Quality criteria and standards for German national parks

2 | FOREWORDForewordFederal Environment Minister Sigmar GabrielHalting the loss of biological diversity represents as great achallenge as coming to terms with climate change. Therefore thedecision was taken in Johannesburg in 2002 to aim for a significantreduction in the current rate of loss of biological diversityby 2010.A central measure to achieve this goal is the establishment ofa global system of protected areas. Depending on the managementpriorities adopted, this may involve strict nature conservationand care or the sustainable use of natural resources, buteach protected area can make its own specific contribution tomaintaining biological diversity.The significance of protected areas, not only for the 2010-goalbut also for the objectives of the Convention on BiologicalDiversity, is highlighted by the programme of work on protectedareas passed by the 7th Conference of the Parties to the Conventionin Kuala Lumpur. This programme calls on the partiesto the convention to establish and maintain a system of protectedareas at the national level which is not only ecologicallyrepresentative, but is also effectively managed.there are 14 national parks, 16 biosphere reserves and 100 natureparks, which together cover more than 25% of the terrestrial areaof the country. In recent years we have undertaken considerableefforts to develop criteria and standards for these areas whichare suitable for the identification of strengths and weaknesses.Quality criteria and standards are now available for our nationalparks, and these are being augmented in the course of anevaluation procedure. This makes it possible for us to establisha comprehensive quality management system for this protectioncategory. The federal government and the federal states (laender)have the common goal of evaluating all national parks in timefor the 10th Conference of the Parties in 2010.With the joint efforts of the laender, the administrations of thenational parks and the umbrella organisation EUROPARCGermany it will hopefully be possible to develop the work in thenational parks further and thus to make an important contributionto preserving habitats and species.The fact that despite the designation of new protected areaswe have so far not been able to register any change in the trendtowards the loss of species and habitats shows just how importantthe effective management of protected areas is. In Germany

objectives | 5Regional conference, January 2007, Bavarian Forest National ParkAdvisory board meeting, June 2007, Frankfurt Zoological SocietyRegarding national parks, this means developing an evaluationsystem which takes account of both international standardsand also the national situation and requirements. For example,the 14 German national parks are relatively young. Neverthelessthey meanwhile constitute a representative selection ofthe key major landscapes in Germany. Bearing in mind thepredominance of the cultural landscape and the few remaining“natural” areas, the consequence is that the national parks notonly vary in type but are also very different in size, ranging from3003 hectares for the Jasmund National Park to the 441,500ha of the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea national park. It isalso necessary to consider the various legal provisions, becausethe Federal Nature Conservation Act has so far only provideda national framework and the laender, which have the responsibilityfor nature conservation, have made various legislativeprovisions for national parks within the federal framework.However, there are not only differences in terms of their natureand the legislative framework. Other key areas of distinctionsinclude the ownership, organisational structure, and the staffingand funding provisions. For this reason, a “status-quo analysis”was carried out as part of the project which provided data from2006 for comparison purposes. The information gained inthis way established a basis from which standards for Germannational parks were developed.The results of this analysis were on the whole sobering, whichonly confirmed the urgent need for action to improve the qualityof the national parks. In addition to quality assurance, theproject had also set itself the goal of achieving a long-term improvementof quality through the examination of managementeffectiveness. This involved a two-year process with lengthy discussionsand numerous meetings, bringing together actors froma variety of backgrounds in order to ensure the widest possibleacceptability and transparency for the project. . From the start,participants included representatives from the Federal EnvironmentMinistry, the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation,LANA, individual laender environment ministries, NGOs suchas WWF and the German brands for ‘Bird Life and Friendsof the Earth’ as well as personnel from the individual nationalpark administrations.

