View source for PDF: Natura 2000 - Outdoor recreation and tourism: A guideline for the application of the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive

'''Citation'''
<br>Pröbstl, U., Prutsch, A., Ellmauer, T., Suske, W., & Bruls, E. (2010). Natural 2000 - Outdoor recreation and tourism: A guideline for the application of the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. Bonn, Germany: Bundesamt für Naturschutz. 

===[https://iucn2.cnr.ncsu.edu/images/4/4b/V21002_Probstl.pdf Download PDF]===

'''Summary'''
Outdoor recreation, sports and nature tourism require a diverse and healthy natural environment. The ecological network represented by Natura 2000 contributes to the conservation of natural landscapes for future generations, and at the same time provides opportunities for many sustainable sports and nature recreation activities. Many European citizens spend much of their leisure time in protected landscapes such as clear lakes, forested mountain ranges, or in the alpine region, and they may actually be oblivious to that fact. In these protected areas it is especially important that outdoor enthusiasts behave in a responsible manner, as the manifold sports and recreation activities may have varied effects on nature and landscape.

In order to solve current problems, to answer contentious questions, and to prepare cooperative solutions, it is essential to provide a suite of relevant information about sports and tourism. Until now only few relevant situational analyses and case studies about tourism in protected areas have been undertaken. The guideline on “Natura 2000, Sports and Tourism” presents the current dynamic of sports, outdoor recreation and tourism development in protected areas. Current trends and applied management issues are presented and simple practical examples document how these uses can be integrated in Natura 2000 sites. Experience has shown that good communication and early participation by all actors, including sports and tourism interests, lead to acceptable solutions while maintaining the protection of valuable species and habitats, and thus may increase the acceptance of the Natura 2000 network.

This brochure emerged from several workshops with representatives from various sports and tourism associations, environmental and conservation organizations, and surveys in tourism communities. Therefore we would like to thank all tourism organizations, communities, workshop organizers and facilitators, sports associations and other experts for their contributions towards the successful development of this project.

We hope that the content of this guideline with its many case studies, the elaborations on judicial cases and the many figures will attract many sports and recreation enthusiasts and tourists. We also anticipate that sports and tourism associations, communities and relevant businesses will perceive this document a useful one. Ultimately it is the goal of this guideline to increase the public understanding of nature conservation in Europe, to reduce future conflicts, and to facilitate new cooperation between outdoor sports and recreation, tourism and nature conservation.

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