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Soomaa, ‘the land of bogs,’ is the eleventh PAN Park

Sooma National Park in Estonia joined the PAN Parks network of wilderness areas as it proved excellence in combining wilderness protection and sustainable tourism development. To get the PAN Parks certification the Estonian park was subject to independent international verification according to the PAN Parks Principles and Criteria, including environmental and sustainable tourism aspects. Zoltan Kun, Executive Director of PAN Parks Foundation, added, “We are glad to welcome Sooma National Park in our network as it represents the largest intact peat bog system in Europe preserved as wilderness. The area is also special as it has unique tourism potential with a well-developed trail system providing extraordinary wilderness experience for visitors.”

Portuguese tourism businesses in support of wilderness protection

Eighteen certified local partners offering nature based services in Peneda-Gerês National Park, can use the PAN Parks logo to present they are now part of an international network. The certified local businesses aim to support wilderness protection through developing sustainable tourism with nature-based and -friendly products, good cooperation with the park management and recognition of its conservation objectives. For this using their services guarantees that visitors contribute to the protection of nature. These partners are knowledgeable about the park and help visitors discover wilderness firsthand. They offer exciting activities to enable you to have a unique experience of European wilderness! The Portuguese park is already a certified PAN Park demonstrating it belongs to the best of Europe’s wilderness among 11 European national parks.

“For Peneda-Gerês National Park, cooperation with local tourism businesses is really important, as it enables us to ensure the sustainability of nature tourism. The PAN Parks certificate is a sign of active interaction for us,” says Duarte Figueiredo, Deputy Director of Peneda-Gerês National Park. 

Europe’s Wilderness Days

The newly certified PAN Parks partners receive their certificates during Europe’s Wilderness Days which is the eighth PAN Parks wilderness conference in a row. Peneda-Gerês National Park plays host to the 2009 event between 14-18 October. As Zoltan Kun, Executive Director of PAN Parks stated, “by organising Europe’s Wilderness Days in Castro Laboeiro, Portugal, our Foundation acknowledges the efforts made by the administration of Peneda-Gerês National Park in restoring 5,000 ha of wilderness which is a very unique commitment in Europe. We hope that by bringing experts from all around Europe to this area, the management will receive extra support to implement its wilderness restoration commitment.” The conference with participants representing more than 10 European countries features presentations and workshops by experts of diverse fields - conservation, communications and policy - all essential for wilderness protection. Topics include harmonising tourism development and wilderness conservation, branding, wilderness restoration and funding opportunities for protected areas.

For more information, contact

Zoltan Kun, Executive Director, PAN Parks Foundation, tel. +36 70 380 1522, zkun@panparks.org

For photos, logo, further materials, contact

Edit Borza, PR Manager, PAN Parks Foundation, tel. +36 70 422 6480, eborza@panparks.org

For more information on

-PAN Parks, visit www.panparks.org

-Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal, visit www.icnb.pt
-Soomaa National Park, Estonia, visit www.soomaa.ee

BACKGROUND

(1) PAN Parks Foundation

PAN Parks works to protect Europe’s wilderness, the continent’s most undisturbed areas of nature.

PAN Parks, the only European-wide organisation focusing on the protection of wilderness areas, applies a truly integrated approach combining wilderness protection and sustainable tourism development.

PAN Parks creates a network of European wilderness areas certified in accord with PAN Parks quality standards; covering relevant wilderness protection, social, economic and cultural aspects. With its integrated approach PAN Parks offers benefits for protected areas, local communities, visitors and business partners while preserving the best of Europe’s wilderness for future generations.

(2) What is a PAN Park?

A PAN Park belongs to the best of Europe’s wilderness, with outstanding nature and high quality tourism facilities, well balanced with wilderness protection and sustainable local development.

In a PAN Park the landscape is of outstanding beauty, its extraordinary natural values are among our most valuable European treasures and heritage. The well-protected area’s great size gives wildlife a real space to thrive.
In a PAN Park, the nature you enjoy has been protected according to the best European practices. Animals can roam free and plants are safe to thrive in true wilderness. The park management co-operates closely with the people who live around the park.

There are eleven certified PAN Parks throughout Europe:

· Archipelago National Park, Finland

· Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, Georgia

· Central Balkan National Park, Bulgaria

· Fulufjället National Park, Sweden

· Majella National Park, Italy

· Oulanka National Park, Finland

· Paanajärvi National Park, Russia

· Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal

· Retezat National Park, Romania

· Rila National Park, Bulgaria

· Soomaa National Park, Estonia

(3) Who are local PAN Parks partners?

Local businesses are certified, based on environmental standards and their commitment to wilderness protection. Local PAN Parks partners, offering high-quality facilities and working together with the park, are recognized by the PAN Parks logo; this guarantees that your visit contributes to the protection of nature. These partners are knowledgeable about the park and help visitors discover wilderness firsthand. They offer exciting activities to enable visitors to have a unique experience of European wilderness!

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