6 | ApproachApproachAt the start of the project in October 2005 joint agreement wasreached on an approach between the initiator and organiserEUROPARC Germany and the expert representative of thenational parks’ working group.1. Development of visions as the basis for the formulation ofquality goals2. Survey of the status quo in the 14 national parks3. Development of fields of action including relevant criteriaand standards4. Formulation of a catalogue of questions with indicators toexamine the standards5. Pre-test of the evaluation sheet in four national parksAn overview of the aspects to be taken into consideration in thedevelopment process is provided in the following figure:The methodological approach within the project consisted offive consecutive phases.Phase 1: Start-up and presentation of a project approachThe fields of work in this phase include the review of existingevaluation systems for German biosphere reserves and natureparks, the formulation of first visions for national parks, thediscussion of (and agreement on) ten fields of action, the selectionof a corresponding set of criteria and the preparation ofinformation about the WCPA framework for the evaluation ofmanagement effectiveness.Phase 2: Project processing with intensive participation ofvarious specialist groupsIn this phase, standards and criteria were identified andformulations were harmonised. Other fields of work includedthe preparation of the status-quo analysis in the 14 Germannational parks in the summer of 2006 and the clarification ofthe framework conditions for the evaluation of the nationalparks in Germany.Evaluation of the managementInternationalconventionsQuality management“all over”On-goingprocessAction isneededSpecificationsGerman laws andguidelinesVisions for Germannational parksSettinggoalsEvaluationof themanagementDynamicsProtected areas inGermany since 1997IUCN future scenarioOne stepaheadLearn andadaptAcceptalterationsParadigm shift forprotected areasWhat are protected areasdoing in other countries?

Approach | 7Phase 3: Development of the assessment procedureIn the main phase of the project, national and internationalevaluation systems for large protected areas were reviewed anda suitable assessment procedure was developed. In particular,during this phase three regional conferences were organised inorder to integrate the personnel of the national park administrationsmore closely in the project. Furthermore, questions andindicators were collected for the evaluation sheet and a methodologywas determined for the assessment procedure.Phase 4: Examination of the practicability of the assessmentprocedureThe key aspect of this phase was the test of the evaluation sheetin the national parks Bayerischer Wald, Hamburg WaddenSea, Hainich, and Mueritz. With each test, the sheet could befurther improved and the procedure adapted.Phase 5: Final discussion with experts and publication ofthe resultsThe discussion with experts led to a further adaptation ofthe evaluation sheet. This was produced as an on-line versionwhich meant that in future it would be much easier to completeand to evaluate.The overall progress of the project was characterised by a veryconstructive exchange between the various agents. Participationin each of the phases involved successive meetings of the nationalparks’ working group, workshops, advisory board meetings,and regional conferences. The numerous working sessionsmade an important contribution to determining the contentsand ensuring the acceptability of the process.The following events were organised:ɠɠ 3 large workshops with the participation of all the actorgroups,ɠɠɠɠɠɠɠɠɠɠ5 meetings of the national parks working group,3 advisory board meetings,3 regional conferences,3 Federal government-Laender consultation meetings,2 consultation rounds with the chair of LANA.The workshops brought together the directors and personnelof the national park administrations, representatives of BMU/BfN and the laender, IUCN, and nature conservation associations,and ‘friends of the park’ organisations. An advisory boardwith experts from various disciplines and LANA-representativessupported the project and was actively involved in thework process.Second workshop,November 2006,Goettingen

8 | The Quality SetThe quality set – Vision, fields of action,criteria and standardsThe basics for the development of quality goals – how dothe national parks want to develop in future? – is the agreementabout a shared vision.“National parks are the pearls of nature internationally and inGermany, in which ‘Nature can be Nature’. They are characterisedby unique undisturbed landscapes, wildness, and a naturalvariety of species. They represent our most important naturalheritage, including for future generations.They let us all experience how it is when people do not changenature. Visitors can have great experience, without disturbingnature.”In accordance with this, the following medium-term objectiveswere formulated in accordance with the chosen fields of action,i.e. the topics and the associated duties of the national parkadministrations.Criteria were allocated to the fields of action.The criteria are described by standards. Quality standards inthis project are the best possible achievable solution or states,taking national and international provisions into account.The ten fields of action and the appropriate criteriaFields of actionCriteria setFields of actionCriteria setFrameworkconditionsProtection ofnatural biologicaldiversity anddynamics– Legal foundations– Protection purpose– Overriding planning principles– Competences– Ownership rights– Boundaries and shape– Space for natural