Interreg CE Humanita - UNIPR Team

30/03/2026

HUMANITA Project – Final Days and Future Perspectives

Tomorrow marks the final day of the Humanita project, concluding three years of collaboration, research, and shared commitment to improving the relationship between tourism and environmental protection in protected areas across Central Europe.

Throughout the project, partners worked together to develop and test innovative monitoring strategies, integrating environmental data and visitor-flow analysis to better understand tourism impacts on fragile ecosystems. Pilot actions, field activities, and transnational exchange have contributed to building a strong evidence base for more sustainable and adaptive management approaches.

As the project comes to an end, Project Partners and Associated Partners have formally expressed their willingness to continue collaborating beyond its official closure. This shared commitment aims to ensure the long-term valorisation of HUMANITA’s outputs, fostering their application in real-world contexts and strengthening the network established over these years.

The project has generated a wide range of results, including monitoring methodologies, policy recommendations, and communication tools designed to support protected area managers and decision-makers. All outputs remain accessible online and can be consulted through the official HUMANITA project page:

🔗 https://www.interreg-central.eu/projects/humanita/

HUMANITA concludes as a project, but its legacy continues through ongoing cooperation, shared knowledge, and a common goal: supporting resilient, accessible, and sustainably managed protected areas for the future.

The HUMANITA project develops participatory management tools that allow regions to better monitor and evaluate the impact of tourism in protected areas.

27/03/2026

HUMANITA Outputs – Exploring Project Results

As the Humanita project approaches its conclusion, a wide range of outputs and results are now available for consultation, offering valuable insights into the relationship between tourism and environmental protection in protected areas.

Through the project’s official platform, it is possible to access studies, tools, guidelines, and methodological frameworks developed over the past three years of transnational collaboration. These outputs reflect the core mission of HUMANITA: supporting evidence-based and participatory approaches to monitor and manage visitor impacts on natural ecosystems.

🔗 https://www.interreg-central.eu/projects/humanita/?tab=outputs

The available materials include:

- Monitoring strategies and frameworks for assessing tourism impacts
- Pilot actions tested across different protected areas in Central Europe
- Policy recommendations for decision-makers and park managers
- Communication tools and guidelines to foster sustainable visitor behaviour

These resources are designed to support not only project partners, but also a wider community of practitioners, researchers, and stakeholders involved in protected area management.

The HUMANITA project develops participatory management tools that allow regions to better monitor and evaluate the impact of tourism in protected areas.

26/03/2026

FEBRUARY 2026 – Visit to Plitvice Lakes National Park

As part of the Humanita Final Conference in Zagreb, participants had the opportunity to take part in a study visit to Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia’s first and largest national park, renowned for its exceptional natural beauty and long-standing conservation history.

The visit offered a valuable occasion to observe firsthand the challenges and opportunities related to managing high visitor flows within a highly sensitive and iconic protected area. The park provided a concrete example of how monitoring strategies, visitor management measures, and communication approaches can be integrated to mitigate environmental impacts while maintaining a high-quality visitor experience. Particular attention was given to the importance of guiding visitor behaviour through clear narratives and targeted awareness actions.

This field experience complemented the conference sessions by connecting project results with real-world management practices. It also fostered exchange among partners, practitioners, and stakeholders, reinforcing the value of transnational cooperation in addressing shared challenges across protected areas.

Photos by Balázs Megyeri and Urosh Grabner Photos

24/03/2026

FEBRUARY 2026 – HUMANITA Final Conference in Zagreb: From Visitor Impact to Nature Protection

From 23 to 25 February 2026, the Humanita Final Conference – “From Visitor Impact to Nature Protection: Building a Human–Nature Harmony” – took place in Zagreb, marking the conclusion of three years of transnational collaboration within the Interreg Central Europe programme.

The event brought together all project partners, representatives of Croatian national parks, public authorities, researchers, and citizens, creating a dynamic platform for presenting key results and exchanging knowledge on sustainable tourism management in protected areas.

