enlarging the european wilderness preservation system

EUROPEAN WILDERNESS PRESERVATION SYSTEM

Vlado VancuraWilderness AdvocateEuropean Wilderness Society

EUROPEAN WILDERNESS SOCIETY 18/12/2013

Central Balkan NP © Petar Yordanov Paunchev


European Wilderness Society partners!

Fulufjället NP © Vitantonio Dell’Orto/exuviaphoto.com





Protected areas: Wilderness Destinations, Wilderness Partners, Other protected area





Tourism businesses: International tour operator, Incoming tour operator, Local business partner







Individuals: Premium membership (wilderness ambassador), Membership + (wilderness advocate), Basic membership (wilderness supporter)






Other organisations: Government organisation, Other for profit, Non-profit (NGO + research institution)


Individuals: Premium membership (wilderness ambassador), Membership + (wilderness advocate), Basic membership (wilderness supporter)




Time to act!



Solitary, scattered wolfs are forming a wolf pack to protect their homeland – European wilderness!!

Time to act!

Author R. Jakaitis


European Wilderness Preservation System?




Wilderness in Europe!



Wilderness in Europe

The main outcome of the previous years:



Wilderness in Europe

Although covering only small part of its territory, there is still wilderness in Europe!

The main outcome of the previous years:

Astrachanski NP © ANP Archives



Can we protect European wilderness?

Astrachanski NP © ANP Archives



Can we protect European wilderness?

Burning question in my mind...? Because wilderness in Europe is for a majority of Europeans an unknown concept....



Does Europe care for wilderness?

Calimani NP © Archive







Relevant questions:Do we have wilderness in Europe at all?







Do we Europeans need wilderness? Can we Europeans afford to protect wilderness?






Is wilderness really important for us in light of other challenges in our daily life, etc.


Do we Europeans need wilderness? Can we Europeans afford to protect wilderness?



Can we afford wilderness in Europe?


Bieszczady NP © archive






In an economical sense to afford something means to have enough money to buy it






The total cash cost to buy all the world’s remaining areas of high biological diversity at current local prices is less than the annual US expenditure on soft drinks. Food for thought!

In economical sense to afford something means to have enough money to buy it.






The total cash cost to buy all the world’s remaining areas of high biological diversity at current local prices is less than annual US expenditure on soft drinks. Shocking!!!

In economical sense to afford something means to have enough money to buy it.

So taking this fact, I strongly believe we can afford to protect Europe’s wilderness...

Fulufjället NP ©Vitantonio Dell’Orto





Fulufjället NP ©Vitantonio Dell’Orto





More relevant question is: Can we afford to lose wilderness?


How we can protect wilderness in Europe?

Borjomi-Kharagauli NP © Konstantin Gabrichidze



How we can protect wilderness in Europe?


2 steps approach:- Understand what is the subject of our interest- Identify where European wilderness exist


European wilderness concept - Wilderness continuum

Rewilding Europe Network

National Parks and other protected areas

Wilderness

Good wilderness potential

Limited wilderness potential

Top of wilderness continuum


What is a subject of our interest?

Lower Oder Valley NP © Wiedig_I


Where is European wilderness?

Lower Oder Valley NP © Wiedig_I


Where is European wilderness?

Scattered all over the Europe

Author R. Jakaitis


European Wilderness Preservation System and The Million Project

Author R. Jakaitis


The PAN Parks Foundation launched ’The Million Project’ with the aim to safeguard 1 million hectares of European wilderness by 2015.


Author R. Jakaitis


The aim was achieved!! What is next?

The PAN Parks Foundation launched ’The Million Project’ with the aim to safeguard 1 million hectares of European wilderness by 2015.


Slowinski NP © G. Jędro


Follow up...

Slowinski NP © G. Jędro


Follow up...

The concept of wilderness has gained a considerable momentum in Europe during recent years...

Soomaa NP © Arne Ader


Wilderness Inventory

Soomaa NP © Arne Ader


Wilderness Inventory

Preliminary research and in accordance with the WWF figures revealed that wilderness is still present all across Europe!

Rila NP © PAN Parks archive


Ambition of the European Wilderness Preservation System



European Wilderness Society (EWS) aims to protect 5% of the European territory to wilderness quality standard...




European Wilderness Society (EWS) aims to protect 5% of the European territory to wilderness quality standard...

Turn the inventory to the real (wilderness) life…



Audit of European Wilderness Preservation System

Peneda-Geres NP © Marcos Veiga



Quality assessment & Benefits



Audit of European Wilderness Preservation System

Prespa NP © Prespa NP archive


Who will be subject of audit?


Benefit of wilderness - Protected Areas

Fulufjället NP © Orsolya Haaberg

Benefits for Protected Areas

• helps to better control sustainable tourism

• better cooperation with local partners

• promotion of their areas

Peneda-Geres NP © PGNP Archives


Benefits for Local Partners

• included in packages

• more clients through operators

• cooperation with other local partners

• incoming operators help to develop their products

Benefit of wilderness - Local Partners


Benefit of wilderness - International Tour Operators


Benefit of wilderness - International Tour Operators

Benefits for International Tour Operators

• they support a good case, by doing what they are best in

• pre-selected local suppliers and Incoming Partners

• educational trips, help in product development

• brand building and help in promotion

• networking and cooperating with similar companies


Benefit of wilderness - Incoming Tour Operators


Benefit of wilderness - Incoming Tour Operators

Benefits for Incoming Tour Operators

• link with International Operators

• better cooperation with protected areas

• associated with a wilderness brand




Wilderness is nowhere as important as it is in Europe, the world’s most densely populated continent...




The good news is that, in the last 20 years, great and critical strides have occurred to help raise awareness of and protect wild nature…





The good news is that, in the last 20 years, great and critical strides have occurred to help raise awareness of and protect wild nature…


The European Wilderness Society is the partner needed to continue and build this momentum. Vance G Martin, President: The WILD Foundation, World Wilderness Congress, 2013



If you think that this is subject of your interest and you own, manage or just simply have a knowledge about piece of wilderness wherever in Europe please let us know...




If you think that this is subject of your interest and you own, manage or just simply have a knowledge about piece of wilderness wherever in Europe please let us know...


Contact European Wilderness Society and become a member of the

European Wilderness Preservation System!!!



Time to act!!



Time to act!!

Contribute to protection of European wilderness!! NOW!!!

THANK YOU!

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Join us on

EUROPEAN WILDERNESS SOCIETY dd/mm/yyyy

http://wilderness-society.org/

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enlarging the european wilderness preservation system

Education

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densely populated

total cash

europethe

international

high biological

current local

local business