processes– Extent– Level of naturalness– Habitats of international and national significance– Species management– Ecosystem networkingCooperation andpartnersCommunicationEducation– Cooperation agreements– Integration in working groups and networks– Volunteer management– Message– Corporate design (CD)– Communication structure– Educational strategies– Education courses– Visitor guidanceOrganisationManagement– Organisational structure– Staff levels– Ranger system– Personnel management– Financing– Advisory boards and curatorship– Model for landscape development– Management plan– Zoning– Renaturation– Strategies for sustainable use– Visitor guidance and area control– Integration of the national park in the region– Evaluation of measuresExperiencingnature andrecreationMonitoring andresearchRegionaldevelopment– Offers for experiencing nature– Infrastructure for visitors– Research coordination– Basic research– Monitoring– Documentation– Image– Impulses for the region– Sustainable regional development

The Quality Set | 9Quality standards for German National parksCriteriaStandardsCriteriaStandardsLegal foundationsProtectionpurposeOverridingplanningprinciplesCompetencesOwnershiprightsBoundaries andshape1. Field of action – Framework conditionsThe national park is secured under national and statelaw. Laws and ordinances do not obstruct the implementationof the standards for national parks.The protection purpose of national parks is primarilythat natural processes should be undisturbed with theirnatural biodiversity in all ecosystems in the nationalpark, for which Germany bears national and global responsibility.As far as the protection purpose allows, other goalssuch as education, PR work, contact with nature, research,and monitoring are also to be implemented.Protection purpose, planning and management of thenational parks as well as surrounding protected areasare integrated in the regional planning and other overridingbasic planning provisions. In the federal state andregional planning programmes, the entire national parkareas are classed as a “priority area for nature conservation”.The national park plan is also coupled with similarcommitments in the federal state planning. In addition,concerns of the national parks are taken into considerationin the overriding planning. In the case of planningand projects in the vicinity of a national park, its interestsare taken into consideration.The national park administration has all the official authorisationneeded for the realisation of the protectionpurpose. Where other bodies have additional responsibilitiesin the national park, these take into accountthe goals and the concerns of the national park in theirdecision-making in agreement with the national parkadministration.The area of a national park should if possible be completelyowned by the public hand. Where this is notthe case, then permanent provision shall be made inorder to secure the realisation of the goals of thenational park.The outer boundaries of the national park shall bein accordance with the natural features. It enclosesall sub-sections/elements of the ecosystem complexwhich is to be protected in an area which as far as possibleis large, compact, and contiguous.The areas already have a high degree of closeness tonaturalness or are suited to reach this within an acceptableperiod. They are virtually free of human settlementsand transport infrastructure.The boundaries of the national park coincide with parcelboundaries in the land register or are specified inofficial sea charts.Space for naturalprocessesExtentLevel ofnaturalnessHabitats ofinternational andnational significanceSpeciesmanagementEcosystemnetworking2. Field of action – Protection of natural biological diversityand dynamicsOver most of their area, national parks protect the naturaldynamics of processes of nature with as little disturbanceas possible. In general, this is ensured withina period of not longer than 30 years after an area hasbeen designated a national park and for at least 75%of the national park area. The areas for the protectionof natural dynamic processes should be contiguous oruninterrupted, with few outer boundaries.National parks with more than 30% of their area not inpublic ownership or which in Germany completely enclosea habitat which is of global importance can definea longer transition period in the national park planor can protect large areas of representative types ofhabitat in their natural processes over most of its area.A national park is extensive, taking into account theecosystem-related criteria. It represents one or moreecosystems and ensures the process of natural dynamics.A national park must have an area of at least10,000 hectares.As an exception, a smaller area which is internationallyrepresentational can be a national park. The area shallbe so enclosed that the protection purpose is achievablewithin its boundaries.National parks have over the larger part of their areaecosystems which have a high level of naturalness.These ecosystems have the natural species compositionand diversity which is typical for the location.The national park contains habitats of internationaland/or national significance. These are shown in themanagement plan, which also includes definitionsof the measures necessary to secure them that arepermissible in terms of the space needed for naturalprocesses.Generally, species management is an exceptional situationin national parks. The necessary measures for thisare presented in the management plan.The national park is connected by ecologically effectivecorridors with the important areas for habitats andspecies protection in its surroundings.

