Carpathian range

As well as the Alps, the Carpathian range represents an extraordinary richness in the point of view of landscape, ecology and natural and cultural heritage. This unique environment makes them of the main natural habitats in Europe, sheltering about 4000 plant species, of which one third are endemic, to the largest European population of large carnivores (bear, wolf, lynx) as well as one of biggest European forest regions.

Besides this natural diversity, this mountain range possesses also an extremely rich cultural heritage. Seven different nations with seven diverse languages have influenced the evolution of the countryside for hundreds of years. The Carpathian landscape has been formed by farming and pastoral activities over a long time and these transformation have resulted in the creation of numerous semi-natural habitats. Therefore, the land collectivisation as well as an important industrialization during the XXth century had a negative influence on the natural environment.

Carpathian Network of Protected Areas

Since its beginning, ALPARC supported the initiative of establishment of the network of protected areas, similar to the Alpine one. Different experiences of the nature protection in the Alps and in the Carpathians allow an important exchange between the managers of protected areas of both mountain ranges. Several themes were already treated during the meeting organized in 2004 and 2006 (establishment and management of the NATURA 2000 sites, integrated management of protected areas and tourism and sustainable development of protected areas).

The Carpathian Network of Protected Areas – CNPA – was officially established in December 2006 during the Ministerial conference in Kiev. ALPARC has created the communication tools (press release, Website , information brochure ), in order to facilitate the exchanges within this new organism.

Cooperation between the protected areas of the Alps and Carpathians

The establishment of a coordination unit of the CNPA, which is intended in the next months, would intensify the exchanges between the protected areas of both mountain ranges. Several topics are defined as priorities of cooperation within next few years, especially the fauna and large carnivores management, forest management, mountain population, agriculture and economy, environmental awareness raising as well as the creation of an ecological continuum between the Alps and the Carpathians.