WILDeRNEsS Set out to discover the european wild nature HOHE TAUERN AUSTRIA 04-05 GESÄUSE AUSTRIA 06-07 WOODSMOKE ENGLAND 08-09 MAJELLA ITALIA 10-11 VERCORS FRANCE 12-13 WOLF SLOVAKIA 14-15 BERESINSKY BELARUS 16-17 KALKAPEN AUSTRIA 18-19 SAREK SWEDEN 20-21 SOOMAA ESTONIA 22-23 ADULA SWITZERLAND 24-25 ŠUMAVA CZECH REPUBLIC 26-27 LES ÉCRINS FRANCE 28-29 LIVE THE WILDERNESS IN YOUR DAILY LIFE 30-31 Whether it is the power be individually smaller and more Mountain Wilderness / france of high mountains, the fragmented than wilderness areas, For over 20 years, MW France has been promoting a global gigantic desert or the old although they often cover extensive approach of mountain in which “preservation of natural forests, the nature allows tracts. The condition of their natural environment”, “social equity” and “local economy” us to be amazed and offers us the habitat, processes and relevant species constitute the same aim. feeling of loneliness, freedom and is however often partially or substan- www.mountainwilderness.fr adventure. But if Nature gives us a tially modified by human activities lot, the artificialization of natural such as livestock herding, hunting, spaces and urbanization threaten fishing, forestry, sport activities or it. Indeed, the human impact general imprint of human artifacts.” EWS / Austria increases, jeopardizing the natural The European Wilderness Society is the only Pan-European, balance. The wilderness concept has wilderness and environmental advocacy non-profit organi- gained considerable momentum zation with a dedicated multi-cultural and very experienced To cope with this situation, a large in Europe during the last 15 years. professional team whose mission is to: identify, designate, associative movement has been A milestone was the adoption of manage and promote Europe’s last great places of wilderness. working for several years in order to the “European Parliament Reso- wilderness-society.org promote a wilderness preservation lution on Wilderness in Europe” in system. February 2009. With this in mind, 4 NGOs (Friends of the Earth Czech WOLF / Slovakia “A Wilderness is an area governed Republic – Hnuti DUHA, Mountain by natural processes. It is composed Wilderness France, European Wil- Established in 1993, WOLF works for the preservation of of native habitats and species, and is derness Society and WOLF Forest natural forests and their wildlife in Slovakia and the whole large enough for the effective ecologi- Protection Movement) launched an of Central and Eastern Europe. Indeed, 40 % of Slovakia is covered by beech-fir forest and more than 250 wolves and cal functioning of natural processes. european program to advance and 800 bears thrive in these areas. It is unmodified or only slightly so and exchange on wilderness Education without intrusive or extractive human in the European Union: ERASMUS +. WOLF.SK/EN activity, settlements, infrastructure or visual disturbance.” Thanks to this catalogue, you will discover 13 wild areas in Europe Friends of the Earth / Czech Republic “Wild areas have a high level of where you can live a “wilderness predominance of natural process experience” and reconnect Hnuti DUHA exposes bad practices by corporations and lobbies parties around their election manifestos, advises and natural habitat. They tend to yourself with nature! communities and drafts new laws, informs consumers and researches alternatives. www.hnutiduha.cz Discovering the largest National Park of the Alps : HOHE TAUERN austria 47° 04 30 North - 12° 41 40 East The largest nature reserve of the faces of the Hohe Tauern National Park. Alps… The Hohe Tauern National Park The nature reserve encompasses swee- was established in 1981 and is therefore ping, primeval Alpine landscapes, such Austria’s first National Park. During the as glaciers, rock faces and turf, as well following decades the National Park, as mountain pasture landscapes which which covers parts of the three provinces have been carefully and painstakingly of Carinthia, Salzburg and Tyrol, deve- cultivated for centuries. loped into the largest nature reserve in Central Europe, with an area of over 1,834 R www.hohetauern.at/en km2.It is not only a wild, primeval lands- E [email protected] cape but also a landscape cultivated by q (+43) 4875 5112 mountain farmers. These are the two MEETING WITH THE LARGEST PRESERVED NATURAL AREA OF THE ALPS THE NATIONAL PARK THE BIOS NATIONAL PARK WORLDS - SALZBURG CENTER – MALLNITZ The National Park Worlds cener Take a glance into an unknown world: is the best place for all National Park hidden life forms, primitive organisms, visitors to start at . Indeed thanks strange shapes and objects of surprising to 3D films, you can learn lot of things beauty! The BIOS National Park about the history of the formation of Centre lots of interactive stations, the Alps , the inhabitants and living experiments and multi-media shows environment. will take you into a different