27 May 2020
24.05.2020 - Under the motto #ParksForHealth, today marks May 24, European Day of Parks. European Day of Parks was first promoted in 1999, with the initiative of the EUROPARC Federation, with the aim of raising the profile of European protected areas and generating public support for their purposes and work.
May 24 commemorates the creation of the first nine national parks in Europe in Sweden in 1909. This day is especially celebrated in some major cities in Europe, where parks serve as the "lungs of the city" due to the high concentration of traffic, industry, and noise.
This year the event is being marked with the motto #ParksForHealth, “Healthy Parks, Healthy People,” to highlight the role that parks have for public health.
As is known, parks, besides their primary role in protecting natural resources, also have the role of recreation and the function of creating well-being, preventing public health problems, and promoting an active lifestyle.
Parks and protected areas have an important mission to connect people with nature! Parks not only protect our valuable natural resources, but they also provide positive health results. Contact with nature is essential for human health, and in an increasingly urbanized Europe, we must create more opportunities for citizens to connect with and explore outdoor environments. Positive contact with nature has been proven to create well-being and promote an active lifestyle!
In 2020, the European Day of Parks highlights the connection between nature and human health... Healthy people need Healthy Parks! Kosovo has 4 parks declared as protected areas, two National Parks, the "Sharr" National Park and the "Bjeshkët e Nemuna" National Park, as well as two Nature Parks, the "Gërmia" Nature Park and the "Shkugëza" Nature Park. Their role and importance for public health is already proven, due to the fact that they represent the most visited and attractive areas for citizens to visit and to benefit from the natural, health, and recreational values they carry.