Investing in young professionals working for Protected Areas
Each year the EUROPARC Federation, with support from the Alfred Toepfer Stiftung F.V.S., awards three Alfred Toepfer Natural Heritage Scholarships to promising young conservationists, who are committed to working for the benefit of Protected Areas. The aim of the scholarships is to enhance international cooperation and to advance the quality, innovation and European dimension of Protected Area management.
Each scholarship is worth €3.000 and enables successful applicants to undertake a study visit on a particular theme to one or more Protected Areas in a European country. After the trip, the scholars are expected to present the Federation with their findings and a report. These reports are made available to EUROPARC members, as they are full of interesting facts on observation and solutions to common Protected Area management issues.
You will find all the reports since 2007 in our library.
The scholarships enhance international cooperation and the advancement of quality and innovation, and promote the European dimension of Protected Area management.
Every year themes of study visits are announced by EUROPARC and the application needs to ensure that the studies being proposed will address these themes.
Categories
This year, the categories open for applications are:
1. Biodiversity and Climate Change– Importance of values of N2000 sites and protected areas on reducing impacts of climate change and implementing the EU Biodiversity Strategy
2. Sustainable Development in Protected Areas – contribution to a resource-efficient, green and competitive low-carbon economy
3. Opportunities for Health and Well-being in Protected Areas – Contribution of protected areas to safeguard the European citizens from environment-related pressures and risks to health and wellbeing
4. Parks for People –Approaches and strategies to address local communities and how to involve particular groups into activities or management of protected areas
Candidates should indicate which theme they are choosing in the application form and explain their motivations.
Steps for the application:
- Read the guidelines and check if you are eligible (in particular in the list of countries)
- Fill in the application form here
- Create an outline of your travel plan, where possible with contacts and confirmation
- Send it to p.schultheiss @ europarc.org before the 28th April
Need an example of a successful application?
Application Requirements:
– to be under 35 years and have a European nationality
– to be employed by a European Protected Area or a nature conservation institution
– to be student or graduate of higher educational institutions, studying an environmentally relevant topic related to Protected Area management
– to be employed by a European Protected Area or a nature conservation institution
– to be student or graduate of higher educational institutions, studying an environmentally relevant topic related to Protected Area management
Scholars are selected by the EUROPARC Federation.
