FEDENATUR was created in 1997 after the 2nd Symposium on natural areas in periurban and metropolitan zones in Barcelona in 1995.
Conference participants decided to create a network of exchanges between periurban park managers on a European scale.
Contrary to "national parks" usually located far from densely populated urban areas and designed exclusively for preservation, the natural areas in periurban zones have to protect biodiversity while being frequented by a larger public.
[1] FEDENATUR has promoted and participated in three European Interreg projects to technical exchanges and raising awareness on the concept of Periurban Parks.
In 2005, FEDENATUR joined the European Habitats Forum (EHF), which assembles leading European nature conservation organisations to provide advice on the implementation and future development of EU biodiversity policy.