adviesbureau” programme based on the Brandenburg ESD quality catalogue

7 s.a. http://www.mlul.brandenburg.de/cms/media.php/lbm1.a.3310.de/BNE-Qualitaetskatalog-BB.pdf ne tHerLands 56

Primary school education opportunities: the example of “Vogelreise” (Text basis: Nadja Poser, Naturwacht Brandenburg)

Weeribben-Wieden National Park ofers Station 1, Nest: Te buzzard introduces a number of primary school programmes itself as Max. Te children get to know the developed by the IVN (Instituut voor breeding behaviour of buzzards and work natuureducatie en duurzamheid) that together to create a small buzzard nest. address children between the ages of 5 and Te buzzard has a name; with this, the 12. Tey are part of the curriculum of the children are already beginning to identify province of Overijssel, so that each class with it and empathy is encouraged. uses an ofer in the National Park at least Te change in the perspective of the once a year. Booking is done online and buzzard allows a comparison to the Environmental educator Tea Peters from IVN introduces at the same time documents are available real-life situation of the children, because the „Vogelreise“ („bird journey“) programme in the typical for download, from travel directions to a they know the buzzard. Tere is an landscape of Weerribben-Wieden National Parks (Neele Larondelle) preparation folder8. On the project day the environmental view from the buzzard’s classes are supervised by volunteers. perspective and from the point of view Te buzzard lives together with other of humans. Teamwork is required in animals; the children learn that one must “Vogelreise” educational offer in the nest construction task. In summary, get on with one’s neighbours to live well Weerribben-Wieden National Park ESD quality characteristics 3.1.1, 3.1.2, together. Te children learn that others Te birdwatching programme for grades 4.1.1, 4.2.1, and 4.3.3 can be found at this also have diferent needs and thus live 3 and 4 covers fve common bird species station. diferently. To fnd out what the other in the national park: great cormorant, animals look like, the children are given common buzzard, greylag goose, great Station 2, Neighbours: Max describes the task of looking up the neighbours crested grebe, and sedge warbler. Each how he lives with his wife Bea and in the bird guide – a stimulus for small group takes on the role of a bird introduces some of his neighbours - tawny independent problem solving. In summary, species and gets to know the life and owl, Eurasian hobby, northern goshawk. ESD quality characteristics 3.1.1, 3.1.2, dangers of their bird in a fun way, Te children are given the task of looking 3.1.3, 3.1.8, 3.2.1, 4.1.1, and 4.3.3. can be completing tasks at diferent stations. As up the buzzard and its neighbours in a found here. a follow-up at school, the small groups bird guide. present their bird species to each other, Station 3, I live here: Max the buzzard for example as a small play, as a newspaper describes his territory and which or website report, or a photo exhibition. requirements it must satisfy. As an Te following analysis examines the activity, two groups of children are given “common buzzard” stations for the group the task of painting two pictures of the as an example. Te basis for this is the surroundings. “Qualitätskatalog fr außerschulische Te focus here is on taking individual facts Anbieterinnen und Anbieter von Bildung and creating comprehensive knowledge in fr nachhaltige Entwicklung (BNE) im the context of a habitat. However, there is Land Brandenburg (Dezember 2017)” no comparison with one‘s own habitat and (“Quality catalogue for extra-curricular reference to overlapping habitat. Although Study material from the “Vogelreise” (“bird journey”) providers of Education for Sustainable pro-gramme, with species that are frequently found in the station promotes cooperation in a pair Development (ESD) in the State of Weerribben-Wieden National Park: great cormorant, and the powers of observation, it does not common buzzard, greylag goose, great crested grebe, and Brandenburg (December 2017))”9. sedge warbler (Nadja Poser) correspond directly to any ESD quality feature.

8 s.a.: https://wvde.i-reserve.net/overige-wieden, http://www.np-weerribbenwieden.nl/op-vogelreis 9 s.a.: http://www.mlul.brandenburg.de/cms/media.php/lbm1.a.3310.de/BNE-Qualitaetskatalog-BB.pdf; Categorization of the above-mentioned methods and their quality criteria: 3.1.1 experience, test; 3.1.2 situated; 3.1.3 activating; 3.1.5 refected; 3.1.8 multimedia; 3.2.1 appropriate for goals, target groups, content and approach; Categorization of the above-mentioned shaping competence and their quality criteria: 4.1.1 Cosmopolitan and integrating new perspectives in building knowledge; 4.2.1 Can plan and act together with others; 4.3.3 can show empathy for others ne tHerLands 57

made here. In summary, the ESD quality characteristic 3.1.2 can be found.

Station 8, Appearance: Tis station describes the appearance of buzzards and, as an activity, the children get a puzzle with the image of a buzzard. Tis station conveys species-specifc knowledge in a classic environmental education way.

