European Wilderness Journal

European WILDERNESS SOCIETY WWW.WILDERNESS-SOCIETY.ORG No. 1/2014 JOIN AND BE PART OF IT € 7,50 Donation Fee European Wilderness Journal

The future of wilderness in Europe

Dear Friends of the wild! Letter to the Editors the past 15 years a lot has been achieved for Europe’s wilderness. These In achievements by various organisations were partially acknowledged by Wilderness is nowhere as important as it is in Europe, the the 10th World Wilderness Congress, the WILD10 in Salamanca, Spain. world’s most densely populated continent. The good news is that, in the last 20 years, great and critical strides have oc- Our vision curred to help raise awareness of and protect wild nature…but Since we need to go further for future generations! The launch of the new this work has really only just begun. The European Wilderness Vision for a Wilder Europe inspired us to set up the European Wilderness Society is the force needed to continue and build this momen- Society, which is a new entity that strives for more and better protection of tum. We all need to join, assist, and promote this important wilderness in Europe. initiative. Vance G Martin, Our objectives President: The WILD Foundation, World Wilderness Congress • Identifying and assisting in the management and lobbying for existing wilderness areas in Europe • Increase the total designated wilderness area in order to balance our hu- The newborn EWS does a great job. Your homepage is man footprint on the continent very attractive and well-made. Congratulations. • Inspire Europeans to care for our wild places across the continent Bernhard Kohler WWF Austria Our mission As its name implies, the new entity focuses its efforts on wilderness, on Europe and on joint actions involving the public. This is a very good initiative to save the population of wolves We are an inclusive entity, which will be supported by individuals, gov- especially in Europe where hunting is a serious problem! ernment, profit and non-profit organisations. Many are already part of the Technical Specialist European Wilderness Society but more are welcome to join and take part in UNESCO MAB Uganda our mission. Like a wast network of partners, scientists, researchers, nature conservationists, media experts, tourism specialists and management teams. This a great opportunity for key core wilderness and wildlife Join us areas. Excellent stuff. Our new society will also focus on the ambitious target of designating 5% of Jim O.Donnell Europe’s land territory as wilderness. Around the world in 80 Years The engaged and very experienced team behind the European Wilderness Society works ambitiously to reach this goal. But together with you we can achieve even more! In case you are keen to publish anything, would like to comment on our European Wilderness Society Web-page or would like further information concerning the European Wilderness please let us know!

Welcome to the European Wilderness Society! Follow, contact and talk to us If you are interested in being notified about European Wilder- ness you can register for our Wilderness Newsletter or follow us on Facebook, and Twitter, or join our open Linkedin group! Our website is a one-stop-shop for information about the European Wilderness. www.wilderness-society.org

Zoltán Kun, Chairman | Max A.E. Rossberg, Deputy Chairman | Vlado Vančura, Director Wilderness Development

2 Wilderness Ticker

European Natura 2000 Award

▲ Wilderness areas form an important part of the Natura 2000 system within the European Union. There is an opportunity to reward best practices of protecting wilderness through nominating your area for the Natura 2000 Award at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/awards/# However our efforts should not stop here! Our team is currently working on drafting a new European Wilderness Convention that will recognise the importance of wilderness in halting biodiversity loss and in delivering public benefits. „None of Nature‘s landscapes are ugly so long as they are wild.” John Muir, Our National Parks, (1901), Chapter 1, page 4.

Wilderness and forest ▲ Forests are important to the ecosystem, not only for conserving Europe’s biodiversity but also to protect the last fragment of extremely rare wilderness. Forests are also a fundamental element of Natura 2000. Nearly 50% of Natura 2000 habitats are forests and around 23% of all EU forests are in Natura 2000 sites! So if European forests are among the main repositories of European biodiversity then conse- quently (whether we like it or not) wilderness is also by definition an extremely important reservoir of European biodiversity. Particularly, wilderness forest is the kind of biodiversity reservoir that people have Threat of winter tourism in the Tatra National Park already been longing for so many years. Iconic protected areas such as the Tatra National Park, Slovakia and the Rila National Park of Bulgaria are under threat by extractive industry and unsus- tainable tourism development. Despite them having been recognised as IUCN Category II Areas and their inclusion in the EU Natura 2000 system, investors are suggesting massive ski lift developments in both areas.

Save the date

February October International Congress on Rural Tourism of Navarre 18th Forum 2000 Conference National Wilderness Conference Kingdom 12.-14. October 2014, 15.-19. October 2014, in Albuquerque, USA 20. - 21. February 2014, Pamplona, Spain in Prague, Czech Republic www.wilderness50th.org/conference www.forum2000.cz/en/calendar/ August The 7th International Conference on Monitoring and November Management of Visitors in Recreational and Protected Areas IUCN World Parks Congress 20.-23. August 2014, Tallinn, Estonia 12.-19. November 2014, in Sydney, Australia www.tlu.ee/en/mmv7/ www.worldparkscongress.org

www.wilderness-society.org 3 European Wilderness Journal

Importance of wilderness

The general public often wonders why we researchers and increasingly the politicians are so supportive of the wilderness. Here are just some of the vital role the wilderness plays in dealing with challenges of industrial development.

