Eurosite - the European Land Conservation Network

29/07/2026

🔍 Looking to enhance your skills in biodiversity governance, nature conservation and ecological restoration?

Applications are now open for the new European master's programme in Biodiversity Governance (BIOGOV). The programme starts this year, and will train 20 students from across the EU, contributing to a new generation of professionals specialised in the management of Natura 2000 sites and other protected areas.

Grounded in both European and global frameworks, the curriculum is in line with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the EU Nature Restoration Law, with modules ranging from ecological restoration and monitoring techniques to European environmental policies and stakeholder engagement.

The 12-month, 60 ECTS programme is free of charge and taught in English, combining online learning through the e-learning platform of the University of Tuscia with two months of field training in the Italian State Nature Reserves managed by the Carabinieri Forestali.

The BIOGOV Master’s is a proud milestone in our LIFE TraiN2K project, which aims to build a European training system for Natura 2000 professionals.

Interested in joining the 2026/2027 cohort? Apply by 17 August: https://sites.google.com/unitus.it/masterbiogov?usp=sharing

21/07/2026

New guidance for site managers: Managing wetlands in the face of climate change 🐦🌿🌊

Wetlands are critical for birds and biodiversity, but as our climate changes, the conditions that make these areas valuable are also changing. Areas that have supported bird populations in the past may not provide what they need in the future.

So how can wetland managers help these valuable ecosystems adapt?

"Best Practices for Site Managers: Managing wetlands in the face of climate change" provides practical guidance to support managers in understanding climate impacts and taking action to make wetlands more resilient.

Inside, you'll find guidance on:
🔄 Making decisions under climate uncertainty (the Resist–Accept–Direct framework)
💧 Practical measures for climate-resilient wetlands and waterbird habitats
📊 Long-term monitoring to catch early warning signs

Developed through the Biodiversa+ SPEAR project in collaboration with Wetlands International, this guide brings together scientific research and the practical experience of the Eurosite community of practice to help those managing natural areas make informed decisions in a changing climate.

Biodiversa+ SPEAR – Scenarios for Protecting European Avian Redistributions is an EU-funded project bringing together 15 partners from academia and conservation practice. The project explores how conservation areas, management approaches and decision-making tools can better support birds and wetlands as climate change reshapes ecosystems.

📖 Read the guide: https://www.eurosite.org/new-publication-managing-wetlands-in-the-face-of-climate-change/

16/06/2026

Interesting webinar from our friends at Eurosite - the European Land Conservation Network:

Walking, hiking, biking and sports apps are reshaping how people access and move through natural areas. In this webinar, hosted by Eurosite’s Nature & Recreation (NATREC) Working Group, landscape architect Mart Reiling (Track Landscapes) shares his expertise on digital mapping and the growing influence of these platforms on outdoor recreation. Drawing on hands-on experience, he offers nature managers practical insights into understanding and navigating the digital landscape of outdoor recreation. This session is particularly relevant for nature managers dealing with recreational pressure on their sites.

🗓️ When? Thursday, 25 June, from 11:00 to 12:00 CET
📍 Where? Online via Zoom.

16/06/2026

Have you registered for our Annual Meeting yet? There's only 2 weeks left to snag those Early Bird rates!

Whether you're a long-standing Eurosite member or a curious newcomer, all are warmly welcome to join us in Seville this November. 🍊

🗓️ When? 2-4 November 2026
📍 Where? La Galeria, Seville, Spain

Together, we'll explore some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities in European nature conservation from green finance and nature-friendly farming to biodiversity monitoring and much more.

Set in the inspiring Andalusian landscape, this year's convening combines forward-looking dialogue with practical networking, plus a special field visit to the beautiful Coto de Doñana.

🎟️ Early bird tickets are €50 cheaper — but only for 2 more weeks (until 30 June).

Learn more and check out the programme on our website: https://www.eurosite.org/event/event-eurosite-annual-meeting-2026/
Already convinced? Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eurosite-annual-meeting-2026-tickets-1987051963914?aff=oddtdtcreator

🏷️ Eurosite Members: Email us for your additional 20% member discount code.

Many thanks to our partners and funders for making this event possible: Fundación Biodiversidad, Xarxa per a la Conservació de la Natura, the International Land Conservation Network (ILCN) at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, The Conservation Finance Network, Biodiversity Meets Data and the LIFE Programme.

Join Europe's nature leaders in the heart of Andalusia for the Eurosite Annual Meeting in Seville, Spain, on 2-4 November 2026.

10/06/2026

🔥 Is fire the missing piece in sustainable landscapes?

Wildfires dominate headlines, but in many ecosystems, it is essential for health and regeneration. The real problem? Decades of fire suppression have created tinderbox conditions. Accumulated biomass, human infrastructure and climate change have turned what should be manageable fires into devastating wildfires.

