This publication, whose first edition dates back to 1999, allows us to share updated information to advance towards the conservation of our natural heritage.

This publication, whose first edition dates back to 1999, allows us to share updated information to advance towards the conservation of our natural heritage.

The Director of the Autonomous Agency for National Parks (OAPN) of the Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs, Olga Baniandrés, participated on Thursday, October 21, at the headquarters of the Biodiversity Foundation, in the presentation of the EUROPARC-Spain Yearbook on the State of Protected Natural Areas 2009, together with Hermelindo Castro, President of EUROPARC-Spain and the Director of Training, Communication and Awareness of the Biodiversity Foundation, Julia Vera (center of the photo).

The Director of the OAPN has pointed out as a challenge for the future to complete the natural systems that remain to be represented in the Network of National Parks. He also stressed the importance of highlighting the benefits for society of protected areas. In this sense, he said that it is essential to transmit to society the importance of nature conservation for its social well-being and development.

It has also been commented that for the Autonomous National Parks Body, monitoring and evolution in the National Parks Network is a priority. Thus, there are already four national parks (Aigüestortes, Archipiélago de Cabrera, Teide and Timanfaya) that are applying the Community Regulation on Ecomanagement and Eco-auditing known as the EMAS Regulation.

The Yearbook presented has established itself as a valuable instrument for sharing information and, ultimately, finding common references that allow us to move effectively towards the conservation of our natural heritage.

With this publication, there are now five X-rays carried out for the analysis of the evolution and development of protected natural areas in Spain (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009). The 2009 edition of the Yearbook has been produced with the support of the Biodiversity Foundation.

EUROPARC-Spain and the Biodiversity Foundation contribute, with this work, to disseminate a diagnosis of the state of implementation of protected areas in Spain, evaluating a powerful set of indicators that include fundamental aspects of their characterization, degree of planning and management development.

To read the EUROPARC-Spain Yearbook 2009 in electronic format, click here.