10 | The Quality SetCriteriaStandardsCriteriaStandards3. Field of action – Organisation4. Field of action – ManagementOrganisationalstructure of theprotected areaadministrationStaff levelsRanger systemPersonalmanagementFinancingAdvisory boardsand curatorshipsThe national park administration is directly responsibleto the highest nature conservation authority. It is anindependent, efficient special authority. In particularit has the following duties: Conservation of naturalprocesses, management, supervision of area, maintenanceof recreational infrastructure for experiencingnature, contribution to education for sustainable development,monitoring and research, communication,cooperation, cooperation in regional developmentin the surroundings of the national park and generaladministration.The staffing levels ensure capable, on-going work onall the matters listed under “Organisational structure ofthe national park administration”.Full-time personnel shall be provided by the nationalpark administration, generally on permanent contracts,for the supervision of visitors and the monitoringof the compliance with the protection regulations.For the supervision work, the administration integratesa network of volunteers, honorary personnel and fulltimestaff of non governmental associations.The number of people needed for visitor guidanceand supervision of the compliance with the protectionregulations depends on the nature and size of the nationalpark, the numbers of visitors, the tasks involved,and the potential risks and disturbances.The national park administration coordinates a uniformpresentation and ensures a uniform level of information.The supervisors are well trained and receiveregular further training. They are qualified as a certifiednature and landscape carer, or have equivalenttraining.The personnel management is carried out professionallyby the national park administration. The objectiveis to achieve high levels of motivation and satisfactionof the personnel and high levels of efficiency. Staffwork independently, they are involved in decisionmakingprocesses, receive regular further training andshare in the internal flow of information. The nationalpark administration has a clear voice in the selection ofits personnel.The full financing of the national park is provided bythe federal state in each case. The financing coversat least the protection of natural processes, management,supervision of area, maintenance of recreationalinfrastructure for experiencing nature, contribution toeducation for sustainable development, monitoringand research, communication, cooperation in the regionaldevelopment in the national park surroundingsas well as general administration. Support by third partiesfor the goals of the national parks is desirable.Advisory boards, boards of trustees and other advisorybodies promote the development of the national parkand support the integration of the national parks inthe region.Model forlandscapedevelopmentManagementplanZoningRenaturationStrategies forsustainable useVisitor guidanceand area controlEvery national park has its own model for landscapedevelopment. This provides a foundation, is valid overthe long term, is visionary, and is compatible with theoverriding vision for German national parks von EU-ROPARC Germany (2005). The specific vision for the nationalpark is anchored in the management plan. Thevision is directed both inwardly towards the personnel,and also outwardly.The management plan is essential for the work of thenational park administration. The goals of the nationalpark are clearly identifiable in this. The plan containsthe key fields of action, strategies and the planning formeasures in order to achieve the vision and the specificgoals. The plan is binding for the authorities.Management planning also specifies time-horizonsand indicators to reach the individual goals. An importantcomponent of this is the determination of measuresto monitor success. The management plan shouldbe formulated not more than five years after the designationof the national park and subsequently updatedat least every ten years.Zoning – where necessary – serves to structure thenational parks in areas in which process protection hasalready been realised and areas in which managementmeasures are being carried out temporarily or in thelong-term. The process protection zone should be ascontiguous and extensive as possible.Renaturation measures in the national parks are limitedto restoration or initial measures solely in thoseareas in which anthropogenic changes prior to the establishmentof the national park have been such thatit is not reasonable to expect natural self-regulationeven in the long term. Renaturation measures are determinedfor a limited period in the national park plan.They serve to optimise the ecosystem quality of thenational park.National parks are not aimed at the commercial utilisationof resources. Where such usage occurs in thenational park it should not contradict the protectionpurpose and should only take place on a smaller partof the area of the national park. Utilisation which doesnot satisfy this condition is to be terminated as soonas possible.Visitor guidance takes place on the basis of a zoningstrategy which forms part of the management plan.On the basis of the knowledge of nature conservationexperts and experience with nature recreation,routes and areas are selected for the visitors and appropriatelydesignated. In the national park, paths aresignposted and where necessary no access areas aredetermined. The ranger service guides, informs andsupervises.