Author: Allan Wattson US Forestry Service Member of NAWPA

general public often wonders why The we researchers and increasingly the politicians are so supportive of the wilderness. Here are just some of the vital role the wilderness plays in dealing with challenges of industrial development.

Conserving Biodiversity Protected areas are essential for conservation. In a changing climate, they are safe havens for plants and animals to reproduce Capturing and Storing Carbon despite changing conditions. Is wilderness so Protected areas store vast amounts of car- important for the bon in ecosystems such as boreal and tem- Protecting Ecosystem Services perate forests, coastal areas, oceans, and grass Wilderness and protected areas protect, challenges of modern lands. These natural systems help reduce the restore and provide essential ecological, so- levels of greenhouse gases that cause global cial and economic services, like clean water; days society? warming through natural biological processes weather, temperature and humidity regula- that draw carbon dioxide out of the atmos- tion; soil conservation; and genetic reservoirs phere. that may lead to the development of improved Yes! crops, new medicines and other products vital Building Knowledge and Under- to human communities. standing Wilderness in particular, offers unique op- Connecting Landscapes portunities for research on climate change, The unpredictable impact of climate change because these areas are among those least may affect the ability of ecosystems and spe- modified by human influence. Applied sci- cies to adapt to changing environmental con- ence and research in protected areas can im- ditions either in-situ or via migration to more prove our understanding of ecosystems and suitable habitats. Protected area networks are species’ response to climate change, and im- one of the most effective approaches for sup- prove information for planning and manage- porting ecosystem adaptation. Connecting ment to help communities adapt. terrestrial and freshwater habitats across var- ied landscapes enables plants and animals to Inspiring People shift ranges and thrive in new locations. Inspiring natural surroundings provide the perfectsetting for tuning into nature, learning about it, appreciating it, respecting it and pledging to protect it. Managers can serve as Source: North American Protected areas as natural conveners, facilitators, and leaders who inspire solutions for climate Change (2012), North American Intergovernmental Committee on Cooperation and engage their communities in partner- for Wilderness and Protected Area Conservation ship for conservation and learning promote (NAWPA) resource stewardship to ensure a sustainable future. ❀

4 WILD 10 Salamanca Spain

www.wilderness-society.org 5 European Wilderness Journal

Interview with Michael Meyer

Michael Meyer is the Project Manager for the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) based in Germany. Michael Meyer started his career as a consultant on management of tourism facilities, working about 15 years on quality assessment and training of staff.

Interview: Max A.E. Rossberg

European Wilderness Society: In the future this role will be even more Michael Meyer: Mr. Meyer, the European Wilderness Soci- important. People tend to move to cities, People consider wilderness areas as areas ety has been founded to promote the con- rural areas are abandoned. That means without any human influence. They think cept of Wilderness in Europe. Most of these they move further away in distance and no people live „there“. For most of the wil- wilderness areas are in less developed areas in knowledge from what nature actually derness areas in Europe this is certainly with little tourism. As you have been very is. In addition, our world moves faster in not true. Therefore, one of the key success active in identifying tourism trends, what comparison to 50 or 100 years ago. People factors for a tourism strategy is the owner- role could wilderness play in the future are stressed from their jobs and from the ship by local people for designing and im- when it comes to alternatives to the main- daily pressures. In wilderness they can slow plementing such a strategy. Wilderness is stream tourism concepts? down and learn about nature and them- dependent on people and vice et versa. The selves. second key element is the full support of all Michael Meyer: governmental bodies involved in managing Wilderness areas already play a crucial role European Wilderness Society: a wilderness area, no matter if at national, for people. These areas provide ecosystem What are the key requirements for wil- province, district or community levels. services such as clean water, clean air, for- derness areas in attracting tourists? est products (wood, herbs, game) etc. On European Wilderness Society: top of this main function, these areas are Michael Meyer: What do you suggest to the European important for recreation and educational Wilderness areas need to be authentic Wilderness Society (EWS) when it comes purposes. and as unspoiled as possible. People living to incorporating tourism in its portfolio? in and around wilderness areas have to be proud in being there and invite tourists to Michael Meyer: learn about their daily living. The EWS could be THE platform for promoting sustainable tourism in wilder- European Wilderness Society: ness areas in Europe. It should provide all What are the key success factors when the existing tools and methodologies avail- developing a tourism strategy incorporat- able to make sustainable tourism a success ing wilderness as its key element? together with the tourism business sector, governments, NGOs and science. ❀

In 1999 he became a member of the board of Ecological He is a member of the roster of experts of the Convention Tourism in Europe (ETE) to work on the topic of sustainable on Biological Diversity (CBD) and co-author of the Interna- tourism development in and around protected areas fore- tional Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development most within Central and East Europe. Since 2006 he is also of the CBD. His specialties are coaching of tourism planning working for the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) processes, capacity-building of local communities and entre- giving advice to member states on sustainable tourism plan- preneurs and sustainable tourism product development. ning and biodiversity-based tourism product development.