Summary and learning efects from the study visit ESD quality characteristics can be recognized in the methods, but overall there is a lack of reference to the children‘s own lives and refection of their own actions. More dimensions could be

Die “Vogelreise” wird ber das Online-Portal des Nationalparks Weeriben-Wieden gebucht: interconnected, and dependencies could Te “Vogelreise” (“bird journey”) can be booked via the online portal of Weerribben-Wieden National Park: be considered which also touch the https://wvde.i-reserve.net/overige-wieden children, so that conclusions could be made at the end with regard to protective Station 4, My favourite food: Max the Station 6, Dangers: Max talks about measures or sustainable travel. Working in buzzard explains which food he likes to the dangers that sometimes threaten small groups and the subsequent follow- eat and where he fnds it. As an activity, him, such as white-tailed eagles, cars, or up are important methods and promote the children are given the task to discover poisoned baits. As an activity, the children competencies anchored in the ESD at what distance they can still see a toy play a quiz with danger cards. concept. Te next step is to optimize the mouse and to compare it with the visibility “Vogelreise” primary school programme of a common buzzard. Again, there is a reference to your own to the conditions of our Lower Lusatian life. Te children learn about the efects Heath Nature Park and to ESD At this station there is a direct of their own lifestyle on the environment. standards. relationship to the children‘s own world, as However, in the game with the danger well as a connection between food intake maps, subsequent refection on which and dangers from humans. Similar to dangers could be reduced as well as station 1, there is a change of perspective recognition of sustainable action or and like station 2 there is a comparison. dealing with dilemmas is missing. In In this task, the senses are addressed and summary, this means that the ESD quality compared. Te children learn that others characteristic 3.1.2 can be found. perceive the environment diferently: I am not you, you are not me. Tis promotes Station 7, Holidays: Tis station is about the development of sensitivity to the the overwintering behaviour of buzzards. environment. In summary, ESD quality As an activity, the children should fnd the characteristics 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.5, 3.2.1, countries on a world map where they were and 4.1.1 can be found at this station. once on holiday or where they would like to visit. Station 5, Here’s how I do it: At this station, the children learn about the Looking at migratory behaviour looks behaviour of the buzzard and are given across country borders and also looks the task of sitting on a pole like a buzzard, at their own life. However, the global making a mewing noise. Tis station connection is not made tangible. conveys species-specifc knowledge in a Connections between plane/train/ classic environmental education way. road travel and CO2 emissions could be ne tHerLands 58

GPS rally as an education opportunity (Text basis: Christina Winter, Naturwacht Brandenburg)

Te use of electronic devices in Orientation with compass and map educational work is usually very popular station: With a compass and a historical with children and teenagers. It is certainly map, the boundaries of three former the experience of Naturwacht (ranger municipalities should be traced and service) Brandenburg that schools ask for thereby the use of the tools should be GPS rallies as an educational module. As learned. such it should be aligned with the criteria of education for sustainable development Remembrance of the Second World War (ESD). station: Tis is located at a monument

to the Second World War on the site of a Te GPS rally as a training ground for the ESD goal “Planning GPS rally in Sallandse Heuvelrug former of barracks, where Jewish forced and working together with others” (Christina Winter) National Park laborers were housed. Te participants are Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park ofers invited to examine the monument and to together with others; participating in a GPS rally to 11 to 12-year olds. Tis answer questions. decision-making processes; motivating takes up the nature and history themes others to become active. of the region and consists of stations GPS rally conceptual design in that small groups children run through Grumsiner Forst nature reserve in Te participants receive information about alternately. Te teams receive a GPS Schorfheide-Chorin UNESCO Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve, device with the station coordinates, a biosphere reserve and the objectives and zoning of biosphere questionnaire, and a key. Tis allows Te GPS rally takes place in a mixed reserves. Tey are then able to design them to open boxes with tasks and work beech forest area. It is designed for grades a biosphere reserve model with natural materials on the ground at the stations. 7 to 10. Under guidance, the groups run materials and present it. alternately around the stations with their Cultural history station: In front of the GPS devices. Forest ecosystem station: Objective: Te foundation walls of a former 19th century Biosphere reserve station: Objective: children can explain the term “ecosystem” house, the teams receive information Participants get to know the concept of and know relationships and dependencies, about the family that lived there and the biosphere reserves and can reproduce their especially in a forest. ESD goals: forward- task of fnding six things that were already zoning. ESD goals: planning and working looking thinking and acting; identify and there and three things that are new.

Animal tracks and signs station: Te task is to fnd, identify and present animal tracks and signs in the forest. Te children sharpen their awareness of small clues about living things.

Ice age stones station: Te children receive a datasheet about abiotic factors that form stones, search for stones, and thus capture the glacial character of the landscape.

Te illustrations provided help with identifying the objects found (Christina Winter) ne tHerLands 59

ESD goal: gaining and acting on interdisciplinary fndings; recognizing and balancing risks, dangers, and uncertainties; recognizing and considering conficting goals when refecting on strategies for action.