The Quality Set | 11CriteriaStandardsCriteriaStandards4. Field of action – Management6. Field of action – CommunicationIntegration of thenational parks inthe regionEvaluation of themeasuresCriteriaCooperationagreementsIntegration inworking groupsand networksVolunteermanagementThe national park region is defined. The managementplan contains recommendations for the national parkregion. The national park administration contributes tothe planning for surrounding areas.The necessity for the measures carried out in the fieldsof visitor guidance and supervision, educational work,nature conservation, species protection, and renaturationas well as volunteer management is examinedat regular intervals and their success evaluated. Theresults are disseminated. The findings from the evaluationflow into the management process and where appropriatelead to alterations of the strategies and theirimplementation.Standards5. Field of action –Cooperation agreements and partnersThe national park administration uses cooperationagreements and partnerships in order to gain the supportof as many relevant social groups as possible forthe shaping of the national park and its surroundings.The participants in the cooperation agreements andthe partners acknowledge the goals of the nationalpark and support them. The basis for the cooperationis the presentation of a strategy document by thenational park administration concerning the generalhandling of the cooperation.The national park is integrated in many ways with itssurroundings. It contributes significantly to the imageof the region. The national park administration is activelyrepresented in all relevant working groups andnetworks.National parks understand that the cooperation withvolunteers is an enrichment of their activities andhelps to establish the protected area in the region. Itoffers opportunities for people of all ages, with variousqualifications, abilities and interests. The volunteermanagement programme includes professionalsupervision, the integration of volunteers in the teamwith full-time personnel as well as recognition of volunteers.MessageCorporate design(CD)CommunicationstructureCriteriaEducationalstrategiesEducationcoursesThe messages of all communication activities promotethe unique selling point of the national park andstrengthen its product and image position. The messagesare targeted towards selected groups, have adepth of content and also reach the emotions.The corporate design (CD) and the corporate identity(CI) provide a uniform image, based on the specificationsin a CD Manual, with which the protected areaadministrations can present their national park in alltheir communications as belonging to the “NationaleNaturlandschaften”.The national park administrations communicate withthe relevant target groups at regional and nationallevels. In addition to regularly collecting up-to-dateinformation, the direct dialogue with the target groupsis also very important. This offers the opportunity toinform about the role of the national parks, their specifictasks and special activities and at the same timeto invite them to participate in joint activities. A communicationsstructure is institutionalised to providecontinuous contacts to partners, superior authoritiesand regional bodies such as advisory boards and boardof trustees, special purpose associations, nature conservationsocieties and tourism associations.Standards7. Field of action – EducationExisting educational strategies for specific targetgroups are implemented as part of the work relating tonational parks. It is essential that the educational plansare regularly up-dated and that the personnel are providedwith further training. Educational courses arecoordinated by the national park administration, andperiodically evaluated.The educational contributions provide informationabout the goals and duties of the national park andwhat can be found in them, with the main focus beingplaced on the central message of the national park.The national park makes a contribution towards educationfor sustainable development. In the educationalwork, the idea of the national park is linked to the globaltask – the conservation of natural basis of life forthis and future generations.Visitor guidanceFor visitor guidance, the operating strategies adoptedfor the work of rangers, for education, and for othervisitor supervision are coordinated with one another.The individuals involved know the approaches of theothers who are contributing. The general guidance ofvisitors takes place in the information centre and atthe individual information points. The personnel workingthere explain the general and specific duties andgoals of the national park and transmit identificationwith the national park.

