European diploma for protected areas
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The European Diploma of Protected Areas is the Euro Council awarded honors . The Council of Europe, which was founded on May 5, 1949 , has been dealing with the areas of nature and environmental protection for over 40 years . This makes it an international organization that works across borders in the areas mentioned.
diploma
The diploma was introduced in 1965 with Resolution (65) 6. At that time, it was determined that the diploma was valid for five years and that it could be re-awarded for a further five years. The diploma is awarded to natural or semi-natural areas that are of European importance. The diploma is intended to ensure biological, geological and scenic diversity. In 1999 the “European Nature Conservation Diploma for Protected Landscapes, Reserves and Natural Monuments” was renamed “European Diploma for Protected Areas”.
Award system
After receiving a new application for a diploma, the Natural Heritage Division will first check the suitability. If there is a European significance as well as a fundamental suitability, an examination and examination takes place on site. After the appraisal, an expert opinion prepared from it is presented to a group of experts who can award the diploma (usually in connection with conditions that must be met), reject it with justification or postpone the area and demand that certain criteria be met.
Areas that have been awarded the European Diploma for Protected Areas must submit an annual report on developments and current events. Every five years there is an appraisal by an expert who has to prepare a report on the area in which the diploma has already been awarded. Parts of this report can be, for example, new or changed conditions, recommendations or a non-renewal.
Areas with a nature conservation diploma
So far, a total of 73 areas or properties in 29 countries have been awarded the diploma.