Tree same-sized groups are positioned on three buckets (“human”,“forest”,“time”) that are ten metres apart in a triangle and contain twelve pieces of wood each. One group member runs to the given bucket of another group (“human” runs to “forest”, “forest” runs to “time”,“time” runs to “human”), takes a piece of wood and Orientierung während der Rallye mit Kompass und Karte places it in its own bucket,“human” always Orientation during the rally with map and compass (Neele Larondelle) take two pieces of wood. Te end of the balance risks, dangers, and uncertainties. Ecosystem services station: Objective: game is when a group can no longer bring Te children receive a text about Te children can explain ecosystem a piece of wood back to its own bucket. ecosystems. Tey then identify the forest services and transfer them to the forest. Tere is a discussion on people taking ecosystem network in the district: a child ESD goals: forward-looking thinking and more wood out of the “forest” than went with a ball of string names an element acting; fnding and using interdisciplinary in. Together, the children consider how of the forest (e.g., tree), keeps one end of knowledge; recognizing and balancing the rules need to be changed so that the the string and throws the ball to another risks, dangers, and uncertainties; planning game could go on forever. Based on these child. Tey then name an element of the and working together with others. fndings, the term “sustainability” is ex- forest associated with the previous one plained and transferred to human action. (e.g., caterpillar), then throw the ball of Te children receive information about string, and so on. When the child who ecosystem services. In groups, they think Te rally concludes with a refection started retrieves the rope, a network about what the forest provides, present on the term “sustainability” and the can be seen. Next, a component of the the results, and discuss what is needed to biosphere reserve objectives. Te children “ecosystem” disappears: one child lets go maintain the services and what they can can contribute their own ideas about of the rope, and all who feel the relaxation do themselves to help. sustainability in everyday life. of tension also let go. Tis shows how an ecosystem can collapse when components Plant identifcation station: Learning Conclusions from the study visit are eliminated. At the end, the supervisor objective: the children learn and identify Te study visit in the Netherlands encourages refection. classic forest plants (including edible showed that we are on the right track in ones). ESD goals: to motivate others to Brandenburg. In education, we deal with Animal tracks and signs station: become active. sustainability and put a strong focus on Objective: Te participants identify ESD. From our experience, ESD does not animal tracks and signs in the forest and Te children receive a plant identifcation play such a major role in Dutch protected can draw conclusions about the animal card, with information on location areas. In addition, ESD is considered world. ESD goals: to motivate others to requirements and edibility, and look for less strictly conceptual than in Germany. become active. the plants on site. Te accompanying Te categorization of ESD aspects into Te children receive a summary of person stimulates the discussion on sub-competences was not evident in the possible animal tracks and signs in the how the range of species could change Netherlands. Te experience of nature forest (feeding, droppings, footprints, etc.) depending on forest type and forest and the teaching of nature knowledge with and use fags to mark those found on site. management. diverse methods are in the foreground On a tour, they identify the tracks and here. Nonetheless, the methods selected signs together and draw conclusions about Sustainability station: Objective: the often correspond to diferent ESD criteria. animal life in the forest. children can describe sustainability and sustainable forestry for themselves. ne tHerLands 60

Strengthen the impact of ESD: fnal presentation of educational programmes (Text basis: Dominik Maier, Hainich National Park Administration)

Two examples from Dutch educational “Natural forest” education programme programmes show that fnal presentations Once a year, Drents-Friese Wold National by the participating children in front of Park ofers the education programme their families are a useful addition to the “Bos natuurlijk” (“natural forest”) for educational ofers of national parks in children aged 11-12 years and upwards. order to deepen what they have learned In total, 125 children from fve schools and to disseminate the content. can participate. Te fact that there is a waiting list of fve years gives the ofer “Nature Ambassador” education an exclusive character, but is something programme to be viewed critically. Te programme Te “Nature Ambassadors” educational is accompanied by 25 supervisors – fve programme of Weerribben-Wieden rangers plus volunteers. During “natural National Park pursues the goal of forest”, the children should have direct familiarizing children and young people with traditional, semi-natural economic systems in the water-rich region and with A duck decoy is a trap which used tame ducks and special dogs natural phenomena which they can impart to capture wild ducks (Neele Larondelle) in their personal surroundings in the spirit of nature ambassadors. families of the participating children, during which the schools and the One component of the programme, the workshop groups introduce themselves “Woordvoerders van de Eendekooi” with their experiences and results. (literally “spokesman of the duck decoy”), Te excursion day consists of a two-and- is aimed at school classes with children a-half-hour cross-country wilderness track approximately twelve years old. Ducks as with rangers, and one-hour workshops led typical aquatic creatures and the historical by volunteers on topics such as looking trap for ducks in this case serve as for and identifying mushrooms and small illustrative examples of native species and animals, survival under tarpaulins and traditional use. Te programme consists lighting fres, building huts and wilderness of four phases: 1. visit to the school class food (preparing herb soup and bread herb by a duck-catcher with a dog; 2. station Cooking outside in the programme “Natural forest” as a nature cream cheese). Te end of the day is a programme around the duck decoy (see experience for children (Dominik Maier) spent together grilling marshmallows. below); 3. presentation preparation at school; 4. presentation at school for the How much ESD is in it? families of the participating children. Te experiences with nature and get ideas for Tis discussion only refers to the brief programme phase at the duck decoy has future trips to the countryside. Similar to insight that was gained, so it may be that six stations, which the children go through “Woordvoerders van de Eendekooi”, the the lack of individual ESD elements is in small groups. Te stations deal with the process is divided into several phases: criticized, even though they do actually themes of how the duck decoy works, tree 1. Preparatory lesson(s) at school on the exist. In “Nature Ambassadors”, diferent species around the water and determining subject of forest ecology, accompanied by aspects of the integration of ecology, the age of trees, duck nests made of wicker volunteers; 2. excursion day with several economy, society, and culture are shown baskets, noise maps, duck happy families, programme points (see below); and their interconnectedness becomes and duck sayings. 3. a large presentation event for the clear. Both programmes, however, lack ne tHerLands 61

guidance for a more sustainable lifestyle and global perspectives. For “Natural Forest”, even encroaching on nature was tolerated which actually promoted non- sustainable behaviour, for example in building huts from fresh material such as grass, twigs and moss. Te selection of topics would allow a global perspective to be integrated, for example certain individual workshops/stations could be replaced. Both programmes illustrate that sustainability as well as education are important to Dutch National Parks, but ESD (as understood and implemented as a concept in Germany) seems unknown.

