The achievement of the targets set in European policies for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity requires increased efforts for proper integration and consideration into sectoral policies, for only thus be understood and strengthened the positive links between conservation of natural heritage and economic and social development. This demand is particularly required in the tourism sector, one of the most important in terms of its economic impact at European level.Biodiversity is increasingly being one of the motivating factors for travel, as the variety of natural landscapes and well-preserved ecosystem acts as a basic appeal of tourist destinations. These destinations have been reinforced with the creation of the Natura 2000 network (SCI and SPAs).OBJECTIVE: To recognize and validate two new Competition Units at European level that respond to the demand for product creation and promotion of ornithological tourism in relation to biodiversity:1. Interpret the natural heritage associated to avifauna to visitors of the Natura 2000 network.2. Provide escort services to tourists and visitors and design ornithological itineraries.TARGET GROUPS: It is estimated a total of 16.000 direct and indirect beneficiaries involved in the implementation of project activities and its dissemination and transfer:• Ornithologists and ornithology enthusiasts.• Experts in nature tourism.• SPAs and environmental managers (Natural Parks, Biosphere Reserves, SCI and SPA's, nature reserves ...)• Guides and interpreters of nature.• SPAs of Biosphere Reserves and the Natura 2000 network.• Entrepreneurs of rural tourism.• Agents of local development.• Leisure, active and nature tourism companies.• Centers and Entities on education and training (formal and informal).• Qualified college staff (biologists, environmentalists ...).• Rural women with no qualifications looking for their first job.• Young people entering unemployment.• Adults at restructuring and long-term unemployed.• Part-time rural workers.ACTIONS:1) Intellectual Outputs • Training modules • European Guide to Good Ornithological Practice • Manual and tutorial. • Pilot course for the testing of skills. • Computerized database • OER multimedia materials.2) Multiplier events: • 5 Dissemination Seminars. 3) Joint training event for staff: 15 participants4) Others: • Transnational Meetings. • Partnerships with stakeholders. • Job Agency. • Online Content. • Social networks. • Results Dissemination Plan.METHODOLOGY:A) Designing a basic non-formal training plan to stimulate entrepreneurship, competitiveness and employment through the development and acquisition of skills and competencies related to the real needs of the Natura 2000 network.B) Integration of an innovative approach to teaching and learning in the field of ornithological tourism, through an integrated use of ICT and the OER.C) Favouring equal opportunities and employability in the area of influence of SPAs.D) Start of the RVA curriculum process in the System of Qualifications and Vocational Training in each country, integrated into CEDEFOP, meeting the requirements of MEC and the principles of quality assurance EQAVET.E) Establishment of a Dissemination Plan to provide information on the project results to key stakeholders.RESULTS:• Result 1: Training modules: 15• Result 2: European Guide to Good Ornithological Practice : 600 beneficiaries.• Result 3: Pilot course. Impact: 120 students.• Result 4: OER methodological guide. Impact: 500 beneficiaries. • Result 5: Project web page. Impact: 3600 users and downloads.• Result 6: Database. Impact: 50 enterprises.• Result 7: Dissemination seminars. Impact: 10 seminars (250 participants)• Result 8: Transnational meetings. Impact: 4 meetings with 10 participants in each one.• Result 9: 2 Multiplier Events.• Result 10: Staff training course for 15 beneficiaries.• Result 11: 25 stakeholders.LONG-TERM BENEFITS:The beneficiary organizations of the project and the main beneficiaries will benefit from the direct contribution of this project to the objectives of the laws and national and European regulations on tourism and natural heritage:• The inclusion of key competencies on ornithological tourism, tested and validated in terms of qualification (MEC) and job creation.• Increased awareness of European policies on biodiversity and sustainable tourism, facilitating the exchange of experiences between different sectors at local, national and international level, and contributing to labor mobility of educational authorities as workers in the nature tourism sector.

The main goal of the project was to enhance the quality of early years environmental education in order to develop children’s interest in and connection to nature and to achieve high quality learning outcomes that support basic core curriculum and lifelong learning skills. Teaching about nature is an excellent opportunity to develop a set of children's skills and competences important for achieving better effects of learning in different fields of education and then for the wellbeing of individuals and more sustainable future of communities. And yet nature education is often under appreciated and its potential ignored in national curricula at primary and early year levels. Many educators suffer from a lack of dedicated materials and examples of engaging activities for such children. This project was based on experiences of the already operating international educational project Spring Alive that also involves the 6 BirdLife Partners (ornithological ngos) engaged in this project. The transnational dimension of the project is very important, bringing the best examples of how nature based education can deliver profound and lasting learning outcomes to countries and regions where the potential has not been realized. The international cooperation also provides a basis for future international networking. The practical knowledge and competence of pre-school and primary school teachers was enhanced by providing them with training and resources. Resources are also available to educators running informal education through making the supporting materials widely accessible. The training provided an opportunity for exchanging teachers' experiences from their work at a transnational level. Academic educationalists and trainers were engaged to ensure the highest quality of the created resources.The project was addressed to teachers from rural areas and small towns to develop theirs skills and to enable them to access the most current knowledge, teaching practices and resources. 60 teachers from preschools and primary schools participated in the training. Over 342 teachers took part in national training events. At least 2360 teachers from primary schools and pre-schools as well informal educators from European countries will download the materials after the delivery of the demonstration lessons and free access to the uploaded resources online this and upcoming year. Main activities undertaken during the project's duration:The activities of 1st half of the project timeline were focussed on: research on the most important obstacles and challenges in area of environmental education in primary and pre-school education; determining the innovative teaching methods and content of resources to overcome these obstacles; developing a set of engaging and effective teaching materials (O2, O3). During the 2nd half of the project, activities were focused on: continuing and finalizing the work on the teaching resources; adapting them to the partners national requirements (=language / curricula); organizing international workshop for teachers; disseminating the materials during multiplier events together with, mostly online, promotion. Teaching materials (O2, O3, O4), including the mobile application helping children to learn issues related to nature in an interactive way, were ready to use and presented at the workshop for teachers in July 2018 Ireland/Maynooth University. As a result of the project we delivered the following intellectual outputs: materials for pre- and primary schools, mobile app and a video tutorial. The project provided teachers of preschools and primary schools across six countries with innovative, relevant teaching resources. Moreover supported and trained them to deliver an effective nature themed programme of learning.The project also grealty improved the communication and cooperation of the project partners from Poland, Spain, Ireland, Slovakia, Czechia and Macedonia as well as their interaction with the educational systems in their countries. All the intellectual project outputs are available for teachers and educators not only on the partners' website but also on the Spring Alive national websites. They will continue to be used by teachers from countries where Spring Alive operates as each year they will be encouraged to use them. They will also continue to be available on the BL Partnership extranet for use of the BL Partners and teachers they work with. Project partners continue to maintain contact with interested teachers to further develop their teaching curricula. The results and impact are greater than expected. We have successfully shared the information through all our channels. The greatest impact are groups of teachers who have became advocates for our materials. A long-term benefit was achieved by creating a network of teachers at European level and at national level. Thus the project effects will be multiplied during next years after the lifetime of the project long term results.