Building a Sustainable Forest Future through Regional Cooperation in the Carpathians
The Carpathian region is a treasure trove of biodiversity, hosting Europe’s largest populations of wolves, lynxes, brown bears, and chamois. This vast mountain arc stretches over eight countries, from the Czech Republic to Serbia, blanketed by ancient virgin forests that comprise the continent’s largest expanse of unfragmented woodland. However, the Carpathians face mounting threats, from illegal logging and poaching to the looming impacts of climate change. To safeguard this ecological jewel, countries in the region are cultivating a spirit of cross-border collaboration through the Carpathian Convention—a landmark international treaty aimed at conserving fragile ecosystems and promoting sustainable development.
Understanding the Carpathian Region
The Carpathians are one of the largest mountain ranges in Europe, boasting a remarkable diversity of habitats, from lush lowland forests to alpine meadows. This geographical mosaic supports an abundance of plant and animal life, with over 1,500 plant species and the highest concentration of large carnivores on the continent. Yet, despite their ecological richness, the Carpathians face mounting pressures. Deforestation rates due to illegal logging remain alarmingly high, while poaching of species like sturgeon and migratory birds is rampant.
To address these threats, the Carpathian countries established the Carpathian Convention in 2003, providing a vital platform for regional cooperation. “The Carpathians are Europe’s last great wilderness area, and the Carpathian Convention aims to conserve this precious natural heritage while promoting sustainable development,” explains Isidoro De Bortoli, project manager at Eurac Research and part of the Centralparks initiative, which has implemented a variety of actions for integrated biodiversity management in the region.
Collaboration Across Borders
Spanning national boundaries, the Carpathian ecosystem requires a coordinated, cross-border approach. The Carpathian Convention has been instrumental in fostering this collaboration, uniting the region’s eight countries in a shared vision for environmental protection and sustainable resource use.
“Cooperation is the key word here,” says De Bortoli. “We’ve demonstrated that being there with all the partners, with people coming from different sides of Europe, cooperation is active and will continue to be more active than ever, even in these challenging times.”
Sustainable Forest Management Strategies
A critical focus of the Carpathian Convention’s efforts is promoting close-to-nature forestry, a holistic approach that balances timber production with nature conservation. “Pro Silva, a European organization promoting these principles, has been a vital partner in our work,” notes De Bortoli. “They provide practical training, peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, and showcase exemplary forests managed using these sustainable practices.”
The Convention is also working to expand and better manage the region’s network of protected areas, including through the creation of new transboundary protected areas. “We’re strengthening the Carpathian Network of Protected Areas, encouraging the expansion of existing cross-border parks and the establishment of new ones,” explains De Bortoli. “This helps to bridge gaps in the ecological corridor system and ensure the conservation of vital habitats.”
The Role of Regional Cooperation
The Carpathian Convention’s collaborative approach extends beyond national borders, fostering partnerships with other mountain regions and international organizations.
Sharing Best Practices
“We’re collaborating with the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Caucasus, and other mountain areas to share best practices and lessons learned,” says De Bortoli. “By exchanging knowledge and experiences, we can collectively find solutions to the challenges facing our mountain ecosystems.”
Coordinating Conservation Efforts
The Convention has also forged strong ties with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and other global bodies, aligning its efforts with initiatives like the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. “We’re working closely with UNEP and other platforms to promote the exchange of best practices on ecosystem restoration and scale up interventions in the Carpathians,” notes De Bortoli.
Securing Funding and Resources
Securing adequate funding and resources is crucial for the Carpathian Convention’s ambitious conservation agenda. To this end, the organization is exploring a range of financial mechanisms, from national and international public funds to private investments. “We’re working to increase the financial resources available, whether from national, international, public, or private sources, to further implement the Convention’s objectives,” says De Bortoli.
Addressing Environmental Challenges
The Carpathian region faces a daunting array of environmental challenges, from climate change to biodiversity loss. The Carpathian Convention is taking a multifaceted approach to tackle these threats.
Climate Change Mitigation
The Convention is spearheading efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change on the region’s forests, implementing a Long-term Vision 2030 and accompanying framework to combat this global threat. “We’re identifying and promoting nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation and mitigation, as well as assessing the vulnerability of Carpathian wetlands to climate change,” explains De Bortoli.
Biodiversity Protection
Safeguarding the Carpathians’ rich biodiversity is a top priority. The Convention is working to expand and strengthen the management of protected areas, create new transboundary protected areas, and restore degraded habitats. “We’re also focused on conserving large carnivore populations and ensuring ecological connectivity through the implementation of the International Action Plan on Conservation of Large Carnivores,” adds De Bortoli.
Ecosystem Restoration
Restoring degraded ecosystems is a key component of the Convention’s work. “We’re developing projects to restore priority habitats in the Carpathians, contributing to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration,” says De Bortoli. “This includes mapping and prioritizing areas for restoration, as well as implementing site-specific restoration measures and management plans.”
Empowering Local Communities
Engaging and empowering local communities is essential for the long-term success of the Carpathian Convention’s initiatives. The organization is taking a holistic approach that balances conservation with sustainable development.
Inclusive Decision-making
“We’re working to reconcile nature conservation and local socio-economic development, increasing the support and participation of local communities in our decision-making processes,” explains De Bortoli. “This helps ensure that our actions reflect the needs and priorities of the people who live in the Carpathians.”
Livelihood Opportunities
The Convention is also exploring opportunities to create sustainable livelihoods for local residents, such as promoting short-food supply chains and quality schemes for mountain products. “By supporting local farmers and producers, we can help strengthen the economic resilience of Carpathian communities while preserving traditional land management practices,” says De Bortoli.
Traditional Ecological Knowledge
Recognizing the value of traditional knowledge, the Carpathian Convention is working to integrate local expertise into its conservation and sustainable development initiatives. “We’re supporting the documentation and sharing of traditional ecological knowledge, which can provide invaluable insights for managing the region’s natural resources,” notes De Bortoli.
The Carpathians stand at a crossroads, facing a range of environmental threats that require a coordinated, transnational response. Through the Carpathian Convention, the region’s countries are demonstrating the power of regional cooperation to build a sustainable future for their shared forest heritage. By embracing innovative management strategies, leveraging global partnerships, and empowering local communities, the Carpathian nations are charting a path towards a more resilient, nature-rich tomorrow.