Over the course of the project, partners from Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, and Slovakia jointly addressed one of the most pressing challenges for natural heritage: managing increasing visitor pressure while preserving ecological integrity. The conference highlighted major achievements, including the development of transnational monitoring strategies, the integration of environmental and visitor-flow data, and the formulation of actionable policy recommendations to support long-term sustainability.

Particular attention was given to participatory approaches, such as citizen science initiatives, which enabled the collection of valuable data on visitor behaviour, wildlife presence, and invasive species. These activities demonstrated the importance of actively involving local communities and visitors in conservation processes.

During the conference sessions, partners also presented innovative communication methodologies aimed at strengthening human–nature relationships. A key outcome was the introduction of new heritage narratives designed to influence visitors’ perceptions and encourage more responsible behaviours in protected areas.

The HUMANITA Summit represented not only a moment to disseminate results, but also an opportunity to reinforce collaboration among institutions, practitioners, and decision-makers. The event confirmed the importance of combining scientific monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and effective communication to support adaptive and resilient management strategies.

Photos by Urosh Grabner Photos and Balázs Megyeri

19/03/2026

FEBRUARY 2026 - Final partner meeting in Zagreb, Croatia

On the day preceding the Humanita Final Conference, project partners gathered in Zagreb for the last official meeting of the project, marking a key moment to consolidate results and align final activities before closure.

The meeting provided an opportunity to review the progress achieved across all pilot sites, with a particular focus on the outcomes of monitoring activities and the implementation of pilot actions. Partners discussed the consistency and integration of collected datasets, ensuring that results can effectively support both local and transnational evaluations.

A central part of the discussion was dedicated to the development of policy recommendations, aimed at translating project findings into practical guidance for decision-makers and protected area managers. These recommendations reflect the project’s evidence-based approach and its commitment to fostering more sustainable tourism practices in sensitive natural environments.

The session also addressed the final steps required for project closure, including the completion of deliverables, dissemination activities, and the long-term valorisation of results.

Photo by Urosh Grabner Photos

17/03/2026

OCTOBER 2025 – Final Monitoring Survey at Pietra di Bismantova

In October 2025, the Humanita UNIPR team carried out the final monitoring survey at the Pietra di Bismantova pilot site, concluding a series of repeated observations conducted throughout the project.

The activity focused on acquiring updated high-resolution spatial data of the plateau and its surrounding areas through UAV-based photogrammetric surveys. Particular attention was given to the identification of soil erosion patterns, surface changes, and the presence of informal trails that may have developed as a result of sustained visitor pressure during the summer season.

This final campaign represents a key step in enabling a consistent comparison with previous datasets collected over time. By analysing multi-temporal data, the team will assess landscape dynamics and evaluate how seasonal tourism flows have influenced the condition of this iconic site within the Parco Nazionale dell'Appennino Tosco Emiliano.

12/03/2026

OCTOBER 2025 – Final Monitoring Survey at the Mount Cusna Pilot Site

In October 2025, the UNIPR team carried out the final monitoring survey at the Mount Cusna pilot site, marking the last field activity in this area before the conclusion of the project.

The campaign focused on selected trail sections and high-altitude areas that have been systematically observed throughout the project’s duration. Using UAV-based photogrammetric surveys, the team collected updated spatial data to document surface conditions, trail morphology, and visible signs of soil erosion following the peak summer season.

This final dataset is particularly significant as it will allow a comprehensive comparison with previous surveys conducted during the same seasonal window. By analysing changes recorded over time, researchers will be able to assess the cumulative effects of visitor pressure and evaluate seasonal dynamics in landscape response.

The integration of these environmental data with visitor-flow information gathered through on-site monitoring sensors will contribute to a robust interpretation of tourism-related impacts. This concluding survey at Mount Cusna represents a key step in consolidating the evidence base developed within the Humanita project and in supporting informed, sustainable management strategies for protected mountain areas.