However, individual elements can be easily-adapted to ESD as we understand it; for example, presenting what has been Hainich National Park: Ideal learning place for young ancient woodland experts (Katharina Sabry) learned and developed to the families of children and teenagers, which is refected become agents themselves, which is an should also be included, for example as in both programmes. In the case of important aspect of ESD. a video interview. Workshop topics are “Natural Forest”, this presentation is agriculture (monocultures, palm oil, organised centrally; as a result, the type Suggestions for a planned “Ancient cocoa, soya, livestock), logging (furniture, of presentation can be better infuenced Woodland” educational programme paper, frewood), and mineral resources and the contents conveyed can be checked. Te idea: in Hainich National Park’s (aluminium, coltan as a confict material). Te relatively large organisational efort programme, participants aged around Afterwards, the children create short is afordable for the schools and the 12 to 14 are trained and qualifed to be presentations and introduce them to the accompanying national park, as it is ancient woodland experts and to be able other groups; 4. Joint presentation by the limited to one event per year. For “Nature to pass on their acquired knowledge. Te children in front of their families, with a Ambassadors”, the fnal event is left to following is a rough outline for a multi- focus on the theme of ancient woodland schools, so quality control is more difcult. day event, suitable for example for project (which is based on programme modules For this reason, more participants will be days. Te fnal step is the presentation of 1 and 2) and the workshop topics from reached every year and simultaneously the content, inspired by the study visit. module 3 (which the children present at with less organisational efort. Te procedure consists of four modules: information stands). 1. In-school preparation, supported by Te above-mentioned closing events national park personnel, for the topics will support the shaping competencies “What is ancient woodland?”,“Where of children and young people, how they can we fnd ancient woodlands?”,“Ancient can plan and work with others, how woodland in the middle of Germany”,“Let to motivate themselves and others, to nature be nature!”; 2. ancient woodland become active, to participate in collective expedition in the “Ancient woodland in decision-making processes, and to the middle of Germany”, which allows gain interdisciplinary knowledge and them to experience frst-hand and get to action. Whilst preparing presentations, know its special features; 3. Workshops they revise the educational topics and entitled “Ancient woodland in danger”, deal with them more intensively. Tey where the children learn from examples of become multipliers, which disseminates various threats to ancient woodland and the topics further. Not only do children develop ways of behaving to counteract and teenagers receive information, they them. Te opinions of local stakeholders ne tHerLands 62

Qualifcation of volunteers in the educational work of Dutch national parks (Text basis: Lea Potrafke, Volunteer in Unteres Odertal National Park)

Education in Dutch National Parks is – Institute for Nature Education and involving volunteers focus on the ability mainly done by volunteers – an approach Sustainability). As these organisations to interact with children. Advanced that provides ideas, but also raises critical have only a few permanent staf per ecological expertise and a professional questions. national park, the protected areas depend “green background” are often unnecessary. on many active volunteers, including in Qualifcations for the activity are made Volunteers in education: many tasks, education. In Dwingelderveld National as shown in the table, for example in few conditions, matching qualifcations Park alone, 80 active volunteers are workshops and by shadowing full-time Unlike in Germany, Dutch national parks currently assisting 3.5 permanent employees or experienced volunteers. are not wholly owned by the state, but administrative posts. Each of the three mainly by two national organisations, the mentioned organisations coordinates, In comparison, the qualifcation private organisation “Natuurmonumenten” supervises, and trains volunteers in the requirements for the honorary Junior and the state organisation visited national parks. Te type and scope Ranger supervisors are higher; they “Staatsbosbeheer”. Another signifcant of the qualifcations, as well as the further organise and hold regular Junior Ranger diference to the German system is that support of the volunteers in terms of meetings of children and teenagers. A a large part of the educational ofers equipment and expense allowances, vary prerequisite for a Junior Ranger supervisor is developed and coordinated by a greatly depending on the organisation is, amongst others, a minimum age of 21 central organisation, the “Instituut voor and the area of responsibility of the years and, in addition to good knowledge Natuureducatie en Duurzaamheid” (IVN volunteers (see Table 1). Most projects of the area and its natural environment, a