12 | The Quality SetCriteriaStandardsCriteriaStandards8. Field of action – Experiencing nature and recreation10. Field of action – Regional developmentOffers forexperiencingnatureInfrastructurefor visitorsCriteriaEncouraging people to experience nature is one of themost important tasks of a national park. The methodsadopted will depend on the characteristics of thepark itself. It will include offers for groups, individualsand for seasonal activities. In addition, the nationalpark administration works together with cultural institutionsin the region. Where it is appropriate andcompatible with the protection purpose it combinescultural and natural experiences.An infrastructure for visitors exists in the national park.This is appropriate for the natural area and the protectionpurpose and is also attractive and visitor-oriented,while at the same time being in accordance with theprinciples of sustainable development. The signpostingin the park is uniform and easily recognisable.Standards9. Field of action – Monitoring and researchImageImpulses forthe RegionImpulses forsustainableregionaldevelopmentThe national park is the most important image factorin its region. Survey are conducted regularly to determinethe status of its image among the residentsand visitors, as a way of monitoring the success of thepark’s own communications strategy.The positive effects of the national park for the regionare regularly measured, documented, communicatedoutwards, and developed further.The national park administration provides impulses forsustainable regional development. In particular it contributesto the formulation of a sustainable mobilitystrategy for the region. The strategy provides the basisfor traffic guidance measures and traffic calming aswell as for the deployment of environmentally-friendlymeans of transport in the region in general and in thepark itself, in order to make the park accessible and enjoyable.In addition, the national park administrationcooperates locally in the development of sustainabletourism.ResearchcoordinationResearch is directed towards questions which are relevantfor national parks. The research strategy of the nationalpark forms a part of the management plan. The nationalpark administration assesses whether research projectsproposed by third parties are compatible with the protectionpurpose, and also coordinates research projects.Basic researchThe national park administration collects informationabout the features of the park over the whole of its areain the context of the landscape history and the historyof its use, and this can provide the basis for the nationalpark plan. The determination of the fundamentals canbe carried over into a monitoring process.MonitoringMonitoring is carried out in the national park to an adequateextent and in accordance with uniform standards,and is oriented to the goals and the protectionpurpose of the national park. Among other things italso serves to check progress.DocumentationThe information collected in the general surveys, monitoringand project research is evaluated in accordancewith scientific criteria, worked up, documented andshall be made accessible in a suitable form.

