LENA - Local Economy and Nature Conservation in the Danube Region

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LENA´s main objective is to strengthen joint and integrated approaches and policies for the conservation and sustainable use of protected areas, in particular Natura 2000 sites, along the Danube and its tributaries, while creating new income opportunities in the nature-based economic sector and upscaling impacts across the region. The following project specific objectives will support the achievement of the project main objective: 1) Foster knowledge generation and empowerment through pilot actions 2) develop tools for sustainable resource use in protected areas and 3) improve framework conditions for sustainable use of protected areas. This will contribute to conserving, protecting and developing natural heritage in the region by a) gaining the buy-in of local stakeholders to nature conservation, b) empowering local entrepreneurs to profit from natural heritage sites in a way that protects natural resources, c) creating shared know-how about effective sustainable use approaches for protected areas, and d) shaping policies for a better enabling framework for sustainable use of protected areas. To address the identified needs and challenges and contribute to EUSDR and Europe-wide policies implementation, LENA works with 13 partners from 7 Danube countries (BG, DE, HU, HR, RO, RS and SI) and 11 protected areas (encompassing more than 15 Natura 2000 sites), embedded in rural communities with a population close to half a million people. The partners’ expertise in innovative approaches for nature-friendly economic development will be transnationally tested and transferred, resulting in 24 learning interactions, 5 pilot actions, development of 4 tools and 1 strategic document. These tangible outputs will ensure long-lasting conditions for improved sustainable livelihoods in protected areas and will lead to strengthened cohesion in the Danube region. LENA’s ASPs such as DANUBEPARKS or the Centre for Regional Studies enable expanding and upscaling of results.

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