EUROPARC NBS Newsletter 1/2014 http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=5108bdfadcd892894bfe63be6&...

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Final countdown

Ongoing year is the last presidency year for and Environmental Board. We are making our best to negotiate with possible next host of Nordic-Baltic Section secretariat. Many activities lie still ahead, such as interesting seminars about wooded grasslands and health issues. We rely on your good collaborations for the upcoming newsletters and other activities!

Section secretariat

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President´s corner

Winter in National Park was cold, Following species are getting special but very short. Spring migration has begun attention in Estonia this year having been with first grey-lag geese, lapwings and elected so called species of the year: sky-larks here; first hundreds of whooper Ringed Seal (Pusa hispida), Common and bewick's swans have started their Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) and Alder song festival on Matsalu bay. Some of the Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula). spring can be seen from home via internet - the "seal camera" of National In spite of good weather the mood is not Park is located in the grey-seals' kinder- very much so, the thoughts being held by garden: www.looduskalender.ee/node the tense situation in Ukraine. Who knows /19354 and "owl camera" of Matsalu how far the conflict can go, and there National Park is inside a tawny owl's nest: would be then losses both among people www.looduskalender.ee/node/19372 . and the rest of nature.

Survey of local inhabitants promotes sustainable development in Protected Areas of , Latvia and Lithuania / A. Balandina

One of the key elements on the way to was organized in each of the territories to sustainable development in protected learn more about relationships between areas is successful relationship and the park and the people and identify topics collaboration with local communities living for further development. in and around these areas. Being aware of this, Metsähallitus Natural Heritage To increase the response rate, survey Services (Finland), Oulu University methods were adapted to local conditions. (Finland), Ķemeri National Park Fund In Finland the questionnaires were (Latvia) and Gražute Regional Park distributed and collected via mail, whilst in Directorate (Lithuania) launched a Latvia in Lithuania a special type of common project “Community house-to-house approach was tested by Programme for Sustainable bringing the questionnaires to each Development” in the end of 2013 within household and collecting them back in a the Nordplus Adult Programme . The couple of days time. The effort turned out ultimate goal of the project is to elaborate to be a success and the number of „Community programme” for protected questionnaires collected was sufficient to areas involved in developing sustainable represent the needs of local populations. tourism. It is planned to be a compilation University of Oulu is now busy with of experiences and guidelines from three analysis of the results with the study

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Subscribe Share Past Issues Translate sample territories, different by their reports expected until the end of March. country, management system, size, population, development of sustainable After the reports are ready, the next steps tourism and other aspects – Koillismaa of the project will start with discussing the region with Oulanka and Syöte National results with all involved parties in each of Parks in Finland (Pan Park/Charter Park the territories and working out local action with 10 years of experience), Ķemeri plans to meet the needs of local people. In National Park in Latvia (awarded the Ķemeri National Park this process will be Charter in 2012) and Gražute Regional strongly supported by the managing Park in Lithuania (not a Charter Park, but institution of the park – Nature working towards development of Conservation Agency. The experiences of sustainable tourism). all the processes covered in the course of the project – survey, analysis of results, To lay profound basis for any future work elaborating action plans, etc – will then be with the communities, analysis of the put together into a common „Community current situation was necessary. programme” expected to be available by Therefore, a survey of local inhabitants the end of 2014.

Towards responsible and effective management of wetlands in Latvia / Z. Z ālīte

In the field of nature conservation in Latvia, February was a month when wetlands

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Subscribe Share Past Issues Translate were in the spotlight. Various activities aiming to promote sustainable management of wetlands were organised throughout the country. LIFE+ Project “National Conservation and Management Programme for Natura 2000 Sites in Latvia” NAT-PROGRAMME, implemented by the Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia, actively contributed to raising awareness about the importance of responsible and effective management of wetlands.

For the second year in a row project NAT-PROGRAMME in collaboration with the Natural History Museum of Latvia organised a seminar dedicated to the World Wetlands Day. Although Latvia is in the top 50 countries in terms of water availability, improving water quality has become a significant topic among not only scientists and experts, but also land owners. Therefore, the seminar gathered a rather diverse audience (scientists, land owners, representatives from NGOs and governmental institutions - totalling 70 participants!), to provide an opportunity to discuss the most urgent issues in water management, as well as their potential solutions.

The event was opened by Juris J ātnieks – the Ramsar National Focal Point and Manager of the project NAT-PROGRAMME. He emphasized that for Latvia it is essential to recognise at all levels of society that wetlands not only accumulate and transform human induced pollution, but also maintain a diversity of organisms and support an array of functions, jointly known as ecosystem services.

