Discussion Hub 1: How to be effective? Plan your Plan!  

What should we do to improve the effectiveness of management in our Protected Areas?

Effective management starts with proper planning: integral to planning is the need to monitor the impacts of conservation measures against defined objectives, to then assess management effectiveness. But how do you design a good management plan and what are its main components?  What would make it effective?

Join this session to explore the crucial role of adaptive management and how this can help to improve planning in Protected Areas.

Case studies: Nature Scot – Ben Ross (UK) and Parco Nazionale delle Foreste Casentinesi – Andrea Gennai (IT)

Facilitators: Federico Minozzi, EUROPARC Head of Policy and Projects & Sanna-Kaisa Juvonen EUROPARC Policy Development Manager.

 

Discussion Hub 2: How can we achieve good governance and inclusive decision-making in Protected Areas?

Good governance and decision-making processes in Protected Areas are crucial to ensure effective management of natural resources. What actually makes the governance good and which are the main governing bodies to make it functional? How do we balance the need to make straight decisions with the ambition to engage communities and interested parties?

Facilitators
: Carol Ritchie, EUROPARC Executive Director and Simone Prestes Dürrnagel, Project Officer for NaturaConnect.

 

Discussion Hub 3: Capacity Building: What Core Competencies and training opportunities are essential for effective Protected Area Management?

In order to meet EU policy priorities and 2030 Biodiversity Strategy targets, capacity building is an essential component to ensure effective management of Protected Areas. What core competencies are required for successful Protected Area management? What are the main training needs of Protected Area managers and staff? How can we ensure accessible training opportunities for development and what opportunities are out there?

Facilitator: Neil McIntosh, Head of Capacity Building and Communications and Project Manager of LIFE ENABLE, supported by Sandra Grego, Project Officer and Communications Assistant.

 

Discussion Hub 4: Communication in Parks – how do we know if it makes a difference?

Communication is at the heart of everything we do. From events and social media to park publications, phone calls, and emails: Protected Areas rely on effective communication to engage with stakeholders and achieve their goals. But what makes a communication product truly impactful? And, perhaps more importantly in the framework of Management Effectiveness, how do we understand this impact? In this session, participants will engage in dynamic discussions, share experiences, and explore tools and strategies to assess the effectiveness of their communication efforts. Come prepared to exchange ideas and collaborate on measuring and enhancing the impact of your communications!

Case study: Eva Sandberg of Interpret Europe (IE) will talk about work in Sweden on nature interpretation.

Facilitator: Esther Bossink, EUROPARC’s Communication Manager, supported by Jessica Micklem-Kolenic, EUROPARC’s Youth Officer.