A
number of important conservation projects are currently under development
in the Carpathian mountains of Romania. This is one of the largest
areas in Europe to have survived relatively unscathed by the agricultural
and industrial revolutions that damaged so many other European countries
between the 18th and 21st centuries. Within it are to be found the
largest populations of bear, lynx and wolf in Western Europe plus
large and healthy numbers of other animals and plants – many
rare or declining elsewhere. The human population has lived with the
presence of these animals since the area was first occupied but there
are increasing pressures on the wildlife from agricultural and industrial
developments.
In
collaboration with The
Carpathian Large Carnivore Project we hope to address some
of these problems but we require additional funding if we are to make
a real impact in the region. The future of this unique area is tied
in with that of its human population and just like in Poland
there are hopes that its eco-tourism industry will develop to the
point where the flora and fauna are viewed as essential to the economic
well-being of the human inhabitants of the region.
Eurasian
lynx, Lynx lynx
European
brown bear Ursus arctos
We
believe that this approach is sensible and realistic when seen in
the light of the drastic changes that have occurred in other countries.
Habitat and species preservation arising from sustainable and properly
regulated eco-tourism has been seen to work around the world. We are
currently in discussion with the people on the ground to find a way
in which we might be able to facilitate the preservation of the unique
Carpathian eco-systems.
