EUROPARC WEBINAR
Connected by Nature
Ecological Connectivity in and beyond Protected Areas
22 May 2026
10:30 - 12:00 CEST
Alongside this, organisations such as Rewilding Europe are working at a broader European scale to support wildlife movement and reconnect habitats across landscapes. Through its landscape teams, efforts are underway to enable ecological corridors and improve connectivity between natural areas, both within and beyond Protected Areas.
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Programme
Welcome and Introduction
Esther Bossink, EUROPARC Federation Communications & Operations Manager
Developing a Connected Trans-European Nature Network: Lessons from NaturaConnect’s Pan-European Connectivity and Conservation Planning
Jeremy Dertien, Postdoctoral Researcher at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv)
Connected for Conservation: The NaturaConnect Learning Platform
Simone Prestes Dürrnagel, EUROPARC Federation Project Developer
Connectivity: Wetland stepping stones and roadside management.
André Claassen, Director at Maas-Schwalm-Nette Nature Park (NL/DE)
Rewilding for Connectivity in the Greater Côa Valley
Marta Cálix, Head of Ecological Restoration at Rewilding Portugal
Q&A
Participants will be able to pose questions after each of the speakers.
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EUROPARC events give you the opportunity to get new ideas, tools and inspiration from other protected area professionals. At real time. Person to person. Without leaving your home.
Meet the speakers
Jeremy Dertien
Postdoctoral Researcher at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv)
Jeremy Dertien is a postdoctoral researcher at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research. His work focuses primarily on landscape-scale conservation projects, with an emphasis on wildlife population dynamics and connectivity. He is currently conducting research on terrestrial connectivity at the continental scale as part of the NaturaConnect project.
Developing a Connected Trans-European Nature Network: Lessons from NaturaConnect’s Pan-European Connectivity and Conservation Planning
The NaturaConnect project has aimed to support stakeholders across Europe in the ongoing development of a resilient and well-connected Trans-European Nature Network (TEN-N). In this presentation, Jeremy will present the vision of TEN-N and results from Pan-European analyses of ecological connectivity and conservation planning.
André Claassen
Director at Maas-Schwalm-Nette Nature Park (NL/DE)
André Claassen has a background in forest- and nature management, wood use and cultural history. In his current role as Director of cross border nature park Maas-Swalm-Nette he combines entrepreneurship, bold ambitions, common sense, political tact, thorough analysis, hard work with a little bravery and loads of enthusiasm. He brings Dutch and German partners together in different EU-funded projects, building trust, honest expectations and tailor-made solutions with multiple benefits. Among current projects are wildfire management and enabling horse-riding for the regional economy.
Connectivity: Wetland stepping stones and roadside management.
André will briefly showcase two projects in which connectivity plays a big role, answering urgent ecological problems in the region of cross-border park Maas-Swalm-Nette. The “Wetland Restoration” project restored a string of wetlands along typical geological features along the border. Furthermore, the planned project ”Climate Change and Nature” hopes to improve the management of roadsides so they can provide suitable habitat for pollinating insects, connecting existing habitats and thus preventing (local) extinction.
Simone Prestes Dürrnagel
EUROPARC Federation Project Developer
Simone is EUROPARC's Project Developer, focusing on capacity building, communications and stakeholder engagement. She leads the development of the NaturaConnect Learning Platform and the SOCIAT Training Course, coordinates the production of the EUROPARC Annual Report, and represents the organisation on the Biodiversa+ Enlarged Stakeholder Board.
Connected for Conservation: The NaturaConnect Learning Platform
The NaturaConnect Learning Platform offers various training modules to enable participants to utilise the project outcomes, covering a range of frameworks and technical tools related to policy, financial instruments, stakeholder engagement, scenarios and models, ecological connectivity, and spatial conservation planning. Simone will give participants an overview of all the resources and opportunities available through the platform.
Marta Cálix
Head of Ecological Restoration at Rewilding Portugal
Marta Cálix is a rewilder based in Portugal with a background spanning evolutionary biology, wildlife management, and conservation finance. She holds an MSc in Wildlife Management and Conservation from the University of Reading and an MBA from IE Business School in Madrid. Before joining Rewilding Portugal, she contributed to the compilation of European Red Lists of Threatened Species at the IUCN European Regional Office in Brussels. Since 2019, Marta has been part of Rewilding Portugal working in partnership with Rewilding Europe to restore the Greater Côa Valley. As Head of Ecological Restoration, she leads work across habitat restoration, land management, conservation policy, and stakeholder engagement.
Rewilding for Connectivity in the Greater Côa Valley
Protected Areas alone cannot sustain the wide-ranging wildlife and ecological processes that define a truly functioning landscape. This presentation explores how Rewilding Portugal is working beyond Protected Area boundaries in the Greater Côa Valley to restore habitat connectivity across privately owned and unprotected land — through land acquisition, landowner agreements and natural grazing. Drawing on field experience and lessons learned, we will explore how a rewilding approach can turn fragmented landscapes into living corridors, and what it takes to make that happen on the ground.
Moderator
Esther Bossink
Communications and Operations Manager at EUROPARC Federation
Organised and funded by:
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can attend the webinars?
Our webinars are targeted at Protected Area professionals and anyone interested in the topic. They are a platform for technical discussions, where experts and professionals can share their own experiences with the wider community.
Are the webinars recorded?
Yes, all EUROPARC webinars are recorded and can be found on our website under Training and Events, as well as on our YouTube channel @EUROPARC. Once you have registered, you will receive an email notification for when the recording is published for viewing.
What is the EUROPARC Federation?
The EUROPARC Federation is Europe’s largest network of Protected Area professionals. Established out of curiosity and a shared desire to learn from one another, we have been connecting people and Parks for over 50 years. Through our projects, events, and flagship programmes, we foster collaboration among experts across Europe, helping them enhance their work in nature conservation and sustainable management. Explore our infographics below to learn more about our programmes, or visit our website at www.europarc.org and see how you can get involved!
What is the European Day of Parks?
This webinar takes place in the framework of the European Day of Parks (EDoP). Every year the EUROPARC Federation organises EDoP on the 24th of May. It is a day to celebrate Parks and Protected Areas, and all they do for people and nature. Throughout Europe Protected Areas are organising events and joining in on the celebration.
In 2026, the theme is 'Connected by Nature', focussing on the connections needed to sustain healthy ecosystems. You too can take part in celebrating this day for nature! Get all the information on the EUROPARC website here.