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Resolution 7: Wilderness areas in Europe / Áreas Silvestres en Europa
Discuss this resolution on the WILD Forums >
WHEREAS- The process which brought the designation of wilderness areas in Europe started in Italy, where, since 1988, 58 Wilderness areas (totaling over 36,000 Ha) have been designated through municipal councils and through the Forestry services of the region of Venezia Guilia, with the assistance of the Associazione Italian per la wilderness (AIW).
Keeping in mind that subsequently in 1992 the finish government has provided and approved a law for the protection of the wilderness in Lapland, creating 12 Wilderness areas along the model of the American wilderness areas; that other wilderness areas have then been designated in Scotland by John Muir trust using approaches similar to those utilized by the AWI; and further areas since zoned through a process initiated by PanParks.
Considering the potential of designating wilderness areas in various parts of Europe with still large and relatively intact landscapes covered by natural and old-growth forests, grasslands and wetlands and the opportunities and benefits that these wilderness areas provide for local communities connected to them,
Considering that the spirit with which the above-mentioned European areas have been designated we based on the US concept of wilderness- to preserve the wilderness of these areas, free from roads, power lines or other urban works; applying a similar historic concept initiated in USA by Aldo Leopold.
THEREFORE
The presence of wilderness areas within Europe is a matter of growing interest and concern of citizens of all European countries; and or critical importance to the current and future health and prosperity of all Europeans.
RESOLVED, that request the European parliament and its various governments to.
Create a special status of protected area for European Wilderness areas, distinct from all other forms of protected area, consistent with category 1b in the IUCN WCPA guidelines and responsive to the expert guidance of the Wilderness Specialist Group (WCPA).
Designate wilderness areas where appropriate to safeguard the last intact natural landscapes and allocate resources for their management, so that present and future generations fully benefit from the intrinsic values and ecosystem services provided.
PROPOSED
Erika Stanciu
Europarc Federation
SECONDED
Jo Roberts, The Wilderness Foundation UK
Karl Friedrich Sinner, National Park Bayerister Wald
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Mark Fisher commented:
This is a bold and necessary resolution that after the Prague conference in May, needs to be stated if we are to move forward the realisation of wilderness areas across Europe. Existing European protected areas in the Natura 2000 system – contrary to the general impression given at the Prague conference – are not compatible with wilderness. It will need a special status of protected area for European Wilderness that as well as in future covers currently non-designated areas, will also over ride designation of Natura 2000 sites where wilderness potential exists.
The UK has a lamentable record on terrestrial protected areas – it doesn’t even have any records in the World Database on Protected Areas. However, the recent Marine and Coastal Access Bill that covers England and Wales will, if implemented assiduously, provide the right protected area designation and enforcement of Highly Protected Marine Reserves that can and should over ride the virtually non-existent protection afforded to marine areas in the Natura 2000 system (a multiple use system). Thus these no-take Marine Conservation Zones offer the lesson for terrestrial protected area designation in establishing the wilderness of the future in the UK.