world. Your journey of discovery goes from www.nationalparkzentrum.at the smallest to the largest - from the most amazing structure under the THE GROSS GLOCKNER microscope to the genuine mountain HIGH ALPINE ROAD stream. Numerous display lecterns, six study www.bios-hohetauern.at trails and two information centers run along the Gross Glockner High Alpine EDUCATIONAL TRAILS Road. At 3,798 m the Grossglockner is not only the highest mountain in Get ready for a natural adventure in Austria, it also counts among the the most beautiful places of Hohe highest peaks in the Alps. On the Tauern National Park. Not only will road, you coan also visit exhibitions : you be amazed but you will also Art exhibition alpenliebe, Alpine learn lot of things about the fauna, nature show museum, Grossglockner flora, glacier and natural history. The exhibition or the Golden eagle in the educational trails last several hours eastern Alps. or days and are adapted for children or no. Online, the topos inform you www.grossglockner.at/en about the environment, the trail, the equipment, the reachability and lots of other things. www.nationalparkerlebnis.at/en/ educational-trails-2.html BETWEEN LAND AND WATER IN GESÄUSE NATIONAL PARK auSTRIA 47° 36 North - 14° 45 East Located in the Austrian state of a hotspot for biodiversity in Austria with Styria, the Gesäuse National Park was more than 89 endemic animal species created in 2002 and covers 110 km².A such as the arachnids Megabonus, or wonderful place for alpine sports, the 15 plants. Since 2003, the Park has been reputation of the Park comes from the rewarded by the category II of IUCN exceptional 16kms of gorge shaped by evaluation for its involvement in the pre- the waters of the Enns. The river takes servation of ecosystems and for the res- its source in the Salzbourg and winds its pect of natural processes. way through 250 km until it reaches the R www.nationalpark.co.at Danube. Precipitous limestone peaks E [email protected] and green forests, alarge variety of fauna q (+43) 3613 21160 20 and flora : the Gesäuse National Park is DISCOVERING THE WILDERNESS IN THE GESÄUSE NATIONAL PARK WILDERNESS CAMP Do you want to spend a few days in forests with your friends and their children? The National Park of Gesäuse offers you a friendly adventure with a ranger to unplug from virtual reality and reconnect with nature. Can you imagine surviving without a smartphone or a watch? In the camp you can try to live without noun and electrical appliances. Happiness is in simplicity: guided discovery of wilderness during the day and meal cooked over a wood fire during the evening! HIKING THE AUSTIAN MOUNTAINS Since 200 years, the Gesäuse National Park entices the hiking lovers.It seemsA natural choice due to the wonderful mountains and the spectacular rock faces dominating the Park. Since several years, renovation projects of routes have been THE WILLOW DOME engaged while safeguarding their authenticities. Notably via ADVENTURE CENTRE the installation of enough attachment points without creating a “garden of climb”. The ascension requires good orientation The Willow Dome Adventure Centre offers skills as well as a sense of responsibility. At the top: loneliness you to discover the life of the park through and stunning views. various activities: JOURNEY INTO THE MICROCOSM Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of water and soil organisms with expert instruc- tion from the National Park rangers. THE WILD JOHN DISCOVERY TRAIL Modified and controlled to answer to human needs, the Jonsbach river has found its na- tural and wild character again thanks to the LIFE project lead by the Park and its partners. Flowing now as an authentic mountain stream, a walk is dedicated to him. WOODSMOKE IN THE LAKE DISTRICT NATIONAL PARK ENGLAND 54° 27 North - 3° 06 West With 2 280 km² of lakes and moun- “in the combinations which they make, tains, the Lake District NP is the biggest towering above each other, or lifting them- National Park of England. A succession selves in ridges like the waves of a tumul- of glaciations has formed glacial valleys, tuous sea, and in the beauty and variety glacier cirques and the most beauti- of their surfaces and colours, they are ful english mountains. The altitude of surpassed by none” the Scafell Pike (978 m), the highest submit of the Park, the misty atmos- phere above the “region of lakes” and R www.woodsmoke.uk.com the pannel of warm colours are ma- E [email protected] gical. William Wordsworth, romantic q (+44) 01900 821779 poet claims his love for the mountains: WOODSMOKE Established in 2001, Woodsmoke is internationally respected for its pioneering bushcraft courses and professional approach to teaching classical wilderness survival skills. Bushcraft is about thriving in the natural environment, and the acquisition of the skills and knowledge to do so. The bushcraft courses are set in the heart of England’s Lake District National Park.