The Krka National Park hosted partners from Latvia and Finland
17/05/2024
The goal of the Erasmus+ project “Raising environmental awareness among young people in protected areas” is to involve young people between the ages of thirteen and thirty in activities relating to the protection of nature and the environment
From May 13 to 16, 2024, the first study trip as part of the Erasmus+ project “Raising environmental awareness among young people in protected areas” was held in the Krka National Park. On that occasion, representatives of protected areas from Latvia and Finland visited numerous sites in the Krka National Park, participated in workshops on mutually relevant topics, and also visited Šibenik. A partnership agreement for the next two years was signed between the project holders and the Public Institute of Krka National Park.
“We are extremely pleased to be participating in an international project that connects different European protected areas and that will result in the formation of a new program in our Park for groups of young nature conservationists” stated the director of the Krka National Park, Nella Slavica, and emphasised: “The Krka National Park has extensive experience in implementing educational programmes, therefore, thanks to the application of the Junior Ranger system, our students will be able to continuously and thoroughly learn about natural features even at an older age. We are also pleased that we can present the Krka National Park as a place with exceptional biodiversity and a rich heritage that enables training, networking, creativity, and volunteering.”
In the conference part of the visit, the project partners presented their protected areas. The Finns especially emphasised their rich experience in conducting educational programmes with scouts, and the Latvians with their programmes for young conservationists. Jessica Micklem-Kolenić, head of youth programmes at the Europarc Federation, an organisation that brings together more than four hundred protected areas in forty European countries, joined the conference via the digital platform. Micklem-Kolenić presented the methodology for the implementation of the Junior Ranger programme and the possibilities of achieving a partnership with protected areas in the implementation of the education of young guardians of nature.
“The Gaujas National Park Fund (Gaujas nacionālā parka fonds) from Latvia has had twenty years of experience in implementing the Junior Ranger programme, which is based on the principles of the Europarc Federation. Thanks to this programme, we became part of a network that brings together young nature conservationists throughout Europe, so we believe that the Krka National Park will also successfully implement the values we share”, said Anda Andrušaite, head of the Junior Ranger programme in the Gaujas National Park Fund, who added: “Due to the interest and engagement of our young nature guardians after they reached adulthood, a few years ago we launched the Youth+ programme, also in partnership with the Europarc Federation.”
Biologists from the protected areas in Latvia and Finland exchanged experiences in the protection of biodiversity with their Croatian colleagues during their field tours within the Park. On this occasion, they became acquainted with the exceptional natural features of the Krka National Park, along with both endemic and invasive species, and further, the processes of tufa formation, as well as the rich cultural-historical heritage, and presentation centers. They saw six of the seven Krka waterfalls, and were particularly impressed by the karst relief of the canyon.
“It was very inspiring to learn about the management of the Krka National Park, which ensures sustainability, and we were particularly interested in the interesting measures implemented in order to satisfy the great interest of visitors in addition to the protection of nature”, said the director of the Ķemeru National Park Fund (Ķemeru nacionālā parka fonds), Agnese Balandiņa, who also pointed out: “In Latvia, 12% of the territory is occupied by protected areas that are accessible to residents without restrictions, and we often carry out various activities to attract and sensitise members of the local community to the need for nature conservation. It is very important to us that children learn from an early age the importance of coexistence with nature.”
Project activities will be carried out from February 1, 2024 to January 31, 2026. The total value of the project is EUR 60,000.00, which is entirely financed by the European Union. The holder of the project “Raising ecological awareness among young people in protected areas” (2023-3-LV02-KA210-YOU-000170610) is the Ķemeru National Park Fund (Ķemeru nacionālā parka fonds) from Latvia, while the project partners are the Gaujas National Park Fund (Gaujas nacionālā parka fonds) from Latvia, the Kehittämisyhdistys Sepra ry from Finland, and the Krka National Park from Croatia.
The goals of the project are to inform young people about climate change, to strengthen the awareness of young people about the need to preserve nature and the environment, as well as the participation and exchange of experience of young people between the ages of thirteen and thirty through common platforms of protected areas in the project’s partner countries, the development of a system of motivation for young people’s participation in environmental protection, and the development of networking and the exchange of ideas.
This project is co-funded by the European Union. The content of this material is the sole responsibility of the Public Institute of Krka NP.


































































Erasmus+
JOŠ NOVOSTI IZ KATEGORIJE
Representatives of Krka National Park visit Latvian national parks
As part of an Erasmus+ project, fully financed by the European Union, Latvian national parks presented their rich biodiversity and well preserved ecosystems
Representatives of the Krka National Park in a return visit to colleagues from Finland
Young people between the ages of thirteen and thirty are being more actively involved in the protection of nature and the environment through the Erasmus+ project “Raising environmental awareness among young people from protected areas”, which is fully financed by the European Union.
Erasmus+ in the Service of Education of Young People from Protected Areas
The Public Institute of Krka National Park is a partner on the project Environmental Awareness-Rising of Young People from Protected Areas (2023-3-LV02-KA210-YOU-000170610) funded under the Erasmus+ programme