European Training System - Natura 2000

General description and aims

The Natura 2000 Training System was created to train the next generation of Natura 2000 professionals involved the management, conservation, restoration and surveillance of Natura 2000 sites and other protected areas across Europe.

The programme include a comprehensive experience of in-presence lessons, e-learning modules and on-field trainings.

In order to create a competent Natura 2000 expert, the project developed three different technical curricula:

• Management curriculum – focused on protected area management and the implementation of EU environmental directives
• Restoration curriculum – focused on designing and implement ecological restoration actions
• Surveillance curriculum – focused on surveillance and enforcement of protected areas

In addition to these technical curricula, all participants are required to attend a cross-cutting Soft Skills curriculum (based on the UNECE ESD Strategy 2012 and the European GreenComp 2022 framework) which will enable each trainee to develop key expertise in communication, planning, coordination and conflict resolution.

The combination of one of the three technical curricula and the soft skills curriculum will result in one of the following professional profiles:

• Natura 2000 Coaches (Management + Soft skills curricula): they will support and transfer technical knowledge to site managers
• Eco-Restorers (Restoration + Soft skills curricula): they will design and implement environmental rehabilitation projects, contributing to ecosystem conservation and resilience
• Natura 2000 Rangers (Surveillance + Soft skills curricula): they will ensure protected arear monitoring and surveillance, accordingly with European regulations and the protection of habitats

Course structure

In presence lessons

In-presence lessons take place at the Natura 2000 Training Institute – the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Protection (CoEEP) of the Carabinieri Corps, in Sabaudia (Italy) and, for the Ranger profile, also at a dedicated venue managed by ESMIR, in Madrid (Spain).

Three sessions for each curriculum are scheduled. During one session the three courses are run simultaneously, for 10 days / 80 hours of lessons (weekends excluded), spread over a 14-day consecutive stay.

E-learning modules

Along with the in-person phase, the pathway is completed with both mandatory and optional e-learning modules on the project platform, with the option – optional but recommended – to also take e-learning modules from the other two technical curricula.

On-field trainings

Another optional component following the in-person training will be the visits (of approximately 2-3 days) to virtuous Natura 2000 sites where trainees will witness direct examples of successful projects and the application of best practice in the conservation, restoration and surveillance of nature ecosystems.

Tests, final exam and certification

At the end of the face-to-face lessons, as well as upon completion of the e-learning modules, knowledge acquisition tests are scheduled. Finally, an final exam will be held at the end of the whole training programme.

Furthermore, upon successfully pass the final exam, each trainee will receive official certification as a ‘Natura 2000 Coach’, ‘Eco-Restorer’ or ‘Natura 2000 Ranger’, issued by the Natura 2000 Training Institute. Furthermore, the names of the newly certified professionals will be added to the project platform as points of contact for their respective countries, thereby becoming part of the European network of Natura 2000 professionals.

Courses time plan

The following table specifies dates and location of the three profiles’ training programme:

How to apply

Applications for the training sessions held in the CoEEP (Sabaudia, Italy) are currently open. The later training session on Surveillance that will be held in Madrid, Spain, will include a separate Call for Applications managed directly by ESMIR.

Before applying, we recommend downloading and reading the brochure for the profile you are interested in, to make sure the requirements and training path match your professional role.