New members, new materials, new countries

After the stillness of a long hard winter the circle begins again and in the office of EUROPARC Consulting, the cycle of Charter business also begins once more. The large new intake of applicants, together with those who are seeking re-evaluation offer the Federation concrete evidence of the success of the Charter's power as a beneficial and rewarding process. Each candidate area has been broadcasting the Charter principles to stakeholders, and matchmaking suitable partners through the activities of the essential forum.

EUROPARC Consulting are also engaged in spring 'matchmaking', picking from our range of expert consultants who is best suited to visit which candidate area. They match language skills, areas of expertise and previous experience to each applicant, while at the same time ensuring total independence. Then they make the introductions between verifier and protected area, and wait for them to make arrangements for the all-important 'first date'!

Introduced for the first time in 2011 are the new revised Charter documents – re-written and thoroughly revised to make the process easy to follow and clear for candidates. Trialling for the first time also is the Charter 'Toolkit': a combined package of manual and mentoring that offers a cost-effective way for candidates to approach the process with expert guidance and supervision. The addition of report-writing notes for verifiers completes a suite of material aiming to be professionally presented, coordinated and effective. Consulting awaits feedback from the new material with interest.

EUROPARC has a bumper entry to the family of Charter areas this season; with application dossiers from 12 new candidates. Add to this a further five or six protected areas seeking re-evaluation and a summer of hard work lies ahead for the verifiers and the Evaluation Committee. Consulting are delighted to be working with yet more protected areas applying under the 'Parks & Benefits' scheme, now working on finishing their applications. EUROPARC waits with excitement for the dossiers from the first 'new entries' to the Charter family: Latvia and Lithuania.

Of course those who are involved with the process recognise that it's not quantity but quality of the Charter work that matters. The individuals assessing the candidates are united as a team in ensuring consistency and effectiveness in their analysis both of the work achieved and planned for on the ground. The reputation for high quality, established in the Charter's first decade of existence will continue to be applied to maintain the 'gold standard'. Let us wish all the applicants old and new every success striving to be awarded the Charter.