The representatives of the pilot sites of the LIFE PAME-Europe project gathered from 10th to 11th of March 2026 in Prague to begin their joint journey in project activities. The project aims to create a European framework for assessing the management effectiveness of protected areas. 47 pilot sites from 26 countries, including our Plitvice Lakes National Park and Medvednica Nature Park, are key in this project to test the future framework and its suitability, purpose and support for those managing protected areas. During two intensive days, participants were able to examine the draft Framework and provide direct feedback on its strengths and weaknesses. This was also a unique opportunity to network and get to know all the representatives from the participating sites.
Foto 1 (Photo credit: Ester Bossink, EUROPARC Federation)
Protected area management effectiveness (PAME) is defined by the World Commission on Protected Areas as an assessment of how well a protected area is managed, i.e. to what extent the protected area conserve its values and achieves its established objectives. Effective protected area management is the basis for achieving long-term biodiversity conservation, but despite the established protected areas of which there are more than 140,000 in the European Union and Natura 2000 areas of which there are more than 25,000, the mere designation and establishment do not ensure success in preserving all values.
It is for this reason that the LIFE PAME-Europe project was launched with the aim of establishing a framework for a European-wide system for monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of protected area management. The project partners are EUROPARC Federation (Europe), DHP Conservation S.R.O. (Czech Republic), Metsähallitus, Parks & Wildlife Finland (Finland), Nationale Naturlandschaften EV (Germany) and Department de Territori, Habitatge i Transició Ecològica (Spain). The project runs from 2024-2028, and the testing phase of the tool or framework for assessing the management effectiveness of pilot sites across Europe, but also outside the European Union, is from 2026 to 2027. Pilot areas participate at the level of the site itself, individually, for example a protected area or Natura 2000 area, while other pilot areas are represented at the system level (ministries, agencies) that test the tool for, for example, all protected areas under their jurisdiction.
Foto 2 (Photo credit: Ester Bossink, EUROPARC Federation)
The pilot sites have a task to test the tool in the coming period through a self-assessment process, but also through online workshops, while the support of the project team is provided. Within the given deadlines, covered chapters will include checking and supplementing data with site information, conservation objectives, pressures, conservation measures, monitoring and conservation outcomes.
We will continue the project activities in the coming period with online training on the European Nature Academy platform, which will support participants on this exciting journey. We hope that the experience of participating in and implementing this PAME-Europe Framework will provide us with additional experience needed in the development of a new Management Plan.
In following this topic, we kindley invite you to join the Management Effectiveness Community here https://life-pame-europe-mec.grwebsite.eu/.