In order to gain feedback about the problems presented during the seminar, three discussion groups were formed, each focusing on a different topic – rivers, lakes and water tourism. The aim these discussion groups was to identify the most significant problems in water management that should be addressed in the Freshwater Habitat Management Guidelines that the Project NAT-PROGRAMME is currently drafting. Participants were also encouraged to discuss already suggested potential solutions to these problems. Altogether, 40 different solutions to existing challenges were suggested.

NAT-PROGRAMME freshwater habitats expert Andris Urtāns, who is also the Ramsar National Focal point for Ramsar Scientific and Technical Review Panel, coordinated work in these discussion groups and has summed up the suggestions, particularly highlighting the following recommendations:

We need to learn and develop an integrated approach to the way we think about water management and biological diversity. We need to understand that freshwaters are not only an asset in terms of their economical value, but also host a large

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Subscribe Share Past Issues Translate proportion of the Earth’s biodiversity. Close collaboration is needed between various organisations and institutions that represent the Water Framework Directive and the Habitats Directive, so that we can successfully achieve our joint goals for improved water quality. We need continuous evaluation of the efficiency of existing habitat restoration and management activities. A comprehensive toolkit providing the best methods for managing freshwater biodiversity is needed. As a local problem we urgently need to evaluate the effects of European beaver (Castor fiber) activity and find appropriate and site specific solutions. The current state and functionality of riparian buffer belts must be clarified at all levels to maintain water quality. Motivation and education of land owners is a crucial starting point for successful and long-term sustainable management of water habitats in Latvia.

These are some of the main challenges that we need to address to stop deterioration of water quality and related biological diversity. Project NAT-PROGRAMME aims to contribute to improving the quality of water habitats in Latvia by drafting comprehensive Freshwater Habitat Management Guidelines.

Restoring Fens in Latvia

In Latvia, several restoration actions have been carried out in Ramsar sites were raised habitats were renewed. However, there is still little experience in the management of alkaline fens . Therefore, in addition to coordinating work in discussion groups, project NAT-PROGRAMME is also conducting practical habitat management activities to test various management methods in pilot territories. It is essential to document these activities and collect experience in restoration and management of alkaline fens. Hence, permanent monitoring plots have been established in the pilot areas to evaluate the effects of the tested management methods. The results of these activities will be included in the Mire Habitat Management Guidelines, produced within the project NAT-PROGRAMME.

In winter 2014, NAT-PROGRAMME mire habitats expert Agnese Priede has continued mire restoration activities in the Sl ītere National Park, located in the north-west of Latvia. 5,2 ha of overgrown alkaline fens have been restored – trees, bushes and reeds were cleared, leaving only old pine trees and junipers to create a beautiful mosaic of different habitats. Another ca. 5 ha of alkaline fens and spring mires have been restored in EUROPARC territories Ķemeri National Park and Gauja National Park to gain more practical experience in fen restoration in different conditions.

In the past, alkaline fens used to be more common in Latvia than nowadays; however, due to changes in human lifestyle, they are no longer used for harvesting hay and pasturing animals in fens. Hence, such potentially beneficial management

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Subscribe Share Past Issues Translate activities as mowing for hay and extensive grazing on fens are rarely used. Also, turning wetlands into agricultural lands, afforestation and peat extraction have contributed to the decline of alkaline fen areas and species diversity.

Alkaline fens have very high species richness and are a great asset to the biodiversity in Latvia. When fens overgrow with trees, the composition of species changes and many species disappear due to inappropriate habitat conditions. Hence, further mire management activities will continue in 2014.

Project NAT-PROGRAMME ("National Conservation and Management Programme for Natura 2000 sites in Latvia" LIFE 11 NAT/LV/371 NAT-PROGRAMME) is a LIFE+ project implemented by Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia. For more information, please visit the website: nat-programme.daba.gov.lv/public/eng/about_the_project/

Visitors are welcome to branded Swedish National Parks / E. Selander

The 29 Swedish National Parks have a common brand and are being dressed up with a common visual identity. The aim is to increase the number of visitors to Swedish National Parks and by that increase people´s knowledge about nature and also increase the opinion of the importance of nature conservation. So far Hamra National Park is dressed up fully, about 10 National Parks are in the starting blocks, ready to get more out of the visitor management of their National Park. By 2020 all National Parks are supposed to be fully dressed up. When the brand and its visual identity is implemented National Parks will offer more of insights, of enlightened experiences and of aroused curiosity. The experiences in the most worth seeing nature will be more accessible, and one of the reasons to that is the new common webpage for Swedish National Parks being published on the Day of Parks at www.sverigesnationalparker.se . Last year the Swedish National Parks had more than 2 300 000 visitors !

Cooperation projects with Georgia & Moldova / M. Tamm & N. Sõber

Estonian Environmental Board has applied for a funding from Estonian Development Cooperation programme for 2 projects: 1) between Estonia and Georgia; 2) between Estonia and Moldova.

