European Diploma for Protected Areas – an award with a 60-year history
29 May 2025
Last week marked the 60th anniversary of the prestigious award of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe – the European Diploma for Protected Areas. Since 1965, 74 protected areas in 29 European countries have received their recognition as an excellent model for the management of natural and semi-natural areas and landscapes of outstanding European importance for the conservation of biological, geological and landscape diversity.
The anniversary was marked on 21 May with a modest event in Granada, Spain, during which representatives of the Directorate for Social Rights, Health and the Environment of the Council of Europe, the Ministers of the Environment of Spain and the Province of Andalusia, and experts presented in their speeches the vision, successes and challenges of the initiative-instrument for the conservation of protected areas. A small bazaar with local products from the Sierra Nevada Biosphere Park, which includes the national park of the same name, nominated for a European Diploma, pleasantly surprised the participants in the event and emphasized the enormous importance of the relationship between preserved nature and the sustainable development of local communities.
A two-day seminar dedicated to presenting good practices and exchanging experiences followed the celebration of the anniversary. During it, successfully implemented projects in distinguished protected areas were presented within 5 thematic groups, relating to adaptation to climate change, water management, tourism, successful examples of reintroduction of extinct species, and the relationship between protected areas and local communities.
The participants adopted the Granada Declaration, which emphasizes the importance of natural heritage, long-term protection and conservation, effective and sustainable management, the promotion of best practices in nature conservation, the promotion of transboundary cooperation and raising awareness of Europe's natural heritage, while highlighting the challenges and opportunities for the future.
The Central Balkan National Park was awarded the prestigious diploma on 21 October 2009 and remains the only Bulgarian park to have received the prestigious award. Possession of a European Diploma is a recognition of the qualities of the nature and management of the National Park. It implies the maintenance of exceptional European interest, continued efforts for good management and annual defense of the distinction. As the holder of the prestigious distinction, the Central Balkan National Park Directorate also participated in the event.
The anniversary was marked on 21 May with a modest event in Granada, Spain, during which representatives of the Directorate for Social Rights, Health and the Environment of the Council of Europe, the Ministers of the Environment of Spain and the Province of Andalusia, and experts presented in their speeches the vision, successes and challenges of the initiative-instrument for the conservation of protected areas. A small bazaar with local products from the Sierra Nevada Biosphere Park, which includes the national park of the same name, nominated for a European Diploma, pleasantly surprised the participants in the event and emphasized the enormous importance of the relationship between preserved nature and the sustainable development of local communities.
A two-day seminar dedicated to presenting good practices and exchanging experiences followed the celebration of the anniversary. During it, successfully implemented projects in distinguished protected areas were presented within 5 thematic groups, relating to adaptation to climate change, water management, tourism, successful examples of reintroduction of extinct species, and the relationship between protected areas and local communities.
The participants adopted the Granada Declaration, which emphasizes the importance of natural heritage, long-term protection and conservation, effective and sustainable management, the promotion of best practices in nature conservation, the promotion of transboundary cooperation and raising awareness of Europe's natural heritage, while highlighting the challenges and opportunities for the future.
The Central Balkan National Park was awarded the prestigious diploma on 21 October 2009 and remains the only Bulgarian park to have received the prestigious award. Possession of a European Diploma is a recognition of the qualities of the nature and management of the National Park. It implies the maintenance of exceptional European interest, continued efforts for good management and annual defense of the distinction. As the holder of the prestigious distinction, the Central Balkan National Park Directorate also participated in the event.