6 Call for the Wild in Legislation

The 10th World Wilderness Congress also known as WILD10 organised in Salamanca turned into a major milestone to promote wilderness protection in Europe.

Author: Gaia Angelini, Policy and Project Director LuminaConsult and Zoltan Kun

of the outcomes of the conference was something that has Join Together One the boring title of Resolution 17. What does this number Therefore our society along with other organisations calls upon all really mean? European Countries to join together in a European Wilderness Conven- tion based on a framework that incorporates the wilderness definition, Milestone Resolution and has a ‘model law’ for wilderness as a protocol for its protection de- This is a resolution which calls for improving the legal protection of rived from existing national legislation for strict protection. We want wilderness through a European Wilderness Convention.The European to ensure that the framework includes a commitment on Contracting Parliament passed a resolution on wilderness in February 2009, some of Countries to explore the possibility of establishing additional strict wil- the recommendations having been realised through: derness reserves in their territories in line with the protocol. • the development of a definition of wilderness And finally we also encourage Contracting Countries to incorporate • the development of guidelines on wilderness management in the their strict wilderness reserves in the European Wilderness Preservation Natura 2000 network System. ❀ • and a wilderness register that documents and maps wilderness in a subset of countries in Europe

Finding wilderness Two of our colleagues are among A review of status and conservation of wild lands throughout Europe, the initiators of the European completed for the Scottish Government, revealed that the word “wilderness” is not officially included in most of the national protected area Wilderness Convention! legislation of European countries. However, strictly protected area types that are found in the national legislation in most of the European countries do give rise to areas across Europe that have wilderness character- istics. Some of these areas, like the Swiss National Park in Switzerland and the Lagodekhi State Nature Reserve in Georgia, have had this strict protection in place for 100 years or more.

Wild10 We commend the Alpine Convention as an example of a supranation- al agreement between countries that share geographical regions, with protocols for specific common actions defined and pursued by the de- cision-making body of the Convention and through participation of the signatories to the regular meetings of the Alpine Conference. We recognise the example of the ‘model law’ for Biosphere Reserves proposed by the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program, based on the analysis of various examples of existing legal translations of the biosphere reserves concept into national protected area legislation.

www.wilderness-society.org 7 European Wilderness Journal

10 11 Wilderness areas in Europe

53 Vatnajökull NP 58 02 Iceland

04 Helsinki

Oslo

Stockholm Tallinn

55 43

Riga 27

38 Moskva 26 28 23 29 42 30 Vilnius 54 06

20 Minsk

Dublin 31 19 32 Berlin Warszawa

London 17

Kiev

24 33 63 64 39 Paris 34 Vienna 62 21 37 18 Bratislava 40 Budapest 49 16 41 Bern 22 50 59 35 57 Ljubljana 07

60 Bucaresti

44 Sofia 56 09 65 03 08 46 01 12 13 14 36 15 Roma Tirana Tbilisi 61 25 45 Baku Madrid Ankara 47 Yerevan 48

Lisboa

51 52 Desertas Islands NP, Portugal Garajonay NP, Spain

8 Wilderness Areas ㆒ Peneda Gerês National Park, Portugal 10 11 ㆓ Fulufjället National Park, Sweden 叅 Majella National Park, Italy ㆕ Archipelago National Park, Finland ⓹ Soomaa National Park, Estonia ⓺ Cepkeliai-Dzukia National Park, Lithuania 柒 Retezat National Park, Romania ⓼ Rila National Park, Bulgaria ⓽ Central Balkan National Park, Bulgaria ❿ Oulanka National Park, Finland ⓫ Paanajärvi National Park, Russia ⓬ Küre Mountains National Park, Turkey ⓭ Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, Georgia ⓮ Poblet National Park, Spain 53 Vatnajökull NP 58 02 ⓯ Archipelago La Maddalena National Park, Italy Iceland ⓰ Swiss National Park, Switzerland ⓱ Hainich National Park, Germany 04 Helsinki ⓲ Hohe Tauern National Park Salzburg, Austria (Certified)

