Rahvusvaheline konverents: "Rahvuspargid kogukonnad ja koostöö" (toimub inglise keeles)

May 21-22, 2026

Palmse Manor, Lahemaa National Park, Estonia

Preliminary Program

Thursday, May 21

7.30                    Birdwatching Walk in Palmse manor park with Peep Veedla (EST)

9.00-9.30          Gathering and coffee

9.30-9.50          Introduction. Reimo Mürgimäe and Raido Roostalu (Visit Lahemaa)

Greetings. Ministry of Climate, Environmental Board of Estonia

9.50-10.10        National Park Collaboration in Estonia and the Baltics: A Historical Perspective.

Teet Koitjärv (Former Deputy Director of Lahemaa National Park)

10.10-10.55      Panel: Local Communities and Collaboration in Baltic National Parks

                             Nele Sõber, Aivar Ruukel – Estonia

                             Sigita Klētniece, Agnese Balandiņa – Latvia

                             Giedrė Šukytė, Ieva Šimkūnė – Lithuania

10.55-11.15      Satisfaction, Attractiveness, and Image: A Multi-Perspective Analysis of National Parks in the Baltics.

Marcus Bauer (respontour - Communication Consulting)

11.15-11.45     Coffee break

11.45-12.30     Keynote. S for Sustainable, S for Support, T for Tourism, T for Trust - 

Local Stakeholders' Role Building up a More Resilient Community.

Paulo Castro (EUROPARC)

12.30-12.50      The Value of Collaboration in National Parks: How to Earn More, Create Greater Value Together and Maximize Visitor Experience.

Tarmo Pilving (Estonian University of Life Sciences)

12.50-13.10      Adaptive Co-Management in Practice: Community-Led Tourism Collaboration in Lahemaa National Park.

Kaisa Linno (Estonian University of Life Sciences)

13.10-13.30     Heritage Based Climate Action and Rights of Heritage Communities.

Ave Paulus (ICOMOS)

13.30-14.00     Water-themed Science Show by Science Centre AHHAA

14.00-15.00     Lunch

15.00-15.30      River Restoration Case Studies:

The Drava (Slovenia). Marcela Slekovec (LAS Bogatstvo Požela)

The Vjosa (Albania).  Adela Barja (Vjosa River National Park)

15.30-16.00     Nature-based Solutions for the Restoration of River Ecosystems.

Vallo Kõrgmaa (Estonian Environmental Research Centre)

16.00-16.45     Interactive Workshops:

1. Heritage Adapts - Empowering Heritage Communities in Climate Action From Global Policies to Local Actions – Ave Paulus

2. Planning Activities for Enhancing Regional Impact Through Collaboration of Baltic National Parks – Aivar Ruukel

3. Hands-on: Building Floating Islands for Healthier Waters - Vallo Kõrgmaa

16.45-17.00     Summaries of the Workshops and Concluding Remarks

17.30-18.30      Signing of the Baltic National Parks Tourism Collaboration Agreement. Europarc Certificates Ceremony.

Concert by Local Choirs

Friday, May 22

Post-conference Tour in Kolga

Organisers: Lahemaa Tourism Association, Environmental Board of Estonia, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Ministry of Climate, Virumaa DMO
Co-funded by: European Union