The Evaluation Procedure | 13The evaluation procedureIn order to examine the criteria and standards, an evaluationprocedure was developed to compare the existing situation withthe goals and projections. This involves a questionnaire withopen questions and indicators and an evaluation methodology.The indicators are based on the WCPA framework of IUCN.Regarding the evaluation methodology, the participants agreedthat every field of action should be equally weighted. Suchweighting would divert attention from the important principleof strength-weakness analysis. Because the primary objectiveis to confront national parks with their current situation inorder to be able to formulate an action plan in accordance withthe standards which will lead to a desirable situation in future.The principles of voluntary participation and self-assessmentremain unimpaired because the national park administrationscollect the data for the evaluation themselves with externalback-up.High demands were placed on the evaluation procedure rightfrom the start. It had to be practicable, but also acceptable tointernational und national experts. The indicators for assessingthe criteria and standards should be transparent, logical, andwhere possible also quantifiable.A trial evaluation was carried out in four test parks – the Nationalparks Bayerischer Wald, Hamburg Wadden Sea, Hainichand Mueritz – from April 2007 to February 2008. The testshowed first of all that the procedure that had been developedworked and was suitable for practical applications. In addition,the reports drawn up on the basis of the responses to thequestionnaires provided a helpful overview of the work of thenational parks, including strengths and weaknesses. The subsequentdiscussion about the guidance to action with the projectteam provided an important final element to the procedure.WCPA framework for evaluating management effectivenesssource: Hockings et al. (2006)Design/PlanningContextStatus and Threats:Where are we now?OutcomesWhat did we archieve?PlanningWhere do we want to be andhow will we get there?DeliveryEvaluationOutputsWhat did we do and what productsor services were produced?InputsWhat do we need?ProcessHow do we goabout Management?Adequacy/Appropriateness

14 | The Evaluation Procedure | ProspectsProspectsThe evaluation set in train a discussion process among thepersonnel about the goals and the duties of the national park– a first step towards increasing the management effectiveness.Internal communication is a basic precondition for the successof an evaluation and the subsequent implementation of therecommendations for action.The opportunities offered by the introduction of comprehensivequality management, for which the project laid a firstfoundation stone, can be summarised briefly as follows:ɠɠThe optimisation of management,ɠɠ The discussion about the objectives of the work in thenational park,ɠɠ Further development through the comparison of the cur-rent situation with the national and international specifications,ɠɠIdentifying and working on weak points,ɠɠ The evaluation of the management strategy with relation tothe goals of the national park,ɠɠ Regular checks in order to ensure the continual improve-ment of the work of the national park, andɠɠ A well-founded communication of progress inwardly andoutwardly.With the Research + Development project “Development ofquality criteria and standards” a foundation stone was laid forquality management and the increase of effective managementin German national parks. A broadly based and successfullytested quality set is now available, consisting of fields of action,criteria, standards and indicators.Whether this will develop to a proper milestone depends aboveall on the prompt and energetic implementation. All nationalpark administrations were actively involved in the developmentof the evaluation procedure and expressly approve of the applicationfor their park.The decision of the LANA working group from March 2008can be regarded as a successful conclusion of the project. Inthis, LANA approved of the development of criteria and standardsfor national parks as an important German contributiontowards the implementations of the Programme of Work onProtected Areas (CBD VII/28). LANA welcomes the fact thatthe Federal Ministry of the Environment has made possiblethe voluntary evaluation of the national parks. It also regardsthis as a significant German contribution towards achieving the2010 objectives.On the basis of this decision, the German federal governmentintends to provide financial support for the continuation of theproject. This opens up the prospect of conducting an evaluationof all German national parks by the end of 2010 – a steptowards the introduction of a permanent, comprehensive qualitymanagement system and thus an important contributionby Germany towards strengthening the worldwide system ofprotected areas.

Imprint | 15imprintPublished by :EUROPARC Deutschland e.V.Friedrichstraße 60,10117 BerlinGermanyinfo @ europarc-deutschland.dewww.europarc-deutschland.dewww.nationale-naturlandschaften.deEditorial team :Walter KemkesLena-Maly-WischhofAxel TscherniakHolger WesemüllerDr. Ursula DiepolderFinanced by the Federal Agency for Nature ConservationMay 2008Illustrations:Papenfuss Atelier für GestaltungU1 Titel; BMU p. 1;Lena Maly-Wischhof p. 3, 5, 7;Holger Wesemüller p. 5Design:Layout :Printer :Meta Design BerlinOswald und Martin Werbeagentur, BerlinKehrberg Druck Produktion Service, BerlinTranslation :Print run : 1.500Richard Holmes