Oslo ⓳ Brandenburg Foundation‘s 4 territory, Germany

Stockholm ⓴ Unteres Odertal National Park, Germany Tallinn ㉑ Kalkalpen National Park, Austria (Certified) ㉒ Triglav National Park, Slovenia 05 ㉓ Słowiński National Park, Poland ㉔ Gorce National Park, Poland 55 ㉕ Prespa National Park, Albania 43 ㉖ Nemunas Delta Nature Reserve, Lithuania Riga 27 ㉗ Kamanos Nature Reserve, Lithuania 38 Moskva ㉘ Viesvile Nature Reserve, Lithuania 26 ㉙ Punia-Prienai Forest Nature Reserve, Lithuania 28 23 29 ㉚ Žuvintas Nature Reserve, Lithuania 42 30 Vilnius ㉛ Biebrza National Park, Poland 06 54 ㉜ Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, Belorussia 20 Minsk ㉝ Bieszczady National Park, Poland Dublin 31 ㉞ Zacharovanyj Kray National Park, Ukraine 19 32 Berlin ㉟ Natural Park Gradistea Muncelului-Cioclovina, Romania Warszawa ㊱ Belasitsa Natural Park, Bulgaria

London ㊲ Rodna National Park, Romania 17 ㊳ Aukštaitija-Labanoras National Park, Lithuania ㊴ Gorgany Nature Reserve, Ukraine Kiev ㊵ Calimani National Park, Romania 33 24 ㊶ Cheile Bicazului-Hasmas National Park, Romania 63 64 ㊷ Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve, Belorussia 39 Paris 34 ㊸ Polistovsky Nature Reserve, Russia Vienna 62 21 37 ㊹ Severo-Osetinskij Zapovednik, Russia 18 Bratislava 40 Budapest 49 ㊺ Khosrov Forest State Reserve, Armenia 16 41 22 ㊻ Lagodekhi Protected Areas, Georgia Bern 59 50 35 ㊼ Arevik National Park & Boghagar State Reserve, Armenia 57 Ljubljana 07 ㊽ Shikahogh SR & Zangezur State Sanctuary, Armenia ㊾ Stepnoi State Nature Sanctuary, Russia 60 Bucaresti ㊿ Astrakhan Biosphere State Reserve, Russia

44 Sofia 56 09 65 03 08 46 01 12 13 Potential Wilderness Areas 14 36 15 Roma Tirana Tbilisi 61 Desertas Islands National Park, Portugal 25 45 Garajonay National Park, Spain Baku Madrid Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland Ankara 47 Yerevan 48 Wild Nephin / Ballicroy National Park, Ireland Cairngorms National Park, UK Lisboa d‘Aigüestortes National Park, Spain Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy 51 52 Jotunheimen National Park, Norway Desertas Islands NP, Portugal Garajonay NP, Spain Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park, Italy Foreste Casentinesi National Park, Italy Alta Murgia National Park, Italy Duna-Ipoly National Park (Csarna valley), Hungary Slovensky raj National Park, Slovakia National Park Poloniny, Slovakia Kolkheti National Park, Georgia

www.wilderness-society.org 9 European Wilderness Journal

The Wildland Research Institute (WRi) in Europe

The general public often wonders why we researchers and increasingly the politicians are so supportive of wilderness. Here are just some of the vital roles which wilderness can play in dealing with challenges of industrial development.

Author: Mark Fisher, Steve Carver, Alison Parfitt

Wildland Research Institute International Wilderness Research Wilderness Convention. The proposal is based The (WRi) at the University of Leeds, WRi aims to identify and develop the re- on a framework that incorporates the wilder- UK, is a world leader in wilderness/wild- quirements, strategies and policies for a tran- ness definition and has a ‚model law‘ protocol land research, and had a prominent role in sition to a greater presence of wild landscapes. for wilderness protection derived from exist- WILD10, the 10th World Wilderness Con- In support of this specific intent WRi has de- ing national legislation. Under that European gress last October in Salamanca, Spain. WRi veloped many of the approaches, tools and wide umbrella, every country can maintain gave two plenary talks under the congress methods used in mapping wildness at local to differences in its legislation and in its cultural heading of „Make the World a Wilder Place“, continental scales and, together with World approach to wilderness and still afford essen- contributed significantly to a new draft Vision Universities Network (WUN) funding, WRi tial protection to this threatened resource. for a wilder Europe, contributed to 5 congress was the initiator of the International Wilder- resolutions, moderated 6 sessions, and sub- ness Research Network (iWRN) to promote Finding Words for Wilderness mitted 10 papers. So it is no surprise that WRi and develop a network of „mapping champi- Some European languages don‘t even have welcomes the new European Wilderness So- ons“ for wilderness throughout Europe. a specific word for wilderness. An example of ciety and others, such as Wild Europe, who the need to take a country-specific approach support the ideals of wilderness. The Gold Standard is the work of WRi in Scotland. This began WRi also offers a body of knowledge about through WRi developing a method to map self-willed land, non-intervention manage- wildland within the two Scottish National ment and the gold standard for wilderness Parks. The approach was then adapted by (see e.g. Wild or natural — the challenges Scottish Natural Heritage to map wildness Europe faces in setting aside wilderness). In- across all of Scotland. The mapping can now terests in wildland, wilderness and wilding be used in support of long and difficult dis- are often interdisciplinary, so the activities of cussion and policy making, about the world WRi combine social and natural sciences, as famous Scottish wild land, (the Scottish High- well as the arts. WRi has had a longstanding lands are visited by people from all over the partnership with social and natural scien- world); about ecosystems services; and about tists at the Aldo Leopold Research Institute, renewable energy development. For further Missoula, USA, working with tribal and in- information about WRi and its activities see digenous knowledge and helping develop http://www.wildlandresearch.org ❀ approaches to mapping wilderness character. This led recently to a new project about tradi- tional phenological knowledge, funded by the US Forest Service.

