the million project
DESCRIPTION
This presentation was used during the 10th Europe's Wilderness Days to launch The Million Project which aims at guaranteeing the protection of at least 1 million hectares of wilderness in Europe by 2015. It allows organisations and individuals to join our effort to strengthen wilderness protection on our continent. Enjoy reading and promoting The Million ProjectTRANSCRIPT
Fulufjället NP ©Vitantonio Dell’Orto/exuviaphoto.com
Paanajärvi NP © Viktor
Gritsuk
Zoltan Kun, Executive DirectorPAN Parks Foundation
THE MILLION PROJECT
Paanajärvi NP ©Viktor Gritsuk
What we do
• PAN Parks works to protect Europe’s wilderness, the continent’s most undisturbed areas of nature
• the only European-wide organisation focusing on the protection of wilderness areas
Network of certified PAN Parks
©iStock/Graeme Purdy
237 000 ha of wilderness
Wilderness momentum
• European Parliament’s special report on wilderness
• European Commission- ‘Agenda for Wilderness’
• Wilderness in Biodiversity Strategy
What we have achieved so far
Archipelago NP © Seppo Keränen
The Million Project
To ensure guaranteed protection of 1 million hectares of wilderness in Europe by 2015
What is wilderness?
• nature is left to develop on its own• native species, animals roam free• no human intervention
Oulanka NP ©Hannu Hautala
How we protect Europe’s wilderness
Majella NP ©MNP
CONSERVATION
• Ensuring commitment of protected areas to preserve wilderness
• Improving wilderness management in partner protected areas
Paanajärvi NP © PNP Archives
Conservation approach
Building partnerships with protected areasthat join our Europe-wide wilderness movement
Conservation partnerships
Majella NP © Bruno D’Amicis
• Wilderness partners: areas with wilderness committed to wilderness protection (no size criteria)
• Certified PAN Parks: branded parks with min. 10,000 ha of wilderness(best of Europe’s wilderness)
Retezat NP © Mihai Moiceanu
Wilderness partners
• can join ‘The Million Project’
• sign a commitment to preserve their wilderness area
• identify the major risk of the long term preservation of their wilderness area and possible ways of cooperation with PAN Parks in protecting it
Polistovsky Nature Reserve, Russia
Natural ecosystem dynamics of raised bogs
• 52,000 ha of wilderness
• challenge with invasive species like racoon dog
Lagodekhi National Park, Georgia
Unique wilderness untouched for 99 years
• 22,258 ha of wilderness
• potential for tri-lateral wilderness area
Retezat NP ©iStock/Falk Kienas
Rodna National Park, RomaniaInterested also in becoming a Certified PAN Park
• 6000 ha of wilderness with the opportunity to enlarge
• Challenges with ecosystem monitoring and species management
Swiss National Park, SwitzerlandOne of the oldest European example of wilderness management
• 17,600 ha of wilderness
• main interest in research
• challenge with lack of resources
• centennial in 2014
Borjomi-Kharagauli NP © Kote Gabrichidze
Benefits of becoming a Wilderness Partner
• international recognition
• technical support in wilderness management
• support in lobbying at decision makers
• opportunity for expertise exchange
Rila NP © Nicolas Cegalerba
Certified PAN Parks
Our wilderness partners can become certified parks if they
• have min. 10,000 ha of wilderness
• go through third party verification(also sustainable tourism development strategy)
Extra benefits for certified PAN Parks
Retezat NP ©iStock/Falk Kienas
• use of the brand (also in the field)
• marketing benefits, promotion (PAN Parks communications tools)
• enhanced cooperation with local businesses (can also be certified)
• tourism model(cooperation with international tour operators)
Paanajärvi NP ©Viktor Gritsuk
We can protect the last pieces of Europe’s wilderness together for future generations!
Protecting wilderness together
PAN Parks works to protect
Europe’s wilderness, the continent’s
most undisturbed areas of nature
www.panparks.org