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The Carpathian natural and cultural heritage: A wealth to be protected on an international level

CARPATHIAN NETWORK OF PROTECTED AREAS

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a. s. l., the countryside of the Carpathians is extremely various. This extraordinary natural and ecological diversity makes them of the main natural habitats in Europe, sheltering almost 4.000 plant species, of which one third are

under human influence

Besides this natural diversity, this mountain range possesses also an extremely rich cultural heritage with traditional economic activities. Seven different nations with seven diverse languages and a heterogeneous history have influenced the evolution of the countryside for hundreds of years. The Carpathian landscape has been formed by farming activities over a long time. The centuries of sheep grazing have resulted in the creation of numerous semi-natural habitats and many extensive small-

scale farms were saved from land collectivisation and represent today important landscape elements. Unfortunately, for several decades human activities have had a negative influence on the countryside and the biodiversity rather in the negative way. Some areas are overindustrialized, big ski resorts have been developed, often very near or inside a protected area, and intensive farming makes excessive use of chemical fertilizers. Moreover, the landscape fragmentation by the roads and highways makes more difficult the genetic exchanges of many animal species.
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An area of an extreme richness

Carpathian mountain range covers about 209.000 km2 of the Central and Eastern Europe, extending from Austria to Serbia, covering most of Slovakia and Romania as well as parts of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Ukraine.

endemic, to the largest European population of large carnivores (bear, wolf, lynx) as well as one of largest European forest regions. The variety of conservation policies and different cultures makes the

Carpathians a very diverse

Ecologically varying areas

From the small hills to the summits exceeding 2500 m
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area even though the whole range is situated in the same biogeographical region.

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The CNPA contributing to the implementation of the Carpathian Convention

Conservation and sustainable development in the Carpathians are the CNPA's main priorities. The CNPA is a tool for implementing the Carpathian Convention, and represents the interests and needs of the Carpathian protected areas with national and international authorities and organisations. By implemen-

ting the decisions and recommendations of different Carpathian Convention bodies and other relevant international programs or European directives (Habitats Directive, Birds Directive, NATURA 2000 network, Water Framework Directive, etc), and by working to promote sustainable livelihood, the CNPA is directly involved in guaranteeing conservation and sustainable use of the Carpathians' natural and cultural resources.

network of protected areas for the Carpathians

In 2006, a new international organisation the Carpathian Network of Protected Areas (CNPA) was created to conserve national resources in the Carpathians and to strengthen the international cooperation of protected areas and the Carpathian Convention in nature protection issues. The CNPA will coordinate joint projects designed to facilitate exchanges between the Carpathian protected areas, raise public awareness of the fragile ecosystems in the massif, work the harmonisation of management and research practices, and work to realise practical measures, such as the creation of an ecological network to ensure the survival of endangered species. There is also a strong emphasis on cooperation with the Alpine neighbours. For more information: www.carpathianparks.org

The CNPA working on practical issues

Nature knows no borders and since environmental policies vary from one country to another, it is useful to coordinate conservation activities within a biogeographical region. A number of topics have been already identified for closer cooperation between the Carpathian protected areas, including monitoring large carnivores, forest management, developing sustainable tourism and habitat conservation. The Carpathians contain a wealth of biodiversity but centuries of human activities have resulted in widespread

fragmentation of the natural habitat. Animal and plant migrations, which are vital for their long-term survival, are under threat. An ecological continuum needs to be created to allow these migrations to work. This will link up the protected areas and other sites of great ecological importance so as to develop a more dynamic form of conservation. The protected areas can also assess the impact of climate change on natural habitats and species. Special monitoring activities will be organised within the protected areas to learn more about this threat.
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uropean mountain cooperation: AlpineCarpathian partnership

In 2003 the CNPA Partnership Steering Committee explored in collaboration with ALPARC the expectations of the Carpathian protected areas towards the future network, the challenges they face and their interests on various topics. A series of meetings, on topics defined as the key themes, have been organized since 2004: NATURA 2000 colloquium, Integrated management in protected areas workshop and Tourism management and sustainable development workshop in several Alpine and Carpathian countries. The Kiev Conference of the Contracting Parties of the Carpathian Convention officially founded the CNPA in 2006 as a practical instrument of implementing the Convention's provisions on conservation. A coordination unit will be responsible for managing the projects involving protected areas in the massif.

Which ways of cooperation for the protected areas?

