Author: Erika Stanciu (ProPark)
Presentation for Topic 3: Practical Tools for conservation and local development
2nd European Ecotourism Conference
23-25 October 2013, Romania
1. WILDERNESS
a concept that integrates ecotourism
!. Wilderness in Europe
- definition developed by a Wild Europe Working Group and accepted by
the European Commission
- complex areas with a zonation: core area for non-intervention, buffer area
for phasing out human intervention, transition area with local communities
and/or responsible resource use
- includes people!
- should allow for visitation and experiencing wilderness, but with very low
impact or now impact (under careful management)
II. Ecotourism and Wilderness:
- Wilderness can have very high and become a key attraction for
ecotourism businesses
- how can ecotourism help communities from the transition zones? – q
III. Case study: South Western Carpathians – the green heart of
Europe
Erika Stanciu, October 2013, Brasov
32. Wilderness Definition for Europe
A wilderness is an area
- governed by natural processes.
- composed of native habitats and species,
- large enough for the effective ecological
functioning of natural processes.
- unmodified or only slightly modified and
- without intrusive or extractive human activity,
settlements, infrastructure or visual disturbance.
33. Wilderness Zoning in Europe
Core area - ‘highest’ quality of wilderness, with minimal impact of human
activity or infrastructure and a dominance of natural processes.
Buffer zone - relatively low impact of human presence, with phasing out of
built structures and high impact activities within 10 years. Where feasible,
there should be plans for it to be incorporated into the core zone.
Transition zone - a range of human activities is permitted, but with
management controls preventing development of major infrastructure, wind
farms or large scale clear felling, that might significantly alter the landscape
or natural environment. Sustainable harvesting is possible of timber,
animals (hunting & fishing) and plants (berries, fruits, mushrooms), together
with organic agriculture.
Definition.doc
37. Natura 2000 sites – part of the EU
protected area network
Natura 2000 sites – 18%
38. Old-growth forests – protected?
Romania
Source: Royal Dutch Society for Nature Conservation (KNNV), Romanian
Forest Research and Management Planning Institute (ICAS), Ministry of
Environment and Forest Management Planning and Research Institute
39. Southern Carpathians
The Largest Wild Landscape at the Heart of Europe
Protected area category / type
Surface (ha)
14 national and nature Parks (IUCN
categ II and V)
688,930
12 Natura 2000 sites
721,047
TOTAL :
1,409,977
40. Southern Carpathians
The Largest Wild Landscape at the Heart of Europe
What Makes the Place so Special?
• More 1 million ha of protected areas already in place
• Abundant wildlife
• Large natural, intact and old-growth forests
• High concentration of biodiversity
• Un-fragmented landscapes
• Wild rivers
• Large, mosaic, traditional landscapes
41. Southern Carpathians
Largest Wild Landscape at the Heart of Europe
What’s Next?
• Seek for partners and build partnerships - Create a Coalition of
“entrepreneurs” from the wider society
• Anchor the idea locally, nationally & regionally
• Call on the two governments of Romania and Serbia to work with
WWF and partners on this initiative
• Secure necessary start-up funding
• Develop: Common Vision, Baseline assessments & Business plan
42. Southern Carpathians
The Largest Wild Landscape at the Heart of Europe
Outcomes
he “wild landscape” valued for its spiritual and natural values, for the ecosystem service
ntral Europe’s largest conservation landscape & first large-scale, functional ecosystem
n ecological corridor, from the lowland Danube Iron Gate to the peaks of the Carpathian
ime excellence in conservation & wilderness management
odel of how to integrate a “wild landscape” into rural development
ome of the best examples of traditional landscapes in Europe safeguarded, providing
ainable income and high life quality for people
‘world class’ destination for tourism
Announcing the new WWF initiative: “Carpathian Old-growth Forest Initiative”
Map: green - natural and nature parks, red – old growth mapped in 2003. In national and nature parks it is possible to include old-growth in core areas, i.e. areas with non-intervention management. The map does not show Natura 2000 sites. Although most of the old-growth are included now in N2000 sites, these sites are for the moment paper protected areas and, even if they would be functional, for the moment they do not provide efficient protection as there are no core areas defined for non-intervention.
Most of the old growth forests are outside existing national and nature parks. Only 18% in national and nature parks where non-intervention might be guaranteed, for the rest no guarantee for protection (some forests might not even exist anymore) – pressures / threats increased from changes in management in state forests and from the forest restitution process – dark green are old-growth. Some of them are covered by the Natura 2000 sites, however, that is not a guarantee for protection.
Some of the Romanian old-growth could become part of the existing World Heritage Site, but even more important is to include them all under protection within the national PA system!!!!
