Wilderness Protection in Europe: The Role of International, European and National Law

Europe still retains large areas which play host to numerous native and free-functioning ecosystems and lack roads, buildings, bridges, cables and other permanent manifestations of modern society. In the past such areas were considered wastelands, whose value lay only in their potential for cultivation and economic exploitation. Today, these wilderness areas are increasingly cherished as places for rest and recreation, and as important areas for scientific research, biodiversity conservation and the mitigation of and adaptation to certain climate change effects. This book provides the first major appraisal of the role of international, European and domestic law in protecting the remaining wilderness areas and their distinguishing qualities in Europe. It also highlights the lessons that can be learned from the various international, regional and national approaches, identifies obstacles to wilderness protection in Europe and considers whether and how the legal protection of wilderness can be further advanced.

Part I. Introduction: Wilderness in Europe: 1. Introduction: an international history of wilderness protection and central aim of this book Kees Bastmeijer; 2. Mapping wilderness in Europe Steve Carver; 3. Ecological values of wilderness in Europe Mark Fisher; 4. Sociological values of wilderness in Europe Nicole Bauer; 5. Economical values of wilderness in Europe Nele Lienhoop and Bernd Hansjurgens; Part II. The Role of International Treaties and European Union Law in Protecting Wilderness in Europe: 6. Wilderness protection in Europe and the relevance of the World Heritage Convention Simon Marsden; 7. Wilderness protection under the Bern Convention: the perspective of Europe's large carnivores Arie Trouwborst; 8. Natura 2000 and the protection of wilderness in Europe Kees Bastmeijer; 9. The Alpine Convention and wilderness protection Volker Mauerhofer, Ewald Galle and Marco Onida; 10. Wilderness protection under the Carpathian Convention Harald Egerer, Cai Lin Gwee, Eleonora Musco and Mathilde Koeck; Part III. The Role of National Law in Protecting Wilderness in Europe: 11. Wilderness protection in Austria Volker Mauerhofer; 12. Wilderness protection in the Czech Republic Zdenka Krenova and Jiri Zicha; 13. Wilderness protection in Estonia Richard Caddell; 14. Wilderness protection in Finland Kai T. Kokko and Markku Oksanen; 15. Wilderness protection in Hungary Sandor Fulop; 16. Wilderness protection in Iceland Adalheidur Johannsdottir; 17. Wilderness protection in Norway Ole Kristian Fauchald; 18. Wilderness protection in Poland Sergiusz Urban; 19. Wilderness protection in Russia Natalia Danilina, Antje Neumann and Kees Bastmeijer; 20. Wilderness protection in Spain Agustin Garcia-Ureta; 21. Wilderness protection in Sweden Filippo Valguarnera; 22. Wilderness protection in the United Kingdom Simon Boyle and Nicola Wheeler; Part IV. Conclusions: 23. Conclusions: the role of international, European and national law in protecting European wilderness: many options, good examples, but no guarantees Kees Bastmeijer.