Research in Progress: Nature and Landscape Policies: Convergences or Separation? Parks for Europe Towards a European Policy for Protected Areas

The research “Parks for Europe. Towards a European policy for protected areas” has been carried out by CED PPN (European Centre of Documentation on Natural Park Planning , Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning, Polytechnic and University of Turin) in 2008, in collaboration with Federparchi and AIDAP (Associazione Italiana Direttori e funzionari Aree Protette) , and sponsorized by Regione Piemonte (Assessorato all’Ambiente). The research (published by Edizioni ETS, Pisa, 2008) had a dual purpose: to contribute to the IUCN’s debate and reflections on the international classification of Protected Areas, PAs (in view of the IV World Congress IUCN, held in Barcelona in 2008) and, jointly, to improve awareness of the European system of Protected Areas, in order to facilitate harmonization and coordination of the policies of European countries and of the European Union itself in the field of nature conservation. This text is a synthesis of the main research’s outcomes.