European Parks Day is celebrated on May 24. This date commemorates the declaration of the first national parks in Europe more than a century ago. The EUROPARC Federation, a pan-European organization bringing together 38 countries, is in charge of organizing this European day. The slogan chosen for 2020 is “Nature, good for your health”.
Natural Parks include those natural areas, little transformed by human exploitation or occupation, which, because of the beauty of their landscapes, the representativeness of their ecosystems or the uniqueness of their flora, fauna or geomorphological formations, have ecological, aesthetic, educational and scientific values whose conservation deserves preferential attention.
José Mª Fedriani, researcher at CIDE and who carries out part of his research in Doñana National Park, explains that “Parks are well-preserved natural spaces of high natural and cultural value. Their natural values, the uniqueness of their flora, fauna or geomorphological formations, make these enclaves deserve special attention and conservation. The Parks are banners that dynamize the social conservationist conscience, allowing their use and enjoyment by the general public and the improvement of the scientific knowledge of their natural and cultural values”.
The first Natural Park in Spain, declared in 1918, was Picos de Europa, located in the Cantabrian mountain range. Currently, Spain has a total of 15 Natural Parks; 10 in the peninsula, 4 in the Canary Islands and one in the Balearic Islands.
Dr. Fedriani, highlights the benefits of Natural Parks, “they protect the best of our natural and cultural heritage (species, landscapes, entire ecosystems). Together with other protected areas, they form an important source of personal, economic and social well-being. They act as “lungs” and CO2 sinks, thus contributing to climate change mitigation. Parks attract thousands of visitors annually and help protect their unique wildlife by acting as a refuge and corridor for many threatened species of flora and fauna.”
Along with the conservation of its natural values, the aim is to make its use and enjoyment by citizens compatible. In this sense, we can all contribute to protect these areas during our visits if we avoid littering and littering, and respect the rules of access. As Dr. Fedriani points out: “Do not alter the environment you are visiting: do not pick up organisms or their remains, do not move fallen trunks, stones, etc. Do not make piles of stones. Visit the interpretation centers. They will help you get to know the values of the park you are visiting and understand its particular conservation problems. Keep a contemplative attitude and let yourself be surprised.”
More information about the activities to be held on this day at: http://www.redeuroparc.org/dia-europeo-parques-2020
CIDE Communication
