The European Association of Periurban Parks (FEDENATUR) 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 large 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 PLACE OF PERIURBAN NATURAL SPACES FOR A SUSTAINABLE CITY, FEDENATUR Report To the European Commission (2004) and Annexes The second one (2009–2012) to analyse more deeply the characteristics of different periurban 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.IUCN recommendation 4128 : Setting up networks of protected periurban and urban natural areas

FEDENATUR is currently giving input through different documents and mechanisms into the current EC Green Infrastructure Strategy.

FEDENATUR members Parc Natural de la Serra de Collserola - Barcelona Grand Parc Miribel Jonage - Lyon Parco Agricolo Sud Milano - Milan Green Belt of Vitoria-Gasteiz - Vitoria-Gasteiz Forêts rhénanes périurbaines - Strasbourg Monsanto Forest Park - Lisbon Arche de la Nature - Le Mans Xarxa Parcs Naturals Barcelona - Barcelona Province Espaces Nature de Tours - Tours Parco di Portofino - Genoa Espace Naturel Lille Métropole - Lille RomaNatura - Rome Parc de l’Espai d’Interès Natural de Gallecs - Mollet del Vallès Forêt de Soignes - Sonian Forest - Bruxelles - Milan Aree protette del Po e della Collina Torinese - Torino Espaces Verts Seine-Saint-Denis - Bobigny, Paris Parco di Montemarcello-Magra - Sarzana Red de Espacios Naturales Protegidos de Andalucía Parc agrari de Sabadell - Parc Fluvial del Ripoll - Sabadell Parc Devesa-Albufera - Valencia Parco della Piana - Florence Communauté d'agglomération Grenoble Alpes Métropole Parco delle Groane - Milan Mount Hymettus Aesthetic Forest - Athens, Attica Parco fluviale Gesso e Stura - Cuneo SPAY - Union for the Protection and Development of Hymettus Mountain - Vyronas, Attica Metropolitan Association of Upper Silesia - Katowice Natural Park Drahán - Troja, Prague

See also Peri-urbanisation

References

External links FEDENATUR Official website European Habitats Forum (EHF) Purple - Peri-urban regions platform Europe Charter on periurban agriculture