Every year the Alfred Toepfer Stiftung generously hosts EUROPARC members, in their excellent centre in Gut Siggen, North Germany. Here, we enjoy an intense and practically orientated seminar, examining and sharing expertise in a given aspect of Protected Areas work. You can find previous Siggen Seminars here.
This year, we will dive into what is needed for the successful implementation of the national Nature Restoration Plans. With all EU Member States required to submit their National Nature Restoration Plans by September 2026, this seminar comes at a crucial moment. Protected Areas are expected to play a central role in implementing these plans, particularly within Natura 2000 sites.
The Siggen Seminar 2026 will therefore focus on the practical steps needed to move from policy and planning to real, measurable restoration outcomes on the ground. Participants will jointly discuss the policy context, restoration priorities, the role of Protected Areas, impact assessment, and the learning needs of Protected Area managers.
A key outcome of the seminar will be the co-creation of a Restoration Action Plan training course curriculum, as well as an accompanying online Nature Restoration Planning Toolkit. These resources, to be finalised in 2026, will support Protected Area managers and national authorities across Europe, especially those at an early stage of their restoration journey, by providing guidance, case studies, lessons learned and practical tools. | 