Interesting Times for Wildernistas A new step in the development of recognis- ing European wilderness is the WILD10 resolution on establishing a supra-national agreement in all European countries for a European

10 Bison reintroduction

The European Wilderness Society (EWS) is engaged in the reintroduction of the European Bison to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania.

Author: Vlado Vancura

European Bison (Bison bonasus), (Cracăului Valley) is a forested area of around 2005 in Romania: there was the first quaran- The also known as Wisent, is exem- 5000 ha. The European bison has been roam- tine farm for European bison, the first genetic plary as one of the few herbivore wilderness ing free in this area since the program started tests, the first regular system for veterinarian species listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. Two in the spring of 2012. The releasing area was treatments, the first bison imports of genetic subspecies are recognized, the lowland (Bison evaluated by Polish and Romanian specialists basis from Western Europe, the training for bonasus bonasus - extinct in the wild in 1919) and was considered as being suitable for fur- the staff involved and the establishment of a and the Caucasian (Bison bonasus caucasicus ther European bison reintroduction. “Bison Management Centre” (acclimatization - extinct in the wild in 1927). The project includes the transfer of six enclosure of 180 ha, feeders, facilities, bison captive-bred females from four samplings on herd dedicated to reintroduction purposes, Safegard European Wilderness the British Isles, to provide additional release with 20 animals). The EWS works to safeguard European stock for the on-going Romanian European wilderness, the continent’s most undisturbed bison population. The transport of the ani- Scientific Support areas of nature for future generation. The mals from the British Isles is planned to take Technical studies undertaken by the Ro- ambition of EWS in this long-term project is place during March 2014. The free bison manian Forest Research Institute - ICAS to re-establish a viable, self-sustaining popu- from the Cracăului area has already started (1994) and The Zoological Society of London lation of European bison in the eastern Car- to concentrate in the proximity of the fenced (1998) revealed the suitability of the Vanatori pathian Mountains in order to revive wilder- area and they are expected to stay there until Neamt Natural Park to support a viable free ness values to this area and to offer support to spring. Therefore if everything will go accord- roaming bison population. Further studies by the local communities. The initiative started ing to plan, the new bison coming from the Polish and Romanian experts confirm these within a Global Environment Facility (GEF) UK will be able to adapt and integrate with results. It is worth mentioning that during the

Vatnajökull NP operation between 1999 and 2006: a World theIceland Cracăului bison. GEF project, the program has benefited from

Bank Project on Biodiversity and Conserva- the assistance of aHelsinki team of Polish consult- Oslo

Stockholm tion Management. Detailed Work since 2005 ants: ecologist (Prof.Tallinn Kajetan Perzanowski), The reintroduction of Europe’s largest land genetician (Prof. Wanda Olech), veterinarian Bison Reintroduction mammal represents one of the most challeng- (Prof. Wojciech Bielecki) and bison breeder

The reintroduction area is situated in the ing tasks in the restoration of European wil- (Mr. Mieczyslaw RigaHlawiczka) with a huge South of the park, a potential wilderness derness heritage. With respect to bison con- experience in bison management. ❀ Moskva

area with low human disturbance. The area servation, the first achievements were seen in Vilnius

Minsk

Dublin

Berlin Warszawa

London

Kiev

Paris Vienna Bratislava

Budapest

Bern

Ljubljana

Bucaresti

Sofia

Roma Tirana Tbilisi

Baku Madrid Ankara Yerevan

Lisboa

Desertas Islands NP, Portugal Garajonay NP, Spain

www.wilderness-society.org 11 European Wilderness Journal

Wilderness in Focus Hohe Tauern NP, Austria

Once bearded vultures were found in almost every mountain range of southern Europe and the Alps. In numerous legends the bearded vulture, with its glowing red eyes, was feared and it was believed they attacked even young children. As a result, they were hunted and almost eradicated. The vultures have been reintro- duced in the Austrian Alps through a captive breeding programme by the Hohe Tauern National Park and its partners.

Author: Vlado Vancura

12 WILDERNESS DIPLOMA The European Wilderness Society certifies that NATIONALPARK HOHE TAUERN SALZBURG AUSTRIA

is a European Wilderness Preservation System Partner according to the society´s independent wilderness principles and standards.

This diploma certifies that the Nationalpark Hohe Tauern Salzburg valid until 31.01.2016 joins the European Wilderness Preservation System by protecting 9.136 ha of wilderness representing the best of Europe‘s wilderness.