Active cooperation is the key for effective nature protection and restoration as well as for the sustainable use of natural and cultural resources. The principal function of the CNPA is to provide networks to facilitate the different activities and exchanges between protected area managers:

In 1999 the first cooperation projects started between the protected areas of both mountain ranges, with the participation of the Carpathian protected areas managers within the Alpine events. Since its beginning in 2003, the process of the CNPA establishment has been supported by the Alpine Network of Protected Areas, with the help of several Alpine countries, especially Germany, France and the Principality of Monaco. The CNPA was created in the frame of the Carpathian Convention. The process of establishment of the Carpathian Convention is supported by UNEP, Italy, Principality of Liechtenstein and Austria.

Thematic network
An important role of the CNPA is to organize the exchanges between the protected areas, within the Carpathian range as well as with other mountain ranges for better management. But the thematic network building is not limited only to the exchanges. It means also the establishment of tools for international cooperation, preparation and leading of international projects, publication of handbooks, guidelines, issues, newsletters and virtual tools like an Internet website and an information database platform.

Climate change
Global climate change is recognized as one of the most important threats of our times. Areas first influenced by these changes, are the cold areas Arctic and mountain regions. Many fauna and flora species risk to disappearing because of changing ecological conditions. The functions of protected areas, supported by the CNPA, within this complex issue are especially in the monitoring and conservation of threatened species and habitats as well as in ecological and environmental education.

Ecological network
The centuries of human activities have fragmented the landscape into divided parcels of natural habitats. Roads, open fields and other human constructions obstruct the genetic exchange of many animal species. An important issue of international cooperation within the mountain range is the ecological continuum through the whole Carpathians, to facilitate migration of animals. A connection to the Alpine ecological continuum in the region around Vienna (Austria) and Bratislava (Slovakia) would allow the natural migration between both mountain ranges.

Awareness raising activities

A part of nature protection is also the education of the large public. Considering that every year the parks are frequented by numerous visitors, the impact of their educational and environmental awareness raising activities may be very important, aimed at changing the way people think about the environment. Therefore, the role of the CNPA and the parks is not only nature conservation, but also to give the example of a sustainable land management for the non-protected areas.

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A framework convention for the protection and sustainable development of the Carpathians
Recently, there have been many changes in Central and Eastern Europe. In this time of change, a new international agreement will provide a framework for conservation and sustainable development in the Carpathians. The Carpathian Convention, adopted in 2003 by seven Carpathian countries, is a framework agreement establishing cooperation and a comprehensive policy on conservation and sustainable development in the Carpathians. It is designed to protect the Carpathian region and ensure sustainable human, social, cultural and economic development. Now that it has entered into

force, the challenge is to translate the framework Convention into practical commitments and actions on the ground such as the creation of the CNPA.

Already almost 300 CNPA members

Exchange within the CNPA occurs among active protected areas over 100 ha, i.e. those which have their own staff, or a responsible administrative body which can represent them. The level of protection within each category varies considerably, ranging from very strictly protected areas to areas that focus mainly on rural development. Since 1990, the number of protected areas has been constantly growing. For example, in 2003, 29 national parks were registered, and 38 in 2007.

Protected Other type of Biosphere reserve National park Nature reserve Total* landscape area protection Number Area (ha) Number Area (ha) Number Area (ha) Number Area (ha) Number Area (ha) Number Area (ha)

Czech Republic Hungary Poland Romania Slovakia Ukraine Serbia Total

203029

156

74660

277845

3 6 11 9 8 1 38

95211 82365 294418 317890 227701 62943 1080528

9 12 10 11 7 0 52

80394 453256 689357 483907 79816 0 1989759

10 3 0 41 39 0 94

2363 874 0 9627 63912 0 76932

2 0 67 3 19 0 92

233 0 53324 621 6492 0 135330

1 4 2 4 9 0 20

20231 104507 83451 154009 86585 0 448783

25 25 90 68 82 1 296

198432 641002 1120550 966054 464506 62943 3731332

he CNPA what next?

"New challenges in a constantly changing world" would be a fitting strapline for the CNPA network. The protected areas have a vital role to play in conservation within the Carpathians and in working to establish sustainable European environmental policies. The ongoing cooperation between the CNPA and its Alpine counterpart ALPARC is an ideal way of realising this vision. With its foundations in the Carpathian Convention, the CNPA will be the largest international organisation for cooperation between Carpathian protected areas and will improve cooperation with all other major stakeholders in the fields of nature conservation and sustainable development at a local, regional, national and international level. Nature will be confronted with numerous challenges in the near future: from the loss of biodiversity over the climate change up to social-economic impacts. The protected areas have the possibility and the obligation, to face up these challenges by developing the example of a wise nature management. Only the active cooperation between them can increase the probability of being able to counter these threats.