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The topic on the cooperation project between Estonian Environmental Board and Agency of Protected Areas in Georgia is " Administrating a National Protected Areas Network and Practical Nature Conservation ". The project aims to exchange and replicate Estonian experience in administration and management of national protected areas networks in Estonia and Georgia and identify possible future spin-off projects.

The experience exchange is divided into different subtopics:

General administration of protected areas. The aim is getting to know organizations, their regional work, cooperation with other involved state agencies, understanding the system of nature protection in countries and regulations from EU through Natura 2000 network; Research and management efficiency assessment carried out in protected areas. The aim is to introduce the research carried out on protected areas that use modern technologies (remote sensing equipment); Management of protected forests. The aim is to exchange experience on limited management of protected forests, forest pathologies assessment and value based decision-making process.

The topic on the cooperation project between Estonian Environmental Board and Ecological Movement of Moldova is the management and administration of national parks . Moldova is preparing to develop their first national park and Estonia is willing to give their expertise and experience in those issues.

In case the projects are funded, activities will be carried our during 2014-2015.

New logos of Estonian National Parks / N. Sõber

Estonian Environmental Board has worked on the concept of new logos of national parks for quite a long time. And now we are proud to present the new identities of Estonian National Parks . is famous for its landscape - hill country with curvy roads. logo represents waterfowls and their eggs, logo pictures a birding paradise. symbols are hags and bog landscape with pine trees. is identified with oak leaves.

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EUROPARC Spanish Section / M. Múgica

Nordic-Baltic Section would like to have better communication between sections and this is why the Spanish Section gives insight into its activities.

Main activities for 2014:

Promoting Strategic Programme 2020 “Society and protected areas in Spain” Yearbook 2013 of the state of protected areas in Spain 2 bulletins, 11 e-news European Day of Parks ESPARC 2014: Conference “Protected Areas. Global Equity, Local Benefits“ (June 18-21st 2014) Master Degree, 14th edition, 36 students (Spain, Italy, Cuba, Bolivia, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Guatemala, Ecuador) Continuous training program (conservation, development, tourism, finance, communication)

Projects:

European Charter for Sustainable Tourism. Monitoring and assessment to Parks Environmentally friendly farming practices and nature conservation (European Social Fund) Project “Promoting efficiency in conservation management through quality tools” (protected areas and Natura 2000 sites) Project “Promotion of Health through Protected Areas” Participation in the Project Erasmus + “Capacity building, protected areas and employment oportunities” (in preparation) Women and protected areas: opportunities for entrepreneurship and empowerment (in preparation)

EUROPARC FEDERATION NEWS

1. EUROPARC ELECTIONS 3. ALFRED TOEPFER NATURAL This year EUROPARC will be holding HERITAGE SCHOLARSHIPS elections for the post of the EUROPARC Alfred Toepfer Natural Heritage President, Treasurer and Council Scholarships is given to young promising Members . Nomination are now open! conservationists with practical experience Both NOMINATOR and CANDIDATES in the field of conservation and in the work MUST be EUROPARC members. If you of protected areas. With the financial support of 3000 EUR per scholarship,

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Subscribe Share Past Issues Translate wish to nominate someone, for any students can undertake a study visit to position, please fill in the NOMINATION one or more protected areas in a form (having first got the permission of the European country other than their home candidate). Deadline for nominations is country. This funding aims to enhance JULY 21th! international cooperation. It promotes the advancement of quality research, 2. ALFRED TOEPFER MEDAL innovation and the European dimension of Alfred Toepfer Medal is the recognition of protected area management. All a particular individual who has made a information about the award and significant contribution to nature protection applications form can be obtained here . in . If you have a person who you Please distribute information across your think deserves recognition for their networks and encourage young achievements in the field of nature professionals to apply! Deadline for protection please send information about applications is MAY 1st! the person, his/her achievements and reasons why you think they should win the accolade by email to [email protected] . Deadline for nominations is MAY 9th!

Events

March 20 EUROPARC membership consultation in Tallinn, Estonia May 24 European Day of Parks May 28-29 Seminar on biological diversity on wooded grasslands in Estonia

June 3-6 TransParcNet 2014 meeting in Belgium/France June 17-20 Siggen seminar on the new programming period in Germany July 12-19 Junior Ranger Camp 2014 in Krknose National Park in Czech Republic August 20-23 Monitoring & management of visitors conference in Tallinn, Estonia

Sept 28- Oct 1 EUROPARC Conference 2014 in Killarney National Park, Ireland

Copyright © 2014 EUROPARC Nordic-Baltic Section, All rights reserved.

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Subscribe Share Past Issues Translate Our mailing address is: EUROPARC Nordic-Baltic Section Narva mnt.7a Tallinn 15172 Estonia

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