Responsible Project Tasks Qualifcation Equipment, fnancial body support Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park iVn rental to schools of teaching development, 1.5 years long, weekly uniform boxes on ecological themes implementation natuur- public excursions twice a week implementation workshops, shadowing uniform monumenten €7.50/excursion travel expenses national park gps tour for school classes implementation 6x half-day training travel expenses authority/iVn Weerribben-Wieden National Park iVn Varied primary education implementation workshops, shadowing uniform programme Dwingelderveld National Park iVn/natuur- school programme on the implementation workshops, shadowing travel expenses monumenten “Big five” of the region Drents-Friese Wold National Park iVn annual big event for fve school implementation, partly workshops travel expenses classes organisation Junior Ranger Netherlands (all four National Parks) iVn junior ranger activities preparation, state-wide training uniform implementation and workshops €25 per event

Table 1: Areas of application, qualifcation and equipment of volunteers in selected Dutch national parks ne tHerLands 63

strong sense of appreciation for children in environmental education and ESD and teenagers on an equal footing, of large nature reserves is very high – together with the ability to recognize the especially as it becomes clear on closer individual diferences of Junior Rangers examination that there is a high positive and to promote their development. To correlation between the goals of ESD develop these skills, there are nationwide and voluntary work. So, you could say: IVN training programmes. It‘s interesting volunteering is living ESD. to note that Dutch Junior Rangers are being qualifed under the Junior Ranger Programme so that they can support and represent the parks as they get older. After the age of 18, they automatically become volunteers of the IVN. As part of the Junior Ranger programme, they learn, above all, to carry out a variety of landscape management work.

Findings and conclusions Compared to Germany, there is a lot of responsibility for volunteers in the education work of Dutch national parks. Tis is due to the support structure of the national parks, but certainly also infuenced by the importance that social Volunteers in Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park continue their education during an excursion (Nico Driessen) engagement has in this country. Te intensive use of volunteers in education, be it ESD or environmental education, must also be viewed critically in the following respect: education is a valuable asset and should not be exclusively in the hands of untrained volunteers. Otherwise, this could lead to a reduction in the quality of educational work and also to a lowering of social esteem. On the other hand, using volunteers to support professionals in educational work has many positive side efects, including: protected areas receive immediate support, so they can increase the scope and intensity of their educational work; the volunteers beneft from a wide range of opportunities for informal and non-formal education, identify with “their” protected area, and thus act as multipliers of nature Volunteer Junior Ranger supervisors in action in Drents-Friese Wold National Park (Nico Driessen) conservation and sustainability thoughts in their social environment; young volunteers gain orientation with regard to their education interests and career aspirations. As support for full-time skilled workers, the value of volunteering ne tHerLands 64

Volunteering as an opportunity for ESD (Text basis: Nancy Langer, Volunteer in Unteres Odertal National Park)

On the one hand, the successful spread of education for sustainable development (ESD) depends on how many people it is conveyed by. Volunteers working in a wide range of educational opportunities in Dutch National Parks play an important role here, simply because of their large numbers. Secondly, success depends on the opportunities for individuals to develop their competencies in the sense of ESD. Volunteer placement is an excellent learning ground for it.

Volunteering in educational programmes in Dutch national parks Volunteers are involved in large numbers in the Dutch National Parks visited. Voluntary educational programme for school classes in Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park (Nico Driessen) Te cooperation of 40 to 80 volunteers annually is the rule. Amongst others, they of volunteer management seems far Conditions for enhancing commitment support the education sector, including ahead of us. Particularly striking are the appear to be the following in particular: those with strong ESD as well as those comparatively high number of actively the Dutch population is generally much with a classic environmental education cooperating volunteers and their strong more open to voluntary participation background. Te areas of activity of involvement. For example, the demand and self-commitment than the German the volunteers are things like guided is so high for volunteering opportunities one. Te commercialization of national tours, lectures, and programmes for in Dwingelderveld National Park that parks is highly marketed for them, for school classes, such as GPS tours or the National Park has to select those example through the sale of souvenirs in the supervision of Junior Rangers. Te interested through intensive interviews. national park centres, but also through tasks also include design (such as the development of educational material) and organisation (such as the maintenance and delivery of educational kits to schools). Depending on the area, the volunteers are trained (see section “Qualifcation of volunteers in the educational work of Dutch national parks”). Volunteers are often retired people who want to do something for nature and society in their free time. Volunteer coordination is one of the main tasks of the full-time employees in the national parks.

In general, for the visited Dutch An advertisement for the TV casting show “Boswachter gezocht” (“Ranger Wanted”) – also making Dutch national parks national parks, the type and utilisation attractive to volunteers (Neele Larondelle) ne tHerLands 65

