FEDENATUR - European Association of Periurban Parks
FEDENATUR (European Association of Periurban Parks) is an association of natural, fluvial and agricultural parks located in metropolitan and periurban areas in Europe. It is headquartered in the Serra de Collserola Natural Park in Barcelona. FEDENATUR was created in 1997 after the 2nd Symposium on natural areas in periurban and metropolitan zones in Barcelona in 1995. It was inspired by the Rio Earth Summit of 1992. Conference participants decided to create a network of exchanges between periurban park managers on a European scale. Over 75% of the European population lives in urban and periurban  zones. Contrary to "national parks" usually located far from densely populated urban areas and designed exclusively for preservation, the natural areas in periurban zones have to protect biodiversity while being frequented by a larger public. Projects. FEDENATUR has promoted and participated in three European Interreg projects to technical exchanges and raising awareness on the concept of Periurban Parks. FEDENATUR has also conducted two surveys. The first (in 2004) to identify periurban parks and list their functions (environmental, social, economic). The second one (2009–2012) to analyse more deeply the characteristics of different periuban parks regarding management, social use and equipment. In  2005, FEDENATUR joined the European Habitats Forum (EHF), which assembles leading European nature conservation organisations to provide advice on the implementation and future development of EU biodiversity policy. In 2008, FEDENATUR promoted a Recommendation – that was approved- at the IUCN World Congress in favour of protecting periurban natural areas around cities and metropolitan areas. FEDENATUR is currently giving input through different documents and mechanisms into the current EC Green Infrastructure Strategy.