* "Total area" is the sum of all protected areas superficies. However the real extent of area under protection is smaller as some parks overlap Note: "Other type of protection" category includes National Nature Monuments, Nature Monuments and Nature Conservation Areas
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Rybnik Wodzislaw Slaski Ostrava

Poland
Krakow Tarnow
Park Krajobrazowy Beskidu Malego

Rzeszow L'viv

Czech Republic
Brno
Bile Karpaty Palava

Park Krajobrazowy Czarnorzecko-Strzyzowski Pasma Brzanki Park Krajobrazowy Ciezkowicko-Roznowski Park Krajobrazowy Park Krajobrazowy Park Krajobrazowy Beskidu Slaskiego Pogorza Przemyskiego Babiogorski Park Park Krajobrazowy Magurski Park Gorczanski Park Zywiecki Park Gor Slonnych Krajobrazowy Jasliski Park Popradzki Park Verhn'odnistrovs'ki Beskydy Krajobrazowy Pieninski Park Krajobrazowy Horna Orava Beskydy Kysuce Vychodne Park Krajobrazowy Pieniny Karpaty Kysuce Cisniansko-Wetlinski Doliny Sanu Tatrzanski Park Mala Nadsyans'kyi Park Krajobrazowy

Jastrzebie Zdroj Bielsko-Biala

Ukraine

Fatra

Vysoke Tatry Nizke Tatry

Polana

Strazovske vrchy Biele Karpaty

Velka Fatra

Male Karpaty

Ponitrie Stiavnicke vrchy

Slovensky raj Muranska Kosice planina Slovensky kras

Zemplni TK

Poloniny

Biesczadzki Ivano National pryrodnyi Frankivs'k Park Beskidi National pryrodnyi park Skolivs'ki Polyanyts'kyi Vihorlat park Uzhans'kyi National pryrodnyi park Synevyr National pryrodnyi park Carpathian National pryrodnyi Cernivci park Gutsulshchyna Vyzhnyts'kyi natsionalnyi pryrodnyi park
Muntii Maramuresului Natural Park

Wien Bratislava

Slovakia Aggteleki Nemzeti

Park

CARPATHIAN NETWORK OF PROTECTED AREAS

Carpathian protected areas over 100 ha
Moldova
National Park Protected Landscape Area

Austria

Duna-Ipoly Nemzeti Park

Park Cerova vrchovina Lzbrci Miskolc Karancs-Medves Tarnavidki Tokaj-Bodrogzug Hollki Bkki Nemzeti Kelet-Cserht Mtrai

Cheremoshs'kyi

Budapest

Debrecen

Rodnei Mountains National Park Calimani National Park

Vanatori Neamt Natural Park

Hungary Slovenia
Arad
Lunca Muresului Natural Park

Oradea Cluj-Napoca
Apuseni Natural Park

Ceahlau National Park

Tirgu Mures

Bi cazului Gorges - Hashmash National Park

Romania
Sibiu
Gradishtea Muncelului Cioclovina Natural Park Putna-Vrancea Natural Park Lunca Joasa a Prutului Natural Park

Nature Reserve Other type of protection Biosphere Reserve

Ploiesti

Timisoara

Croatia
Semenic - Carashului Gorges National Park Nerei - Beushnitza Gorges National Park

Cozia National Park Retezat National Park Buila-Vanturarita Cerna Valey Defileul Jiului National Park National Park

Geoparcul Dinozaurilor Natural Park

Piatra Craiului National Park

Brasov

Galati Braila

Bucegi Natural Park

Pitesti
Platoul Mehedinti Natural Park Iron Gates Natural Park

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Beograd

Carpathian Environmental Outlook (KEO) Area

Bucuresti

Djerdap

Town
Comana Natural Park

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Serbia
Nis

Bulgaria

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This brochure was edited in the frame of the Carpathian Convention.

Realised by:
Task Force Protected Areas Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention 256, rue de la Rpublique F 73 000 Chambry Tel: +33 (0)4 79 26 55 00 Fax: +33 (0)4 79 26 55 01 e-mail: info@alparc.org www.alparc.org Coordination: Guido Plassmann Realisation: Martin Pavlik, Guido Plassmann Graphics: Rgis Ferr Translation: Jana Urbankov, Gyrgy Czibula, Zbigniew Niewiadomski, Mircea Verghelet, Jn Kadlek, Ana Naglich, Sergiy Matvyeyev Rewriting: Peter Oldfield Photos: P. Potocky - R. Siklienka M. Verghelet - M. Pavlik. Drawing: Mr. Luba
Printed on FSC certified paper (Forest Stewardship Council) by Naturaprint in Alby sur Chran (F)

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