Europe''s protected areas - its national parks, nature parks, and biosphere reserves - play a vital role in safeguarding the continent''s nature, its wildlife and landscapes.
They protect Europe''s most special places:
relatively untouched landscapes, as well as those which have been shaped by centuries of man''s interaction with the land.
  
They offer refuge to the species and ecosystems which represent the very basis of future life. And they help to preserve the natural beauty of Europe in all its variety for us to experience and enjoy.

Helping protected areas to fulfil this role, encouraging cooperation and exchange between their managers and staff, and promoting their aims and work across Europe is the purpose of the EUROPARC Federation.

EUROPARC was founded in 1973 under the official title "Federation of Nature and National Parks of Europe", and has since grown to become the recognised, professional organisation for European protected areas. An independent, non-governmental organisation, its membership brings together the organisations responsible for the management of over 400 protected areas. Yet the Federation is also very much a network of people: those whose daily task is to take care of these special areas, and who combine forces within EUROPARC to achieve their common goals.