Dear Reader,

There's lots to report about in this year-end PAN Parks newsletter: autumn was a busy period with the expansion of PAN Parks Wilderness and new local business partners joining our network, our presence at the biggest wilderness event, Wild9, and much happening also in the field in PAN Parks. Enjoy reading the last newsletter of 2009 which actually is our first in the newly branded design!

PAN Parks Team

Ten businesses operating around Soomaa, Estonia and Archipelago, Finland received PAN Parks certificates demonstrating their high environmental standards and commitment to wilderness protection. More...

A newly certified PAN Park, Sooma in Estonia, 18 new certified business partners in Peneda-Geres, Portugal, and a truly exciting event bringing together representatives from the best of Europe's wilderness areas: this is a short recap of Europe's Wilderness Days. More...

PAN Parks was among the signatories of the Merida Message at the World Wilderness Congress. The message - in line with the objectives of the PAN Parks concept - calls for the protection of critical land and sea wilderness areas to mitigate climate change and conserve biodiversity and healthy ecosystems that provide products and services vital to human well-being. Read the message

PAN Parks was represented at the WILD9 congress in November which concluded with the launch of a vision that humanity should move immediately to protect at least half of the planet - land and sea - in an interconnected manner. More...

PAN Park Soomaa is the best Estonian nature destination, the park is winner of the competition Estonian undiscovered treasures 2009. More...

Local PAN Parks partner, Hotel Borjomis Kheoba in Georgia has won the most successful hotel award. More...

Bulgarian PAN Park Rila in Bulgaria has launched a project to develop tourism through more efficient marketing of its tourist destinations, with special focus on natural attractions. More...

Thanking for your interest, support and co-operation, the PAN Parks Team wishes you all the best for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Come and join a tour of the PAN Parks Winter Wonderland! Join the tour!

PAN Parks Foundation is seeking a Brand Manager whose tasks include strategic planning and implementation of brand management and brand campaigns and ensuring visibility of the PAN Parks brand in protected areas and at PAN Parks business partners locally and internationally. More...

Links between biodiversity and visitor experience are subject of a study carried out in PAN Park Oulanka National Park by a Colorado State University researcher and a graduate student who partnered with Wageningen University in the Netherlands and the University of Oulu in Finland on a grant. More...

PAN Parks launches its Wilderness Think-Tank with a group of well-known researchers who are committed to supporting the PAN Parks Wilderness concept throughout Europe, during the workshop of the newly founded Wildland Research Institute. More...

Photo credits
Header photo: Central-Balkan NP © Angel Ispirev
Photo of the Month © Orsolya Haarberg
left column:
Europe's Wilderness Days, Peneda-Geres NP © PGNP Archives
Soomaa, Sooma NP © Arne Ader
right column:
Study on recreational, Oulanka NP © Minna Koramo
PAN Parks Wilderness Think-Thank © Orsolya Haarberg