the television series “Boswachter gezocht”, in comparison with the Dutch examples, very impressively in the Netherlands, a casting show in which rangers are the overall stafng capacity of the main the use of volunteers enables the sought. Te positive image of the national and voluntary workers is insufcient for implementation of ESD programmes parks promoted in this way seems to be educational activities, especially for young on a much larger scale. As a result, the particularly attractive to volunteers. Te target groups which should be actively recipient group also grows because both attraction may also be due to the fact that, promoted. Despite great equipment and the participants and the intermediaries in a country very strongly dominated and possibilities, environmental education beneft from the knowledge transferred. shaped by people, nature has a unique opportunities for children and teenagers Volunteers in particular perform an position as a special place for discovery have been reduced to a minimum. excellent multiplier function because they and recreation. not only communicate ESD aspects in In order to increase volunteering the programmes, but also, with their high Volunteering in the Lower Oder involvement in Lower Oder Valley degree of engagement with the topic, they Valley National Park National Park for the implementation of are likely to orient their lifestyle towards Te helpers who actively work in the ESD, the following measures could be sustainable development. In doing so, they Lower Oder Valley National Park are 18 appropriate: establishing a wider range bring aspects of sustainable development volunteers who are bound by agreement, of volunteer projects and creative ideas into their personal environment and as well as one or two on their voluntary to attract new volunteers. Te direct encourage their fellow human beings to ecological year or from the federal involvement of students from Eberswalde live a more sustainable lifestyle. It would volunteer service. Tese volunteers University for Sustainable Development be a quick and comprehensive way of help with the education of the Junior (HNE) could also be a great beneft for working towards social development Ranger group. Other activities include the National Park, as its professional goals on a large scale. At the same participation in annual inventories and profle fts exactly into the activities of the time, volunteers directly and indirectly various major events, such as “Whooper National Park and ESD. At the same time, promote the protected area and volunteer Swan Days”‚ or “Crane Week”. In addition, the students would have the opportunity work within it, thus furthering the eight hobby ornithologists are among to gain work experience and to improve acceptance of the protected area in the the volunteers who support Naturwacht their future job opportunities. Te main population. Because volunteering not (ranger service) bird counts. Tus, both problem in the implementation of such only presupposes but also promotes the number of volunteers and the number measures will certainly be management commitment, dedication, sense of of felds of utilisation is comparatively and qualifcation of the volunteers, as community and tolerance, the whole of small. However, possibilities in the both activities require a lot of time and society can beneft from it. National Park are also severely limited coordination, which could probably only since volunteer management in the Lower be covered by a dedicated full-time stafng Oder Valley is always the responsibility position. of a member of Naturwacht and the administration, whereas volunteer Te opportunities of volunteering coordination only represents a partial for ESD aspect of their entire work spectrum. In my opinion, investing in volunteering Even though the volunteers are integrated has a high potential for ESD. As shown into the EUROPARC programme “Ehrensache Natur – Freiwillige in Parks” (“Pride in nature – volunteers in parks”), there is no capacity for dedicated volunteer management staf. Although the number of full-time employees in Lower Oder Valley National Park is high

Logo „Ehrensache Natur“ „Pride in nature“ logo ne tHerLands 66

Visitor centres in Dutch national parks (Text basis: Erika Hofmann, Kellerwald-Edersee National Park Authority)

Visitor centres are the main hub for games) is appealing and invites you to visitors in national parks. Tey give a browse. Often, nests for birds, bats and frst impression of the protected area, insects are sold. Te wood products are present its special features and the value strikingly cheap; unfortunately, these are of the nature conservation idea with an also generally made of tropical wood. exhibition, and inform about further Admission is free. national park ofers. Tus, they can serve as a multiplier for selected topics and for Buitencentrum Sallandse Heuvelrug, Buitencentrum De Sallandse Heuvelrug with observatory (Nadja Poser) education for sustainable development in the National Park of the same name, (ESD). In order to communicate ESD, was originally just a shop. Information the establishment must be credible boards and mobile exhibition components, and consistent in its facilities; another generally on the theme of sustainability, relevant criterion is also the selection of were added later. Te interactive elements products that are for sale. ESD is based are aimed at primary school children; on value and competence. Choosing there is much to discover and solve via sustainable products has a direct games. In terms of content, the theme connection to everyday life and lifestyle. of the National Park is difcult to grasp, Shop in Buitencentrum De Sallandse Heuvelrug (Erika Hofmann) To comprehensively fulfl the multiplier as the extensive and very attractive shop function (i.e. to reach many visitors), good attracts most attention. Tis is located on infrastructure and accessibility are of the ground foor together with the café great advantage. On-site parking, toilets, and impressive indoor freplace. Upstairs a restaurant, and a shop complete the are a planetarium and the observatory. attraction. In the following analysis of Tere are guided tours for children and Dutch national park visitor centres, the events for groups. In the surroundings focus is on the placement of the respective there are some themed trails and parkour protected area issues, the design of the “playground equipment”. Te centre Indoor freplace in Buitencentrum De Sallandse Heuvelrug (Erika Hofmann) centres, and the ofers for visitors. is geared to a high number of visitors, with about 150,000 of them per year. Te concept of Dutch centres: shops in According to Ms. Raven, Manager the foreground of the centre, the goal is to generate Te visitor centres in the Dutch National high revenues through the shop, thus Parks visited (administered by state supporting the building itself, including organisations such as Staatsbosbeheer the exhibition. or private organisations such as Natuurmnoumenten) are generally Bezoekerscentrum Wieden, in Bezoekerscentrum De Wieden (Nadja Poser) considered to be large shops with Weerribben-Wieden National Park, restaurants. Te background is that they has an exhibition with a large children‘s must generate revenue. Smaller exhibition “discovery corner”, a small shop, and a components are now integrated into hanging chair to relax in. Te centre is all centres. Te theme of the protected small, so the café is housed in a separate area is usually visible. Despite the high building. Te exhibition is modern number of guests, no value is placed on and attractively designed, with a close multilingualism. Te selection in all the relationship to the environment. Te Children‘s “discovery corner” in Bezoekerscentrum De Wieden visitor centre shops (books, gifts, nature facility ofers an extensive primary school (Erika Hofmann) ne tHerLands 67

