Building Stakeholder Capacity, a Strategic Pillar for Propark

Effective and responsible protected area management cannot be achieved in isolation. It depends on a complex network of stakeholders – mountain guides, protected area administrations, local communities, and organisations – who directly influence the way nature is understood, used, and protected.

For Propark – Foundation for Protected Areas, building the capacity of these actors is a strategic pillar of its interventions, essential for ensuring effective and long-term conservation.

 

Why Mountain Guides Are Key Actors in Conservation

Mountain guides are in a unique position at the intersection between nature and people. They are:

- the ones who accompany visitors in the field

- among the first to explain the values of a protected area

- examples of good practice in the responsible use of nature

- authentic voices for management strategies and visiting rules

Through their direct interaction with the public, guides can make a significant contribution to:

- reducing pressures on ecosystems

- raising awareness

- building a respectful relationship between people and nature

 

Applied Training: Protected Areas and the Natura 2000 Network

On 23 October, in Zărnești, our colleague Tiberiu Chiricheș was a trainer in a course organised by the Society of Mountain Guides and Leaders, dedicated to the training of future mountain guides.

During the course, 12 participants explored fundamental topics related to:

- the categories of protected areas and their role

- the basic principles of protected area management

- the Natura 2000 network and its importance for biodiversity conservation

The approach was practical and adapted to field realities, providing future guides with clear tools to understand the context in which they will carry out their activity.

 

Why Propark Invests in Stakeholder Training

For Propark, effective conservation means more than regulations and plans. It means well-informed people who are able to make responsible decisions and pass on the message of nature protection.

By training mountain guides, Propark contributes to:

- aligning tourism activities with conservation objectives

- preventing conflicts and the inappropriate use of natural resources

- creating a culture of respect for protected areas

This intervention is directly aligned with the strategic pillar of building stakeholder capacity, alongside training programmes dedicated to protected area administrators, authorities, and other professionals in the field.

 

Partnerships That Support Nature’s Message

We thank the Society of Mountain Guides and Leaders for the invitation and for their ongoing involvement in training those who carry the message of nature protection further, day by day, to the wider public.

Such partnerships are essential for building participatory conservation, where each actor understands and assumes their role and responsibility.