Conference on Wilderness and Large Natural Habitat Areas in Europe 27 - 28 May 2009, Prague

Introduction
The protection of Biodiversity is one of the EU's main environmental priorities. The EU is committed to halting biodiversity loss in the EU by 2010 and to substantially reducing the rate of biodiversity loss in other parts of the world by the same date. The Communication "Halting Biodiversity Loss by 2010 and beyond" sets out the main policy objectives and describes the actions which must be taken in order to achieve the 2010 target. The cornerstone of EU biodiversity policy is represented by the Birds Directive (Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds) and the Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora). The Natura 2000 network has its legal basis in the birds and habitats directives and is the biggest ecological network in the world containing around 25,000 sites, and covering an area of approximately 1 million square kilometres.

Despite the progress that has been made in recent years, the EU's biodiversity is under continued pressure linked principally to habitat destruction, pollution and climate change as well as the impact of invasive alien species.
The impact of man on Europe's landscape has been far reaching and as a result there are relatively few locations that have not been directly affected by human intervention. However, there are areas where human impact has been minimal and which because of their relative scarcity are of particularly high value both in scientific and socio/economic terms. There are other locations in Europe where either due to de-population or deliberate intent, the environment is reverting back towards its natural state.
At the level of the EU we do not have a common vision regarding the issue of wild/nearly wild areas and their place in the broader objective of halting biodiversity decline.
Therefore the European Commission agreed with the Czech Presidency of the European Union to hold a conference on Wild and nearly Wild land areas.

Objectives
The conference provides an excellent opportunity to develop a coordinated strategy for the protection and restoration of wild and nearly wild areas across Europe, with the Conference determining and mandating policy options and thus potentially being a key stepping stone towards implementation rather than an end in itself.
The main objective of the conference is to bring together policy makers, academics, civil society and other interested groups and individual experts, to reflect on the options for the development and implementation of future EU policy on the protection and conservation and management of wild/nearly wild areas.
Building upon this main objective the conference aims at
• First of all agreeing the definition of wild and nearly wild areas
• Producing management guidelines for non intervention Natura 2000 sites in the current EU legal framework
• Looking at extra funding opportunities for non intervention areas / Natura 2000 sites
• Providing an overview of existing wild and nearly wild areas and initiatives across Europe as a background context
• Assessing the options for EU member states to provide more effective protection of such wild and nearly wild areas
• Mapping and reviewing the opportunities for restoration of wild land natural habitat areas
• Assessing the options for EU member states for providing more effective support for restoration of new large natural habitat areas
• Identifying best practice examples to support Natura 2000 site managers

Partners
The following organisations partnered in the tender to organise the conference in Prague
Main contract holder: IUCN Regional Office for Europe
Contract partners are
• Europarc Federation
• PAN Parks Foundation
• Wild Europe Initiative
• WWF
There are number of other organisations supporting the conference, which are the followings:
• UNESCO
• Natuurmonumenten
• Etc….

Overview
The working language of the conference is English and all documentation and other written material will also be provided in English.
It is foreseen that there will be around 200-250 participants at the conference.
Participation is based on invitation!

Documents
In accordance with the set of Tasks requested for the Conference, the following background documentation will be provided to participants
1. Definitions of wild and nearly wild areas (standardized and practical)
2. Clear assessment of how such areas can contribute to halting biodiversity loss
3. Specifically how they relate to the Natura 2000
4. Assessment of the challenges and approaches needed for forested wild areas
5. Compendium of management practice for typical habitat types, with special
attention to old growth forest requirements
6. Maps of wild and nearly wild areas in the EU
7. Outline policy options for more effective protection - both overall and, where relevant, on an individual country basis
8. Proposals for a Register of Wilderness Areas.
9. A Register of Wilderness and Wildland Law (by others)
10. Mapping and assessment of opportunities for restoration of wildlands
11. An assessment and quantification of wild land economic, social and
 environmental benefits
12. Study of the social benefits of wildlands – for youth at risk, healthcare and conflict resolution (by others)
13. Assessment of the multiple roles of business in supporting wildland strategy

Contacts
Zoltán Kun, Conference Coordinator (secondment from PAN Parks Foundation)
T: +36703801522
F: +3696523665
E: zkun@panparks.org
Postal Address: PF 264, Győr – 9002, Hungary
Toby Aykroyd

Sebastian Winkler
Representatives of partner organisations

Attachments:
Further notes on the conference partners (if needed)