programme. In outbuildings, there are Bezoekerscentrum Appelscha, in Drents- seminar rooms and a “learning workshop”, Friese Wold National Park, ofers an and the centre is adjoined by a large open visitor reception with good hiking outdoor area with a boardwalk that leads advice, an interactive exhibition, attractive through the reeds. shop, and large restaurant. Te exhibition contents are “the tree”,“animals of the Te exhibition of the Bezoekerscentrum forest”, and “wood products”. Tey are Dwingelderveld in Dwingelderveld closely related to the local protected forest Entrance area of Bezoekerscentrum Appelscha in Drents-Friese Wold Nationalpark (Erika Hofmann) National Park was renovated in 2016. area, one of the largest in the Netherlands. Te design developed for this purpose Reference to the everyday (as a criterion of aims to integrate the exhibition directly ESD) is visibly made. Various theme trails various issues. Tis also applies in their into the shop. On the subject of water, begin at the building, for which action function as an extracurricular learning amongst other information about aquatic instructions are borrowed from the centre, place. Te focus of attention in exhibitions animals, umbrellas were ofered. In the sometimes also in foreign languages. is an important tool for all target groups. opinion of the study group, this appeared In comparison, I see the common somewhat irritating and distracting Summary and comparison with concept in Germany of separating the when trying to focus on the exhibition. A visitor centres in Germany exhibition from the sales area as more particularly impressive exhibit is a large Te priority of generating income from suitable. Against the background of felt landscape model, made by volunteers the sale of products is refected in all the our fast-moving world, content can be from the centre. All exhibition modules centres evaluated in the Dutch national more purposefully conveyed in a calmer are mobile and easy to dismantle, which parks. Tis was also confrmed by our atmosphere, and the exhibition can have a means that the building can also be used companion Tea Peters from the nature real efect on the guests. as a lecture hall for 80 people. Te café conservation organisation IVN. Te works as self-service based on trust. For visitors expect an extensive selection and In Kellerwald-Edersee National Park, we hygiene reasons, only packaged goods are range of suggestions to consume. Tere ofer attractive exhibitions at all visitor ofered, which are paid for at the entrance are many cheap products, for example information sites. At our two shops in cash desk. Te relaxation zone in the café from tropical wood. Te extent to which the National Park Centre and the Wild corner looks bright and inviting under the economic and social needs and the use Animal Park, we are increasingly focusing motto “feel at home”. A bike rental service of natural resources balance sustainable on regional products and fair trade. Te and an elaborately designed outdoor development is questionable in terms of revenue is allocated to a state account and area complete the centre’s attractions. visitor centre priorities. Teir layout is does not directly serve to increase the Around 200,000 visitors come every year. dominated by the large sales area. Te budget of the shops or the National Park Te surrounding heathland is visited exhibition themes are only perceived facilities. Te advantage is that we can by 500,000 people. Te concept of the at second glance, and only if you have better consider aspects of sustainability in centre is very cost-efective; as in the other genuine interest. procurement. centres, the cash desk and the shop are run by unpaid volunteers, who only receive Empirical research shows that exhibitions compensation for travel expenses. for adults and children provide an important source of information on

Bezoekerscentrum Dwingelderveld: exhibition with integrated shop (Erika Hofmann) Lessons Learned 68

Stephanie Schubert

Lessons learned and outlook

“ANNIKA” means gaining insights into knowledge, they develop their technical the fact that the parties involved promote many places, changing perspectives, and intercultural competences, and expand and consolidate the understanding of recognizing similarities and diferences, their understanding of relationships. nature conservation as a borderless task. questioning supposed self-evident facts, Tey receive suggestions for the further People with similar tasks in diferent sharing knowledge, and learning from development of their own tasks, sharpen countries are brought together, contacts existing experience. On the whole, the their critical view of their own work, and established, fundamental links with parks project “Actors from National Natural they are stimulated to question and refect. abroad are explored, thus paving the Landscapes in the International Exchange In practical terms, a big beneft lies in the way for future long-term international of Competence” was a complex learning improvement of foreign language skills. In cooperation. Te chances of success are process. On the one hand, learning took addition, personal recognition as a selected increased by the fact that people are place at the individual level, with specialist participant is valuable. Te experience prepared and have an understanding of knowledge from the main topics of the of “pulling together” with other German working conditions and ways of working study visits which is relevant to the daily and foreign colleagues leads to an increase in potential partner countries that difer or specifc work in the participants, in motivation. Newly valued personal from their own. From a developed sense of “home” protected areas. Evidence of this contacts and suggestions for personal community with international colleagues, can be found in the reports in this booklet. plans are, so to speak, “collateral benefts”. the motivation arises to tackle tasks On the other hand, the project brought together. overarching fndings and answers to the Te benefts for those responsible of questions: what beneft does international protected areas (the administrations What are the fndings and proposals knowledge and competence exchange have of National Natural Landscapes and for the future? for actors from protected areas, and how protected areas abroad) is the expansion of Te following conclusions for future study should potential study visits be carried out knowledge and competence of employees visits can be drawn from the experiences in the future? Here are some answers that in terms of personnel development. For of the project: the project found: the technical tasks, working methods, and procedures in the protected areas, tangible It is to be expected that the resulting What beneft does international stimuli for development come from the specifc insights and suggestions will knowledge and competence exchange external view, the input of new ideas, also be diverse in follow-up activities, have for actors from protected areas? and empirical values. Last but not least, depending in particular on the specialist Te question of the benefts of international exchange means an improved topics, countries visited, previous international knowledge and competence image for the respective protected area. knowledge, and areas of interest of the exchange was, among other things, at the Presenting on the international stage gives participants. centre of the ANNIKA Closing Meeting them positive attention and increases in April 2018. It appears at three levels: public appreciation. On the one hand, they include specifc ideas and aids for implementation and Te beneft for individual participants Te benefts for the international action (see participant reports); on the lies in the proverbial broadening of networking and cooperation of other hand, there is awareness-raising and horizons, that is, the participants gain new protected areas (a political goal) lies in broadening of horizons, for example in Lessons Learned 69

