NATURE in FOCUS Conservation Council of Europe
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bulletin of the european information centre for nature NATURE IN FOCUS conservation council of europe I î> wildlife in the arctic ~\ " ■N d r " IT -J r e u ro p e a n — u [Ï information min c e n tre L h J V. J for Urniü. n atu re number 11 winter 1971 -72 conservation NATURE IN FOCUS Everywhere the ancient cities and acter; the building of roads to divert picturesque villages, which we love traffic away from areas of architec Editorial The Rt Hon Duncan Sandys, MP 1 and which tourists come from afar to tural interest or to by-pass charming admire, are being progressively de villages; the elimination of car parking molished or mutilated for commercial in fine squares and streets; the crea Transfrontier natural parks Dr Hertha Firnberg 2 gain or the convenience of motor tion of pedestrian precincts; the re traffic. If this process is allowed to moval of unsightly outdoor advertising, Nature and history: a common heritage for continue unchecked, Europe's distinc overhead wires and other ugliness; tive character will soon be totally de the careful planning of new develop Conservation Bernard Champigneulle 5 stroyed. All that will be left will be a ment in areas of scenic beauty on the few isolated monuments retained as coast, in the countryside or in the Controlling traffic in wild animals Moira a g wariand 7 lifeless museums in the midst of a mountains; the introduction of more jungle of ferro concrete and tarmac. trees and grass in towns and villages; Whether it be the historic centre of a the elimination of dirt, decay and un The evolution of our mountain landscapes famous town — such as Chartres, tidiness of all kinds; the construction Professor V Giacomini 11 York, Bruges, Sienna or Copenhagen of new buildings, the design of which — or a charming old village whose shows respect for their older neigh name is little known, it forms part of bours; and, most important of all, News from Strasbourg 18 our common European heritage, which measures to encourage our follow- we have a common interest and re citizens of all ages to take pride and Short Notes 23 sponsibility to defend. interest in the quality of their sur We must sound the alarm and call for roundings. action before it is too late. In preparation for the European Urban Nature in Focus Looks at Books 27 The campaign initiated in the European Conservation Year, governments, local THE RIGHT HONOURABLE Nature Conservation Year of 1970, suc authorities, industry and commerce DUNCAN SANDYS M.P. cessfully awakened the peoples of all should be urged to initiate action of Zusammenfassungen (German summaries) 28 President of «EUROPA NOSTRA», an our countries to the dangers which this and other kinds — both for its international federation of associations menace their natural environment. The own intrinsic value and as an example for the protection of Europe’s cultural battle against the pollution of air, wa to stimulate similar action by others. Nature In Focus Is published in English and natural heritage. and French by the European Information ter and countryside is of the highest There are those who regard the pres Centre for Nature Conservation of the importance. But it is only one half of ervation of treasures inherited from Council of Europe, Strasbourg, France. the problem of Conservation. The the past as old-fashioned and back Editeur responsable: Jean-Pierre Rlbaut grave threats to our urban environ ward-looking. But that shows a com Editor: Martin Jones ment are equally serious and demand plete misunderstanding of the trend Printed by: Artl Grafiche già Veladlni & C. equally urgent action. of present-day thinking. As the level Lugano, Switzerland. We therefore confidently look to the of general education rises, the peoples Articles may be reprinted providing a re governments to declare 1975 as a of all our countries are showing in ference is made to the source and a copy European Urban Conservation Year, creasing appreciation of their historic sent to the Editor. The copyright of all as requested by the Consultative As and cultural heritage and recognise photographs is reserved. sembly of the Council of Europe. the importance of protecting it for Nature In Focus may be obtained on ap In the interval between now and then, their own enjoyment and that of future plication to the appropriate National intensive preparations will have to be generations. Agency. See addresses inside back cover. made at the European, national and Growing popular interest in conserva The opinions expressed in this publication local levels. For it is not enough tion is, in fact, a marked feature of are those of the authors and do not nec merely to draw attention to the dan our modern educated society. If there essarily reflect the views of the Council fore a clear lead is given, wide public of Europe. gers. If