IUCN ROfE is the Regional Office for Europe based in Brussels. ROfE coordinates IUCN’s activities in Europe through its three sub-regional offices: Programme Office for the Southern Caucasus in Tbilisi (Georgia), Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe in Belgrade (Serbia and Montenegro) and Programme Office for Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States in Moscow (Russia).
ROfE is strongly involved in different European programmes on nature conservation (Convention on Biological Diversity, Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy, Natura 2000), sustainable agriculture (Common Agricultural Policy Reform, Agri-Environmental Measures for Biodiversity Assessment and Control) and forestry (Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forest in Europe CBD Work Programme). ROfE also represents IUCN on a number of specialist bodies within the European Commission concerning EU biodiversity policy and the Directives, such as the Habitats Committee Scientific Working Group, the Biodiversity Expert Group and the ad hoc Working Group on Monitoring and Indicators. ROfE also provides the Secretariat for the European Habitats Forum, an informal working group of 16 European nature conservation NGOs working to influence EU biodiversity policies and legislation, especially the Birds and Habitats Directives and Natura 2000 (www.iucn.org/places/europe/rofe/rofe_at_work/ehf.htm). IUCN ROfE also provides the Secretariat for the ‘Countdown 2010’ initiative  (www.countdown2010.org), a broad alliance of organisations with the aim to raise awareness about the high-level political commitment to ‘halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010’. It is explicitly included as one of the supporting measures in the Commission Communication on halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 and beyond.

The Wild Europe Initiative is constituted as an initiative rather than an organization to maximize opportunity for flexibility, and to administration and any impact of ‘territoriality’.
It aims to promote a coordinated strategy for protection and restoration of large natural habitat areas, often labelled as ‘wild’ or ‘nearly wild’ lands, through joint action among key players.
Wild Europe proposes a programme based on partnerships, involving governments, regional and local authorities, the EU, international organizations, NGOs and the private sector.
It seeks to identify, value and promote the benefits of wild lands and large natural habitat areas, assessing how best to translate them into specific ventures bringing potential income and employment for local communities, farmers and landholders as well as society in general.
It aims to support existing initiatives, building a practical consensus between conservation, recreation, landholding, farming, forestry, business, local community and urban social programme interests.
Wild Europe has an ideal mix of experience and expertise to organize the Conference, with many of its members regularly organizing conventions, and having substantial experience of wild land at both strategic policy and operational land management level.
The initiative is steered by a ‘core group’ including personnel, generally at director level, from: BLI, Council of Europe, Countdown 2010, Europarc Federation, European Commission, IUCN Europe, IUCN Global, IUCN Wilderness Task Force, Natuurmonumenten, PANParks Foundation, UNESCO, Wilderness Foundation, WWF Europe office and Carpathian Programme office.
As the initiative develops, its links to sectors beyond conservation (landholding, business, urban social etc) will develop further, according to requirements for implementing strategy.

EuroParc Federation is the umbrella organization of Europe’s protected areas. It unites national parks, regional parks, nature parks and biosphere reserves in 38 countries, with the common aim of protecting Europe’s unique variety of wildlife, habitats and landscapes.
EUROPARC was founded in 1973 under the official title "Federation of Nature and National Parks of Europe", and has since grown to become the recognised, professional organisation for European protected areas. An independent, non-governmental organisation, its membership brings together the organisations responsible for the management of over 400 protected areas. Yet the Federation is also very much a network of people: those whose daily task is to take care of these special areas, and who combine forces within EUROPARC to achieve their common goals.

PAN Parks Foundation is an organisation that brings various stakeholders together around Europe’s last remaining large wilderness areas. It employs a comprehensive approach to meet the complex ecological and social needs of Europe's protected areas.
The PAN Parks logo represents a reliable and respected trademark for conservation management and sustainable development. It is a trademark for outstanding nature and high quality tourism facilities, well balanced with the needs of wilderness protection and community development.
PAN Parks co-operates with protected area managements and sustainable tourism businesses in order to make it possible for people to support, preserve, enjoy Europe’s wilderness!

WWF is the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organisation. WWF addresses global threats to people and nature such as climate change, the peril to endangered species and habitats, and the unsustainable consumption of the world's natural resources. WWF influences how governments, businesses and people think, learn and act in relation to the world around us, and by work with local communities to improve their livelihoods and the environment upon which we all depend. WWF uses its practical experience, knowledge and credibility to create long-term solutions for the planet's environment.