Lead Partner:
Ministerium für Landwirtschaft, Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz M-VPaulshöher Weg 1
19061 Schwerin
DE
Hans-Joachim Schreiber
E-mail: h.schreiber@lu.mv-regierung.de
Phone: 0049 (0)385 588 6060
Fax: 0049 (0)385 588 6037
Project Manager:
Ministerium für Landwirtschaft, Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz M-VPaulshöher Weg 1
19061 Schwerin
DE
Olaf Ostermann
E-mail: o.ostermann@lu.mv-regierung.de
Phone: 0049 (0)385 588 6641
Fax: 0049 (0)385 5886637
Information Manager:
animare projektmanagement tourismusRosa-Luxemburg-Str. 14
18055 Rostock
DE
Romy Sommer
E-mail: romy.sommer@animare.net
Phone: 0049 (0)381 440 4949
Fax: +49 (0) 381 4404949
Summary description of the project:
The BSR holds many sites of typically Baltic or even outstanding natural heritage which are preserved in protected areas. While respecting their conservation and development objectives, sustainable nature tourism within/ around protected areas can be an important element of the regional economies. Up to now this economic potential is often underdeveloped offering vast possibilities for the development of tourism, public-private partnerships & improved nature conservation. At the same time existing economic performance can be widely underestimated, which often results in mislead discussions and prejudices about nature protection.
The project “Parks & Benefits” has introduced & strengthened sustainable nature tourism approaches in the BSR and communicates the mutual benefits to protected areas and to their surrounding regions for regional development & sustained natural development. Thinking holistically the project has established a network of 8 protected areas, regional authorities,
stakeholders in tourism / environment & academic institutions backed by EUROPARC Federation as European umbrella organisation. In close and trustful cooperation the partnership has achieved the following results (among others):
• Joint implementation of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism being a practical instrument to generate socio-economic effects within protected areas
• Providing a number of opportunities & advantages in dealing with local processes, visitor impact monitoring & marketing
• Development and introduction of the Charter Part II to the BSR
• Elaboration of an action plan on generating socio-economic benefits
• Development of an action programme on a “low impact” transport system network
• Investment in the fields of visitor monitoring, accessibility for all and ICT solutions/ GPS systems
• Development of a quality / eco label guide for protected areas
The described results have a significant influence on the cooperation of protected area managements
& their local tourism stakeholders as this is acknowledged to be a key factor for a positive regional development combining nature conservation and tourism in the greatest possible sustainable way.
Parks & Benefits has influenced the various processes in protected area management by introducing and implementing the European Charter at park level in the BSR. Long-term tourism strategies have been developed that will be implemented on the basis of 5 years action plans. The parks also have built up strong communication to their tourism stakeholders establishing regular tourism forums & involving them into the future development of the protected area. Further, a basis for regular monitoring of social, economic and ecological benefits has been set to be implemented by parks across Europe. Strong dissemination activities have raised awareness for sustainable tourism issues and the European Charter itself among European practitioners in nature conservation & tourism.
Achievements of the project so far:
The main instrument of the Parks & Benefits project is the transfer of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas from Western and Mediterranean Europe to the Baltic Sea Region and the joint implementation in seven involved protected areas. The Charter process as well as “Parks & Benefits” comprises carrying capacity analyses, visitor management methods, quality development and cooperation with local tourist stakeholders and a progressive communication of substantial mutual benefits on a regional and international level.
The results of the Parks & Benefits project indicate an important progress towards a qualitative improvement of protected area and regional tourism management at project level by building up a basis for strengthening relationships between park managements, tourism stakeholders and regional authorities. The Charter process at local level also revealed that the charter and tourism development provide a chance for a new look at nature protection
focusing on positive actions (what can be done). It also provides a better understanding of the area as a whole for all parties who also realised a kind of “puzzle-effect” learning that each piece is essential to create and maintain the whole picture – a sustainable regional development.
The Charter also offers to protected areas:
• The opportunity to influence tourism development in the area
• A higher profile in the European arena as an area devoted to sustainable tourism
• An opportunity to work with and learn from other European “Charter parks” in a network
• Public relations and awareness-raising opportunities
• Helpful internal and external assessment
• Greater credibility amongst potential funding partners
The joint development of a socio-economic benefit monitor has further been defined as key activity providing a systematic collection of data on different scopes to be used to communicate the significance and benefits of protected areas to tourism stakeholder groups and
regional authorities. It also provides a useful inventory for the protected area management and a profound basis to influence and guide the most important decisions and activities within the protected area.
Comparative investigations on transportation and accessibility of the protected areas have been used to influence the Charter implementation processes of each park in terms of mobility and accessibility requirements. Two guidelines have been derived from the analyses as well as one action plan on low impact transport network systems with the ambitious task to increase the attractiveness of the region for visitors while preserving natural and cultural values.
The project results will be applied in practice by the involved park representatives. Tourism forums set up within Parks & Benefits shall be established as reliable and long-lasting institutions that identify necessary actions & decide on priorities in close cooperation with park authorities.
