MANAGING NATURAL ASSETS AND PROTECTED AREAS AS SUSTAINABLE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The aim of NATREG project is to acknowledge, realise and promote the potentials of natural assets and protected areas (PA) (e.g. Natura 2000, IBA, parks, nature reserves etc.) as drives rather than obstacles for sustainable regional development. This aim will be achieved through the establishment of trans-national and multi-sectorial cooperation network which will develop the "Joint Strategy for Integrated Management of Protected Areas" in the Adria-Alpe-Pannonia territory. Furthermore using the participatory approach stakeholders of regional development, spatial planning, nature protection, and other relevant sectors will be trained to work together on "Integrated Management Plans" for PAs and on connectivity between Natura sites with "Integrated Development Strategy for Green Networks of Protected Areas" in six pilot areas. The project is focusing on interconnectivity of PAs in South East Europe, where a substantial know-how transfer is needed to successfully implement the EU legislation.