Given at 1st February 2014

European WILDERNESS SOCIETY WWW.WILDERNESS-SOCIETY.ORG JOIN AND BE PART OF IT

Vlado Vančura Director Wilderness Development Max A.E. Rossberg Deputy Chairman Zoltán Kun Chairman

The Nationalpark Hohe Tauern Salzburg has recieved the European Wilderness Diploma 2014 it or not, there is still ibex), Red deer (Cervus elaphus), Chamois Believe wilderness in Central (Rupicapra rupicapra), Alpine marmot (Mar- Europe in the most populated and modified mota marmota), Mountain hare (Lepus timi- mountainous area on our globe – the Alps. Dif- dus), Alpine salamander (Salamandra atra), ficult terrain provides an opportunity to safe- bats, birds, lichens, etc.

Vatnajökull NP guard the remains of wilderness that cannot be Iceland developed, just a couple hours drive from big Research and Experience NationalparkHelsinki Hohe Tauern Oslo

European cities such as Vienna, Salzburg or Uniqueness of this wilderness area is high- Stockholm Salzburg Tallinn Munich. lighted by free-running natural processes and Country: Austria original landscapes, the high Alpine spacious Area: 80.500 ha Nationalpark Hohe Tauern Salzburg glaciers, and it is an excellent area for research, Riga One such place is certainly the Nationalpark monitoring and experiencing sustainable wil- Wilderness Area: 9.136 ha Moskva ❀ Hohe Tauern Salzburg, where the very concep- derness. Website: www.hohetauern.atVilnius tual pro-wilderness approach defined almost Minsk Dublin

10 000 ha of wilderness in a demanding Euro- Berlin Warszawa pean wilderness quality standard. London

Kiev In the middle of Austria

Paris Nationalpark Hohe Tauern Salzburg is the Vienna Bratislava

Budapest largest national park in the Alps. A land of con- Bern trast would describe it shortly. The park is an Ljubljana area with a wild, primeval landscape and simul- Bucaresti taneously it has fields cultivated by mountain Sofia

farmers over several centuries. Wilderness in Roma Tirana Tbilisi the Nationalpark Hohe Tauern Salzburg in- Baku Madrid Ankara cludes typical high Alpine zones and high level Yerevan of Alpine biodiversity e.g. Alpine ibex (Capra Lisboa

Desertas Islands NP, Portugal Garajonay NP, Spain

www.wilderness-society.org 13 European Wilderness Journal

Making Europe’s wilderness sexy again

We like to think of tourism as a tool to mobilise people for wilderness and not as an industry creating nature conservation problems. People are increasingly seeking adventure; Europe’s wilderness is in serious need of getting more public support.

Author: Janos Pereczes, Zoltan Kun

more than ever before. As such, the European Wilder- Now ness Society works in partnership with tourism compa- nies who share common norms and values concerning wilderness. The interested vacationer can find several travel offerings from our partners on our special website www.wilderness-travel.org.

Tourism as education tool Tourism in our view is really not an industry: it is the education tool of the 21st century. It creates local jobs in rural, economically depressed regions, it highlights different culinary tastes, it offers income possbib- lites to local guides and it brings people from different cultures together. It also provides the visitor the opportunity to interpret wilderness in a unique setting.

Where does the idea stem from? When many Europeans think of wilderness, they tend to refer to li- ons and jaguars that can be seen on safari in Africa. But when we think about places like Oulanka National Park or Soomaa National Park, which are two very wild landscapes in Europe, we seldom think about these destinations in the context of a unique travel experience in a true European wilderness area. We realised that we needed to open people‘s eyes and raise awareness of these stunning places to achive our goal of safeguarding wilderness in Europe. Our tourism partners therefore play an important part in the preservation and conservation agenda in these wilderness areas and not only entertain but also educate the general public about the most pressing wilderness issues.

Travel2Wild One of our partners in this endeavour is Travel2Wild. Travel2Wild was founded by nature-lover travel enthusiasts, who realised that while We encourage all interested wilder- Europe’s wilderness offers so many wonderful holiday opportunities, people do not associate the words Adventure, Europe and Wilderness ness advocates to consider the next together. At the moment, Travel2Wild offers several tours to eight un- dicovered wilderness areas in Europe. Their plan is to cover all of the vacation in a European Wilderness wilderness locations across Europe in the next 3 years as an alternative - there are many to pick from... to mass tourism. ❀

14 Wilderness in Focus

The Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve in Belorussia is the oldest European preserved natural territory

Author: Vlado Vancura

are very few wilderness areas in Europe that have al- Ecology of the future There ready been protected for decades. Yet Berezinsky Bio- Covering nearly the whole spectrum of natural complexes of the Re- sphere Reserve in Belorussia founded in 1925, covers an area of 85.192 serve - forests, mires, meadows, rivers and lakes - the ecological routes

Vatnajökull NP ha with 27.204 ha of wilderness, is definately one ofIceland them! Because of its are designed for different kinds of visitors and welcome organised ❀ biological diversity and unique combinations of natural conditions, the groups accompanied by experienced guidesHelsinki and specialists. reserve is very important not only for Belarus but also for Europe. There Oslo Stockholm Tallinn are four types of ecological systems at the Reserve: forests, bogs, water reservoirs and meadows.

