Around 140 representatives of Protected Areas and other stakeholders acting in the Carpathian Region met at the 2nd Conference of the Carpathian Network of Protected Areas to exchange experience and ideas for future cooperation. The conference titled "Financing protected areas – about ecosystem services, financing mechanisms and green economy" was held in Javorina, Tatra National Park, Slovakia between 23-26 April 2013.

During the Conference several distinguished keynote speakers discussed a variety of perspectives on approaches and issues regarding to the network of protected areas, such as their governance, the science behind conservation and the role of Non-Governmental Organizations.

Amongst others, speakers included representatives from the European Commission, the DG Environment and the Indigenous Peoples' and Community Conserved Areas and Territories (ICCA ).

The program also included a presentation of the BioREGIO Carpathians project, which aims to enhance the integrated management of protected areas and natural assets of the Carpathian Mountains. Sustainable regional development and ecological connectivity were promoted as tools to overcome legal and ecological barriers while considering transboundary and transnational needs.

ALPARC was actively involved in the organization of this important event for the Protected areas of the Carpathians, not only in the preparation of the meeting but also with a key note speech and the organizations of two Workshops : one on project development (together with the Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention) and one on the topic of ecological connectivity (together with EURAC).

Link to the conference homepage : http://www.carpathianparks.org/conference2013/