EC Presidency Conference on Wilderness and Large Natural Habitat Areas

We are pleased to announce a Conference on wilderness and large natural habitat areas which will take place in Prague on May 27-28 2009.

The Conference, which is invitation-only, will assess and propose a range of policy options designed to promote a coordinated strategy for the protection and restoration of these areas across Europe.

Jointly hosted by the EC Presidency and the European Commission, it will bring together policy makers, academics, civil society and other interested groups and individual experts from some 40 countries.

Background Threats and Opportunities

Many wild and nearly wild areas are increasingly under threat from forestry, intensification of agriculture, mining, development of infrastructure – and climate change.

At the same time there are great opportunities for large-scale restoration, creating a network of natural habitats linked by ecological corridors.

In addition to containing an irreplaceable European natural heritage of biodiversity and habitats, these areas can offer strong substantial economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits – for local communities, landholders and society in general.

Such benefits include addressing climate change through carbon sequestration and flood mitigation, fast-growing nature-based tourism opportunities of relevance to the rural development agenda, and potential to help tackle important inner city issues such as youth development and healthcare.

Outputs from the Conference

In the context of the above strategy, these will include:

• Agreeing the definition and location of wild and nearly wild areas
• Determining the contribution that such areas can make to halting biodiversity loss and supporting Natura 2000
• Assessing the options for improved protection of such areas, within the existing legal framework
• Mapping and reviewing opportunities for restoration of large natural habitat areas
• Assessing potential for more effective support for such restoration
• Assessment of potential funding opportunities for the above
• Identifying best practice examples for non intervention and restoration management, together with valuation and usage of low impact economic, social and environmental benefits

Partners

The following organisations partnered in the tender to organise the conference in Prague.
Main contract holder: IUCN Regional Office for Europe
Other contract partners are:
* Europarc Federation
* PAN Parks Foundation
* Wild Europe Initiative
* World Wide Fund for Nature

This conference forms part of the Wild Europe initiative, which brings together a range of organizations – all of whom are providing key inputs. The Steering Committee – which will ensure proper follow up of the conference – includes the following people:

Ladislav Miko (Chair), Director Natural Environment EC
Toby Aykroyd, Director, Wild Europe Initiative
Mike Baltzer, Director WWF Danube Carpathian Prog
Richard Blackman, Deputy Director Europarc Federation
Andrzej Bobiec, FTF, Birlife International
Eladio Fernandez Galiano, Head of Biodiversity Council of Europe
Natarajan Ishwaran, Head of Biodiversity UNESCO
Zoltan Kun , Director PANParks Foundation
Tamas Marghescu, Director IUCN Europe
Jeff McNeely, Chief Scientist, IUCN Global
Vance Martin, Chair IUCN Wilderness Task Force
Feiko Prins, Europe Coordinator Natuurmonumenten
Erika Stanciu, President Europarc Federation
Sebastian Winkler, Head of Countdown 2010

Overview

The working language of the conference and documentation will also be provided in English.
It is foreseen that there will be around 200-250 participants.
Participation is based on invitation only.

Excursions

There will be one or two optional field trips provided within the Czech Republic on 29th May. Information will be provided later on.

Venue

Crowne Plaza, Prague, Czech Republic

Every participant is responsible to arrange her/his accommodation. The conference organisers recommend the following hotels, which are in different price category.