Riga Tracks of the past Moskva

Berezinsky has become a world-famous model of intact primeval na- Vilnius

ture of forest, marsh, lake and river systems. Thanks to the enthusiasm Minsk

Dublin

of many generations of scientists, forest experts and naturists, over 6.000 Berlin Warszawa

biological species are found here, including 187 rare ones listed in theLondon

National Red Data Book of Belarus. Kiev

Paris Natural heritage of Europe Vienna Bratislava The reserve is situated at the watershed of the Baltic and the Black Budapest Bern Seas. The reserve is the oldest of all the protected sites that form the Ljubljana

wilderness heritage of Europe. Bucaresti

Sofia

Roma Tirana Tbilisi

Baku Madrid Ankara www.wilderness-society.org 15 Yerevan

Lisboa

Desertas Islands NP, Portugal Garajonay NP, Spain European Wilderness Journal

Welcome back home, dear Wolf !

We are responsible to care for animals that belong to the natural biodiversity. The wolf is part of our natural heritage. Hunting and loss of their habitat as well as several myths have almost led to their extinction, but they are staging a comeback.

Author: Max A.E. Rossberg

all know the story of the „big bad wolf“ in fairy tales like was already seen in the Netherlands and at the time wolves have been We „Little Red Riding Hood“ and the gruesome stories about observed in urban areas like Berlin, Hanover and Rome. werewolves that even today return to the big screen in movies. But the mythology also tells the story that the founders of Rome, Romulus and Chilling howling, but not dangerous Remus were raised by wolves. This cultural-historical background re- In general however, wolves are so shy that people hardly get to see veals the often difficult relationship between wolf and mankind leading them. The only way we are becoming aware of a wolf in our region is the to the ambivalent roles of the wolf as a hunter and as a prey. chilling howling of wolves at night. The image of the wolf as a danger to man is still ingrained in the collective mind of Europeans even though Hunter or prey ? it is scientifically proven to be incorrect. We tend to overreact as can Previously mistaken as a bloodthirsty man-eater, scientific research be seen in the case of the derogation agreement, which permitted 120 has shown that the wolf is actually a very shy predator, that has primari- wolves to be killed annually in Slovakia. Our colleagues at Hnuti Duha ly deer and rabbit on the menu. But nevertheless, over the past centuries as well as several in Slovakian and Polish environmental organizations wolves in Europe have not fared well. Wolves were nearly eradicated in and hundreds of letters written by citizens of these states has started a Central Europe since the beginning of the last century. Hunters made a EU Commission investigation into this unnecessary killing of the pro- living from the bounties paid by villagers, because they hated the wolf tected wolves. as a competitor threatening their farm animals and the local wildlife. Improve the coexistence between carnivores and humans: Enjoys highest level of protection In former times, herds consisted of 200 to 300 sheep, watched by at Wolves are the most important and last missing natural predator in least 3 or 4 shepherds and their dogs. The dogs wore special spiked col- Central Europe. Without the wolf, governments for example need to lars to fend off possible attacks from wolves. With the extinction of the spend immense amount of resources managing the deer population. large carnivores this skill and knowledge on how to protect the livestock This is why more and more regions and countries are working so hard has been lost. The herds have become larger while the shepherds and on a reintroduction of the wolf across all of Europe. According to the dogs have become less – for instance up to 1000 sheep with one shep- EU legislation, the wolf is a priority species and therefore enjoys the herd and no watch dogs has become common. highest level of protection in most European countries and a pan Euro- pean anti hunting code was agreed upon. Old and new techniques There are several projects to reduce the impact of the wolf on the Returning to their original home agricultural sector while allowing it to take its role in the natural food Legal protection helped to increase the number of wolves quadruple chain. Instead of ignoring the hunting ban, old methods should be re- since the 70s. They are rapidly expanding their territories in Europe called and used in combination with new technology. This is done by from eastern Europe into France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Austria, using simple tools, such as electric fences around sheep pens, by using Poland and Italy. Their choice of territory is often a mystery as Hnuti ‘Wolf Patrols’ to monitor populations and guard against illegal hunting Duha, who are dealing with the monitoring and conservation of large and trapping, and by protecting migration corridors from ongoing frag- carnivores around the Czech-Slovakian border, have observed. For in- mentation through the purchase of land and replanting / regeneration, stance, last year, the only one confirmed case was a dead female wolf hit and undertaking a public awareness campaign using the data collected. by car near the town Valašské Meziříčí while in another instance a wolf

16 Tourism and wolf Landscape and nature are the business foundation of regional interested visitors. The wolf is not the devil, it is just an animal we must tourism. Accordingly new media-friendly wild species like the wolf learn to live with again. Should you need more information concerning actually boost regional tourism opportunities. Tourist regions where wolves please contact the Europe Wilderness Society. ❀ wolves have returned not only have nothing to fear, but actually attract