Project Duration: | Oct 2008 - Jan 2012 |
Approximate total project budget in EUR: | 2.686.660,00 |
ERDF co-financing: | 1.887.630,00 |
ENPI co-financing: | 0,00 |
Norwegian national contribution: | 126.000,00 |
List of partners
Ministry for Agriculture, Environment and Consumer Protection M-V | ||||||||
19061 Schwerin | GERMANY Paulshöher Weg 1 Region: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern |
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Contact person: Hans-Joachim Schreiber Phone: 0049 (0)385 588 6060 E-mail: h.schreiber@lu.mv-regierung.de Web: http://www.regierung-mv.de/cms2/Regierungsportal_prod/Regierungsportal/ |
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Müritz National Park Authority | ||||||||
17237 Hohenzieritz | GERMANY Schloßplatz 3 Region: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern |
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Contact person: Jens Brüggemann Phone: 0049 (0)39824 / 252 E-mail: Poststelle@npa-mueritz.mvnet.de Web: www.nationalpark-mueritz.de |
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Roskilde University, Dept. of Environmental, Social and Spatial Change | ||||||||
4000 Roskilde | DENMARK P.Box 260 Region: Sjælland |
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Contact person: Jesper Brandt Phone: +45 4674 2463 E-mail: brandt@ruc.dk Web: www.ruc.dk |
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Environmental Board | ||||||||
15172 Tallinn | ESTONIA Narva mnt 7a Region: Eesti |
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Contact person: Kaja Lotman Phone: + 372 6272 193 E-mail: Kaja.Lotman@keskkonnaamet.ee Web: www.keskkonnaamet.ee |
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Latvian Country Tourism Association “Lauku ceļotājs” | ||||||||
1046 Riga | LATVIA Kalnciema 40, 3rd floor Region: Latvija |
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Contact person: Asnāte Ziemele Phone: +371 67617600 E-mail: asnate@celotajs.lv Web: www.countryholidays.lv |
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The Directorate of Kurtuvėnai Regional Park | ||||||||
80223 Kurtuvėnai, Šiauliai distr | LITHUANIA Parko g. 2 Region: Lietuva |
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Contact person: Gedas Kukanauskas Phone: +37041370333 E-mail: info@kurtuva.lt Web: www.kurtuva.lt |
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Region Zealand, Nature & Environment | ||||||||
4180 Soroe | DENMARK Allén 15 Region: Sjælland |
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Contact person: Jan Whoolhead Phone: 0045 57 87 58 40 E-mail: jw@regionsjaelland.dk Web: www.regionsjaelland.dk |
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Ditrectorate of Žemaitija National Park | ||||||||
90420 Plateliai | LITHUANIA Didžioji g. 10 Region: Lietuva |
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Contact person: Gedas Kukanauskas Phone: 00370 44849337 E-mail: info@parkai.lt Web: www.zemaitijosnp.lt |
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Administration of Biosphere Reserve South East Rügen | ||||||||
18586 Lancken-Granitz | GERMANY Blieschow 7a Region: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern |
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Contact person: Sabine Schlender Phone: 0049 38303/885-0 E-mail: poststelle@suedostruegen.mvnet.de Web: www.biosphaerenreservat-suedostruegen.de |
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Municipality of Guldborgsund, Department for Nature and Environment | ||||||||
4800 Nykøbing | DENMARK Parkvej 37 Region: Sjælland |
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Contact person: Catharina Oksen Phone: 0045 54 73 19 89 E-mail: co@guldborgsund.dk Web: www.guldborgsund.dk |
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Tourist Board Mecklenburg Lake District | ||||||||
17207 Röbel | GERMANY Turnplatz 2 Region: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern |
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Contact person: Angela Nagel Phone: +49 39931/ 5380 E-mail: a.nagel@mecklenburgische-seenplatte.de Web: www.mecklenburgische-seenplatte.de |
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Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald / Institute for Geography | ||||||||
17487 Greifswald | GERMANY Makarenkostrasse 22 Region: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern |
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Contact person: Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Steingrube Phone: +49 3834 864541 E-mail: parks@uni-greifswald.de Web: www.wisogeo.de |
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EUROPARC Federation | ||||||||
93047 Regensburg | GERMANY Waffnergasse 6 Region: Niederbayern |
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Contact person: Richard Blackman Phone: +49 (0)8552 9610-0 E-mail: r.blackman@europarc.org Web: www.europarc.org, www.european-charter.org/ |
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Association for sustainable mobility Germany | ||||||||
10965 Berlin | GERMANY Yorckstraße 48 Region: Berlin |
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Contact person: Jörg Becken Phone: +49 30 4463664 E-mail: info@vcdprojektentwicklung.de Web: www.vcd-nordost.de, www.vcdprojektentwicklung.de |
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Nature Conservation Agency | ||||||||
2012 Jurmala | LATVIA Meza maja Region: Latvija |
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Contact person: Ms. Vita Caune, Ms Agnese Balandina Phone: +3717730078 E-mail: vita.caune@daba.gov.lv; agnese.balandina@daba.gov Web: www.kemeri.gov.lv |
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Lolland Municipality, Department for business development | ||||||||
4930 Maribo | DENMARK Jernbanegade Region: Sjælland |
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Contact person: Kitty Sommer Phone: 0045 54676539 E-mail: kiso@lolland.dk Web: www.lolland.dk |
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The Management of Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park | ||||||||
2500 Tynset | NORWAY Rådhuset Region: Hedmark og Oppland |
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Contact person: Eva Nordfjell Phone: +47 62 48 50 00 E-mail: eva@dovrefjellradet.no Web: www.dovrefjellradet.no |
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The Association of Lithuanian State Parks & Reserves | ||||||||
90420 Plateliai | LITHUANIA Didžioji g. 10 Region: Lietuva |
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Contact person: Gedas Kukanauskas Phone: 0037044849337 E-mail: info@parkai.lt Web: www.parkai.lt |
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