Tag Archive for: Europe

European Natura 2000 Award: Call for top conservation initiatives open

The European Commission has launched the 2022 edition of the European Natura 2000 Award. The Award, in its sixth edition, honours leading nature conservation achievements connected to Europe’s Natura 2000 network of protected areas.
The Award raises awareness about Natura 2000, the work carried out by different organisations and individuals to safeguard these vital natural assets, and the health, cultural, societal and economic benefits the network provides to us all, as well as its value in its own right.

The award recognises excellence in the management of Natura 2000 sites and conservation achievements, showcasing the added value of the network for local economies, and increasing public awareness about Europe’s valuable natural heritage. It recognises good practices at Natura 2000 sites in five different categories: Conservation on land, Marine conservation, Communication, Socio-economic benefits, and Cross-border cooperation.
The sixth award, the Citizens’ Award, provides the public the opportunity to vote for their favourite finalist.

The Award is open to any organisation or person involved in Natura 2000, including public and local authorities, businesses, NGOs, landowners, educational institutions and individuals.

The application period runs from May 21st, the Natura 2000 Day, to September 2021 and the Award Ceremony will take place around Natura 2000 Day in May 2022.

Over the previous five editions, the Natura 2000 Award has received over 500 applications, and has celebrated 121 finalists and 29 winners. And the Citizens’ Award has received an enthusiastic response so far with over 190,000 votes cast between 2015 and 2020.

Visit the Award website now and find out how to apply!

The Manifesto for Environmental Education in Europe

Support the manifesto for EESD in Europe!

­­Environmental education towards sustainable development (EESD) is a necessity. There’s a wide acknowledgement about that on several European and International papers. Recently, the Paris Agreement resulting from the CoP21 dedicates its conclusions on the World Wide View global debate, which involved 10,000 people from 76 countries and places education at the first level action against the climate challenge!

The Manifesto Educate towards environment and sustainable development, at which contributed more than 150 participants, associations and institutions involved in EESD from different European countries, assumes that the commitments made by Member States, as well as by the European Union, are still not enough significant.

In order to realize an ambitious EESD in Europe, the Manifesto brings together 20 proposals that seek school sector, non-formal education, higher education, the labor sector, professionalism and evaluation of the EESD, and finally, an effective integration of EESD in the heart of European policies.

The Manifesto is destined to MEPs, to the European Commission, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of Regions and all citizens.

To maximize its reach, we invite you to support this Manifesto, through your organization and individually, and to spread it widely into your networks.

Read the Manifesto!

We thank you in advance.

Thank you to the participants of the European Days which have took part in discussions and writing of the Manifesto!

European Manifesto EEDD – Educating for the Environment and Sustainable Development – 2015

Environmental education towards Sustainable Development (EESD) is a necessity. Several European and international official texts recognize it from a long time and encourage l member countries to take action.

The very recent United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development in 2015 (25-27 / 9/2015) further states this in its Objective 4, on Education: “By 2030, ensure that all students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to promote sustainable development “.

More than 150 actors, associations and institutions involved in EESD, from different countries participated in drafting the Manifesto “Educating for the Environment and Sustainable Development”. They start from the observation that the commitments taken by the gouvernments are still too few visible on the ground and collected in this manifesto, 20 proposals for an ambitious EESD in Europe.

Indeed, while the challenges are growing and becoming more complex, EESD requires more than ever the implementation of voluntary and consistent policies at the EU level.

This document is intended to be distributed in all countries to Europe,in particular to european deputees, to the European Commission, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

It has been presented at the Pan-European Days of environmental education towards sustainable development, 1st and 2nd October 2015 in Barcelona.

Read the Manifesto – English

Read the Manifesto – Français

Read the Manifesto – Español