aspects such as types of organizations for protected areas, self-image and attitude of protected area administrations and actors, the role of protected areas in society, and difering international professional concepts.

It must be remembered that the exchange of expertise and the transferability of ideas and activities can be made difcult by the fact that, for example, protected area categories in Germany and abroad have signifcant diferences in terms of structures, task, and so on; in addition, even technical topics and concepts are interpreted diferently depending on the country. Learning by exchanging expertise and own experience (Beatrix Knappertsbusch)

Te study visits were strongly In terms of technical implementation, areas abroad with similar landscapes orientated towards Germany in terms of that is the coordination and organization are particularly interesting for further coordination, topics, and the fnancing of of study visits, tenders have to be very cooperation. Limited time and fnancial participation costs. Tis led to difculties well directed to potential applicants. resources of the authorities are serious in attracting foreign participants. In larger authorities in particular, lines obstacles; against this background, a Terefore, the recommendation is to of communication are sometimes not catalyst and coordinator is important. provide for joint content planning and permeable enough to get information to Tis could be a federal authority or an equal fnancing with foreign partners in suitable professional people – full-time NGO such as EUROPARC Federation, the future. Suitable topics would be, for or voluntary. Te existing EUROPARC EUROPARC Germany, or Verband example, “wilderness”, “climate protection”, Federation network, which could be Deutscher Naturparke (Association of and “nature conservation and agriculture”. used in a targeted way, is helpful for the German Nature Parks). planning of international study visits as In addition to professional exchange well as the acquisition of participants After the very good experiences with the via discussions with foreign partners, abroad. hosts on the study visits, it can be assumed exchange and refection within one’s own that protected areas administrations travel group are very enriching. Tere A basic insight is that longer-term visited in the future will also be hospitable, is a lot to commend directing the study collaborations require fnancial and open-minded, and helpful – an important trips to full-time staf AND volunteers. human resources, common themes, and and highly valued prerequisite for their With regard to the role and potential institutional consolidation. Protected implementation. of volunteers, it seems appropriate, for example, to make the application procedure less complicated. A general problem is scheduling, whereby volunteers are more available at weekends, and full- time employees on working days. It should be considered whether study visits can also be recognized as educational leave.

Te time frame of about one week has been proven to be a suitable period for study. Alternatively, shorter study visits may make sense if they are more limited in terms of themes. Testing the Gnome Path(“kabouterpad”) in Drents-Friese Wold National Park (Neele Larondelle) imprint 70

Imprint

Editors Anne Schierenberg, Dr. Elke Baranek, Stephanie Schubert, Kerstin Emonds, Dr. Katja Arzt, Dr. Neele Larondelle EUROPARC Deutschland e. V. Pfalzburger Straße 43/44, 10717 Berlin, Germany Telephone + 49 (0)30 2887882-0 E-Mail: [email protected] Internet: www.europarc-deutschland.de

Layout pesch graphic design

English translation Environmental English Ltd

Print SV Druck + Medien

Edition deadline 08/2018

Note on funding Financed by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) with funds of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).

Te expressed views and opinions in this publication are not necessarily the same as those of the funder. wissen teiLen - sHaring know-How 141

The project “Akteure aus Nationalen Naturlandschaften im internationalen Kompetenzaustausch” (ANNIKA – "Actors from National Natural Landscapes in the International Exchange of Competence”) promoted the exchange of expertise, experience, and working methods between European protected areas. It brought together employed and voluntary workers as part of study trips abroad. With regard to the main topics focussed on during the study visits (regional development and tourism, accessibility and inclusion, education for sustainable development, alternative fnancing strategies, and volunteer management), as well as overall project management, this booklet presents what has been learned and evaluated by project participants as well as new perspectives they have gained from it.

EUROPARC Deutschland is the umbrella organisation for National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, Nature Parks and Wilderness Areas in Germany. The charity is the bearer of the trademark “Nationale Naturlandschaften” (National Natural Landscapes).

www.europarc -deutschland.de | www.nationale-naturlandschaften.de