09/03/2026

OCTOBER 2025 – Study Visit to Kamenjak: Advancing Pilot Actions and Local Cooperation

As part of the Humanita project activities, a study visit was carried out in Javna ustanova Kamenjak in collaboration with Institute for Regional Development - Eurac Research participatns, bringing together project partners and local stakeholders to discuss ongoing and upcoming pilot actions within the protected area.

Engagement with local stakeholders played a central role in the visit, as the meeting provided an opportunity to review the implementation of site-specific measures aimed at mitigating tourism pressure and strengthening the long-term safeguarding of this ecologically sensitive coastal landscape. Discussions focused on aligning monitoring strategies with local management needs, ensuring that pilot actions remain both scientifically grounded and operationally feasible.

The study visit also included on-site tutoring activities dedicated to environmental monitoring using drone-based surveys, exchaging expertise on UAV data acquisition, flight planning, and the interpretation of spatial data to detect surface changes and potential early signs of environmental stress. These practical sessions strengthened local capacities and supported the harmonization of monitoring methodologies across pilot sites.

06/03/2026

HUMANITA Summer School 2025 – Voices from the Field

After four intensive days of learning, fieldwork and discussion, the HUMANITA Summer School 2025 left a strong impression on the students and young professionals who took part in the programme.

Their testimonials highlight not only the technical value of the training, but also the personal and professional impact of working in an international and interdisciplinary environment. Participants reflected on the importance of evidence-based environmental monitoring, the opportunity to apply tools such as drones and visitor counters directly in the field, and the added value of exchanging perspectives across countries and backgrounds.

🎥 Watch their experiences here:
🔗https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KrxfCs9UeLY
🔗https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXi_fDX1JqY
🔗https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6Ru331mXOA

HUMANITA Summer School: Shaping the future of sustainable tourism - Experience of a student (Schulenburg Katharina)

04/03/2026

JULY 2025 – HUMANITA Summer School in Villach: Training the Next Generation of Nature Managers

From 14 to 17 July 2025, the Humanita Summer School brought together more than 20 young participants from eight countries at FH Kärnten - Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (CUAS) in Villach, and in the Visit Karawanken-Karavanke Unesco Global Geopark. The four-day programme offered an immersive experience combining academic exchange and hands-on fieldwork focused on environmental monitoring and sustainable tourism management.

At the core of the Summer School was the importance of evidence-based monitoring as a foundation for protecting vulnerable environments. Participants explored tools such as visitor counters, drone-based surveys, camera traps, and citizen science approaches, deepening their understanding of how environmental and visitor-flow data can support adaptive management strategies in protected areas.

UNIPR team contributed by presenting methodologies for measuring soil erosion in mountain environments and coordinated the practical field activities dedicated to this topic. Through direct observation and applied exercises, participants engaged with techniques used to detect surface changes, assess trail dynamics, and interpret early signs of visitor-related impacts.

Beyond technical training, the Summer School emphasized dialogue across disciplines and borders. It highlighted the role of language and communication in translating scientific knowledge into narratives capable of inspiring awareness and responsibility. Engaging with students and young professionals not only strengthens future expertise but also fosters a reflective approach to research and management practice.

Photo credits: Urosh Grabner Photos

02/03/2026

JUNE 2025 – Early Summer Monitoring at the Val Parma Pilot Site

At the beginning of the 2025 summer season, the Humanita UNIPR team carried out a new monitoring campaign at the Val Parma pilot site, marking a key moment before the expected increase in visitor flows.

The activity focused on selected high-frequency trail segments and surrounding mountain areas, with the aim of documenting baseline environmental conditions ahead of peak tourism pressure. Using UAV-based photogrammetric surveys, the team collected updated spatial data to assess surface conditions, early signs of soil erosion, and trail dynamics on the paths connecting Lago Santo Parmense up to the Marmagna Saddle.