the campaign is to produce concrete results, we must, by the be support is assured. ginning of 1975, be in a position to Cover and colour pages were realised with the collaboration of: present in all our countries numerous Arthur Christiansen - Sven Gillstater - Brian practical examples of successful ac Hawkes - Magnar Norderhaug - Leonard tion. These might, among other meas Lee Rue - Teuvo Suominen. ures, include: the restoration of old buildings and their adaptation when Design and layout: Jean Percet, Strasbourg necessary to modern uses; the strict control of new construction in ancient cities to preserve their special char < The alpine marmot (Marmota marmota) and the ibex (Capra ibex) are just two of the many animals which thrive in the mountainous frontier region between Italy and France, protected by laws in the Gran Paradiso and the Vanoise NATURAL HKS National Parks, respectively. DR HERTHA FIRNBERG Minister of Science and Research, Austria Projects for European bilateral or mul tional Park was opened on the border tilateral natural parks have been under with Spain and on the Spanish side discussion for years: certain projects of the border a hunting reserve has have reached the practical planning been established. stage and some progress has been Portugal's first National Park, Peneda- made with the preliminary work. Eu Geres, which was inaugurated on 11 rope Park No. 1, the Luxembourg- October 1970, consists of some 60 000 German Natural Park, is already a hectares of mountainous area on her reality. The State Treaty providing for northern border with Spain. the setting up of a joint natural park The creation of bilateral and multina by the Rhineland-Palatinate and Lux tional parks has been discussed in the embourg was concluded on 14 October Nordic Council. There are several pos 1965 and the park constitutes the first sibilities: the region of Femundmarka- example of a West European bilateral Rogen between Norway and Sweden, natural park: it is therefore an ex given the extension of the Rogen Na ample of particular significance for tional Park to the Swedish side of the the Council of Europe’s endeavours. border: the Borgefjell Sanctuary, which A number of natural parks are situated was enlarged to 1065 sq km in October in the frontier area between two coun 1971 and made into a National Park tries, and in some cases parks adjoin which now touches the Swedish bor one another directly at the frontier, as der; the region of the Anarjokka river do the Italian Gran Paradiso and the if the Finnish National Park of ‘Lem- French La Vanoise parks. There are menjoki’ is extended to the Norwegian opportunities in Europe for setting up frontier. Most important is to realise bilateral or multilateral natural parks the great project for the ‘Rago’ Na astride national frontiers and thus for tional Park in Norway (created in Jan preserving landscapes of unusual uary 1971), linking it with the giant beauty integrally on both sides of the Parco Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso nature conservation complex of frontier and making them accessible Swedish Lapland, which is made of to the inhabitants of both or of several three National Parks: Padjalenta, Sa- countries as areas of rest and relax velopment, will make a further contri safeguarding the territory along the a ‘European climate’ was expressed 230000 hectares. Efforts are now being rek and Sjöfallets, the largest parks ation. In addition to promoting nature bution to planned European collabora two frontier rivers, the Sauer and Our, in war-torn areas of adjacent Western made by the Netherlands and West in Europe. conservation and to their recreational tion. according to principles which are as countries. This led to the setting-up Germany to create a German-Dutch In Finland, Eastern Lapland is to be value, these parks are an important The setting-up of a bilateral natural uniform as possible, and of maintaining of the ‘Groupement Européen des Ar natural park of 'Maas-Schwalm-Nette'. managed as a national park whose factor in the unification of Europe and park calls for extensive preliminary it as a recreational area, a joint natural dennes et de l’Eifel’ whose objective A national park will eventually be surface area will be 380 000 hectares a means of direct contact and mutual work, on both sides and harmonious park shall be set up. The Contracting is to establish transfrontier natural created in the region of Berchtesga and the ‘Lemmenjoki’ National Park understanding between peoples. They joint action. This is shown clearly by Parties shall ensure that such parts of parks. In 1957, the President of the den. This will extend into the region will cover, after extensions, 190 000 give, as was said in the speeches the example of the Luxembourg-Ger their territory as are included in the Verein Naturschutzpark, Dr Toepfer, of Königssee and will assure a con hectares.