Abstract
Networks of Protected Areas are well-known for playing a role in ensuring nature conservation and enhancing regional ecological connectivity. However, they show impressive governance capacities extending beyond the narrow field of ecology and nature management, especially if analysed in the perspective of EU green infrastructure policies (EC 2013a and b). We intend to present the results of a targeted analysis focused on Systems of Protected Areas across Europe developed under ESPON Programme, particularly concerning an assessment of the competences available within Protected Areas’ management structures and their networks to support the development of SMEs and the creation of regional green jobs (Prezioso et al. 2018). Based on ecosystem services and corporate ecosystem services reviews, authors aim to show how the materiality of the assets and resources stored in Protected Areas for specific business activities can be evaluated. Authors also aim to propose how the resulting outcomes can be used for shaping appropriate policies for attracting SMEs by using standard categories of policy instruments. More in general, we show the potential of Networks of Protected Areas to enhance the sustainable utilization of regional ecological, economic and cultural assets stored in Protected Areas, also by analyzing specific case studies in Europe. We describe the characteristics of, and skills required by a governance model for Protected Areas and their Networks, which may support consistent private decisions and public policies concerning SMEs’ location and regional economic growth, based on distinctive ecological assets and ecosystem services available or originating in Protected Areas (Bishop 2012, EC 2018, WRI et al. 2008). We also recall a set of non-strictly environmental policies formally linked to the EU Green Infrastructure approach (EC 2013a) that Protected Areas and some specific categories of their Networks show the competence to implement – that we tried to formally assess.