Each year the EUROPARC Federation, in cooperation with the Alfred Toepfer Foundation (D), awards three Alfred Toepfer Natural Heritage Scholarships, each worth 3000€, to promising young conservationists. The application period for the 2010 scholarships has already begun!

If you European and below the age of 35, work for an environmental institution or are studying something related to the environment in a higher education establishment then the Alfred Toepfer Scholarships could be interesting for you!

The aim of the Scholarships is to enhance international cooperation and to advance the quality, innovation and European dimension of protected area management. The €3000, generously donated by the Alfred Toepfer Foundation (D), offers the winners the opportunity to undertake a study visit looking at a specific topic to one or more protected areas in European countries other than their own. This will in turn enable them to gather experience which will be both of benefit for the future career of the scholars, and to the EUROPARC Federation and its members.

The application must address specific themes selected by EUROPARC which are faced by protected area management. In 2010 these themes are: biodiversity, climate change, integrated management of natural resources, rural development, renewable energy, sustainable tourism, food and agriculture, health and protected areas, environmental education and communication, international/transboundary cooperation.

This year individuals interested in applying for the Alfred Toepfer Scholarships can do so from now until 16th May. Guidelines, registration and more information can be found at www.europarc.org/what-we-do/alfred-toepfer-schol .

When the study trips are complete the scholarship holders will present EUROPARC with a report of the findings of these research visits, which will be published on the organisation’s website and distributed to its members. The winners will also attend the annual conference of the Federation to officially accept their prize from EUROPARC President Erika Stanciu and a representative of the Alfred Toepfer Foundation in front of around 300 protected area practitioners. The conference this year will be hosted by Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise National Park (IT) from 29th September to 2nd October and deal’s with the theme "Living together. Biodiversity and Human Activites: A Challenge for the Future of Protected Area" in keeping with the International Year of Biodiversity 2010.