WÖLFE IN EUROPA Karelien STECKBRIEF WOLF Geschätzte Zahl 150-165 (CANIS LUPUS) Lebt zurückgezogen und scheu WÖLFE IN ÖSTERREICH in Familienverbänden (Rudeln) mit starken Bindungen Im 19. Jhdt. ausgerottet Größe: zwischen 100 Seit damals immer wieder und 160 cm sporadisches Vorkommen 260-330 von Einzeltieren Gewicht: bis zu 38 kg

Gefährdungsstatus: Rote Liste Reviergröße: bis zu 300 km2 Österreich „Ausgestorben“ Skandinavien Baltikum Alter: 8 – 13 Jahre Wolfshinweise 2010, 2011 und 2012 870-1.400 Nahrung: hauptsächlich Rehe, Wildschweine, Hirsche

Nö. W. Oö. Deutschland-Westpolen 150 Stmk. Bgld. Vbg. T. Sbg.

Ktn.

AUT Karpaten 3.000 250 Iberische Halbinsel Westalpen Italien 3.900 2.500 600-800 Balkan

www.wilderness-society.org 17 European Wilderness Journal

Wilderness Stuff

DVD - The Wolf Mountains The European natural world could be even wilder than we might imagine. Large When buying this DVD you ▲ support the Aevis Foundtion herds of bison and wild horses, huge bears and rivers teeming with salmon were once www.evis.org he European natural world could be even wilder than we might imagine. part of a wild Europe. As western civilisation grew, this natural paradise disappeared Large herds of bison and wild horses, huge bears and rivers teeming with centuries ago and it is hard to imagine how it might once have been. But there are now T salmon were once part of a wild Europe. As western civilisation grew, this natural paradise disappeared centuries ago and it is hard to imagine how it might once have been. But there are now places in Europe where the wilderness of yesteryear places in Europe where the wilderness of yesteryear returns. This film is a unique por- returns. This ﬁ lm is a unique portrait of a pocket of European wild nature that has The wolf trait of a pocket of European wild nature that has not been witnessed for generations. not been witnessed for generations. This is a story about life in the ‘Wolf Mountains’ of the Eastern Carpathians. Mountains This is a story about life in the ‘Wolf Mountains’ of the Eastern Carpathians. The wolf mountains wolf The Arolla Film Company was set up in 2009. The aim of the company is to use our unique footage to inspire our audience with a passion for wildlife and by so doing to contribute to the protection of particular areas of wilderness that could regenerate back to their former glory if left alone.

Magazine for Kids - Welcome Home ▲ The WWF Austria has developed a series of educational and informational set of material focusing on the return of the Wolf into Austria. Especially interesting is the 16 magazine targeted at the 10-14 year old teenagers informing them about the history, habits, dietary plans, hunting skills and the role the Wolf plays in the food chain of our natural environment.

10 – 14 Jahre (ISCED 2) Schülerarbeitsheft Willkommen zu Hause Die Wölfe kehren zurück

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We appreciate your donation to support wilderness in Europe European Wilderness Society IBAN: AT98 3506 3000 0015 8089 BIC: RVS AAT2 S063 Team © 2014 European Wilderness Society Zoltan KUN, Chairman of the Society, EU Advocacy and Fundraising, Dechant Franz Fuchs Str. 5; 5580 Tamsweg; Austria Max A.E. ROSSBERG, Deputy Chairman, Sustainable Tourism Expert Phone: +43 (0)676 913 88 04 Vlado VANCURA, Director Wilderness Development Email: [email protected] | www.wilderness-society.org Anni HENNING, Senior Editor, Marketing Communications All rights, errors and changes are reserved. Susanne WERTH, Marketing Assistant, Marketing Communications Photo Credits: Stephen Carver, Michael Meyer, Max Rossberg, Bruno Gaia ANGELINI, International Policy Director D’Amicis, NP Kalkalpen, Wild Foundation, NP Majella, Berezinsky Bodo ROSSBERG, Art Director Biosphere Reserve, Vanatori Neamt NP, Vlado Vancura, Sebastian Catanoiu, WWF, fotolia.de We acknowledge our advisors Design: www.diemedienwerkstatt.info, 5580 Tamsweg, Austria Stephen Carver, Wildland Research Institute Printed in Austria Mark Fisher, Wildland Research Institute Allison Parfitt, Wildland Research Institute Subscription Dr. Michael Jungmeier, E.C.O. Institute of Ecology Become one of our 2000 subscribers. If you want to subscribe visit our Michael Meyer, OETE Stiftung und UNWTO Website: www.wilderness-society.org www.wilderness-society.org 19 European WILDERNESS SOCIETY WWW.WILDERNESS-SOCIETY.ORG JOIN AND BE PART OF IT