CERV Town Twining programos projektas “NaturEUnite – Nature Unites EU Citizens”

NaturEUnite Project Launches to Connect Communities Through Nature and Heritage

The “NaturEUnite – Nature Unites EU Citizens” project has officially launched, bringing together communities from five European countries to strengthen cross-border connections, share experiences, and celebrate our shared natural and cultural heritage.

Coordinated by the Gauja National Park Tourism Association (Latvia), the project unites partners from:

• Lahemaa Tourism Association | Lahemaa Turismiühing (Estonia)
• Soomaa Tourism Association | Soomaa Turism MTÜ (Estonia)
• Association Bogastvo podeželja | Društvo ”Bogastvo podeželja” (Slovenia)
• Directorate of Aukštaitija National Park and Labanoras Regional Park | Aukštaitijos Nacionalinio Parko ir Labanoro Regioninio Parko Direkcija (Lithuania)
• Albania Sustainable Development Organization (Albania)

Main Aims

NaturEUnite focuses on connecting citizens living in and around Europe’s protected nature areas, fostering pride in local heritage, and encouraging collaboration among communities and tourism entrepreneurs. By engaging residents from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Slovenia, and Albania, the project aims to:

• Strengthen a sense of belonging to the EU
• Promote intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding
• Encourage sustainable tourism that respects nature restrictions
• Share good practices in nature protection and heritage preservation

Key Activities

The heart of the project lies in experience exchange events hosted across partner regions. Each event will immerse participants in local traditions, landscapes, and community life while fostering dialogue on shared challenges and opportunities. The target group of the project is: local residents, tourism entrepreneurs, community leaders, youth, NGOs, etc.  Planned gatherings include:

1. Ptuj, Slovenia – Exploring the oldest town in Slovenia – Ptuj. The main topic of the event will be improving cooperation of various stakeholders in tourism. The participants will attend the Roman games event, which is a representation of our cultural heritage. Together with many workshops focused around this topic and tourism, we will also have a discussion on freedom of movement and its impact on tourism. To strengthen the fellowship of citizens, target groups, we will prepare a small language workshop between participants.
    
2. Cēsis, Latvia – Discovering Gauja National Park’s natural and cultural treasures, discussing nature restrictions, and joining the “Night of Fire” event in Vienkoču Park. the event showcases nature as a resource for recreation, craftsmanship traditions, cooperation of local tourism entrepreneurs and coexistence with nature protection
    
3. Ignalina District, Lithuania – during the experience exchange event participants will get to know Ingalina district and Aukštaitija national park and Labanoras regional park. Main topics of the event will be cultural historical heritage, showcasing the special fisherman traditions. Participants also will attend the intangible heritage festival “Catch a smelt” (“Trauk stintelę”), will create fellowship in various activities and workshops
    
4. Erseke, Albania – “Walk and Talk” activities in Fir of Hotova National Park, Albania. “Walk and Talk” – immersive cultural and environmental experience. The event will include Village Home visits, community discussions, Eco -Tourism & Agro- Tourism Insights, Summer Day Festival Experience and more.
    
5. Kuusalu and Tori, Estonia – Nature and culture-focused exchanges with local communities in Lahemaa and Soomaa National Parks.

Cross-Border Cooperation

NaturEUnite embodies the spirit of the EU’s Town Twinning initiative under the CERV programme, proving that shared challenges—such as promoting sustainable tourism and protecting natural areas—are best addressed together. By linking communities across borders, the project supports stronger regional cooperation, boosts mutual understanding, and builds lasting partnerships between tourism stakeholders.

Through meaningful exchanges, hands-on experiences, and open dialogue, NaturEUnite will leave a lasting mark—strengthening friendships, creating joint tourism opportunities, and enhancing appreciation for the rich diversity of Europe’s nature and heritage.

The project “NaturEUnite” is implemented from June 2025 – June 2026.

This project is co-funded by the European Union under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme – Town Twinning strand

Projekto najienos:

„NaturEUnite“ projekto vietos bendruomenių susitikimas Ptujuje, Slovėnijoje

Per šventę „Trauk stintelę 2026“ sulaukėme svečių iš Albanijos, Slovėnijos, Latvijos ir Estijos!