The solution is counterintuitive: Harness fire as a tool — through silvopastoralism, controlled burns and traditional practices — to restore ecosystems, reduce wildfire risk and support biodiversity.

💡Join our webinar for an investigation with frank debate into:
🔹 Fire’s role in Mediterranean, pine and eucalyptus forests
🔹 Examples of successful fire management
🔹 Misconceptions, legal hurdles and carbon impacts
🔹 Balancing fire and human communities

🗓️ When? 25 June, 12:30 - 13:30 CET
📍 Where? Online via Zoom

Learn more & register here: https://www.eurosite.org/event/webinar-the-role-of-fire-in-shaping-sustainable-landscapes/

If you would like to use this webinar as stage for a pitch (3-5 minutes) about your work or project or initiative, let us know. We’ll find time at the beginning of the webinar to help you disseminate your message.

The International Network of Private Conservation on Agricultural Working Lands and Eurosite invite you to a webinar on rethinking fire’s role in conservation and climate action.

28/05/2026

After a gust of wind blew Henk’s hat into the water, it didn’t take long for Paul to roll up his trousers and wade in to retrieve it. Armed with a walking stick, he returned hat-in-hand to a round of applause.

This moment, on Day 3 of Eurosite’s Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Study Tour to Slovakia, captured the spirit of the week: people from across Europe forming connections through their shared dedication to protecting and restoring nature.

From 4-8 May 2026, conservation practitioners from ten European countries joined a Study Tour to explore wetlands, salt marshes and restored floodplains that demonstrate how healthy ecosystems can address climate change, biodiversity loss and water scarcity simultaneously.

We’re happy to share this article, originally published by the International Land Conservation Network (ILCN) at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, where we reflect on the Study Tour and the inspiring work of our Slovak hosts BROZ - ochranárske združenie & SOS/BirdLife Slovensko.

From 4-8 May 2026, conservation practitioners from ten European countries joined a Study Tour organized by Eurosite and hosted by Slovak partners BROZ and SOS/BirdLife Slovakia.

22/05/2026

This week, Eurosite and Latvijas Dabas fonds co-organised the GrassLIFE2 Study Tour across Latvia, exploring how semi-natural grasslands can be restored and maintained through long-term collaboration between farmers, conservationists and land managers. 🌾🐮🇱🇻

From 18–21 May, participants visited several nature-friendly farms, the Institute for Environmental Solutions (IES), SIA Sita Nature Park, and the Lubāns Wetland Nature Reserve. Along the way, they exchanged knowledge and experiences on rotational grazing, adaptive mowing, seed harvesting and other restoration approaches that are helping some of Europe’s richest grassland habitats recover and thrive.

A huge thank you to everyone who welcomed us so warmly and shared their knowledge, experience and landscapes throughout the week. These kinds of exchanges are invaluable for strengthening nature restoration efforts across Europe.

22/05/2026

12/05/2026

🚧 What are the barriers & bottlenecks to scaling up peatland restoration in Europe? Share your insights!

We’re inviting professionals and organisations working in (or alongside) peatland restoration to take part in a short but crucial survey as part of the LIFE SUPER EU project to scale up peatland restoration in Europe.

🔍 What we’re looking to understand:
- If you’re implementing restoration projects: what internal capacity gaps or bottlenecks are holding you back?
- If you’re contributing in another way: what external barriers are limiting progress in your country?

Your input will directly shape a Europe-wide Bottleneck Report, which will inform practical, hands-on trainings designed to address these challenges and support your work on the ground.

💡 This is your chance to influence how peatland restoration is supported and scaled across Europe.

👉 Take the survey by 29 May: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=xbg-JOYfb0qfjn5i8Er6360l9YoUE0dFve5lrJg2k5NUQ09DMEVGVUxENlZMS1U0TTVKUVhYMDFFMS4u

This survey is part of LIFE SUPER EU (LIFE24-CCM-DE-LIFE-SUPER-EU/101212611), co-funded by the EU LIFE Programme. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the RELEX Foundation for a Better Future, the International Land Conservation Network at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and The Conservation Finance Network.

05/05/2026

Kicking off our study tour on Nature-based Solutions in Slovakia! 🌿🥾📓

Today, we visited:
🌾 Parížske močiare, the largest reed wetland in Slovakia
🐮 Kameninské slanisko, a salt marsh maintained by grey cattle
🦆 Žitavský Luh, a salt marsh and restored wetland

Participants from 10 different European countries trekked through wetlands and salt marshes, learning from the sites and from each other. A great first day out with BROZ - ochranárske združenie & SOS/BirdLife Slovensko. More highlights from the week to come!

Natuurmonumenten Natuurpunt Wetlands International NABU Bundesverband Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt LIFE Programme