European "Yellowstone" in the making

Sirnea, Carpathian Mountains. The Foundation Conservation Carpathia (FCC) intends to create Europe’s largest national forest park in the region, creating a sort of European Yellowstone. Photo: AFP

In Romania, a nature conservation organisation has launched a vast project to create the largest forested national park in Europe. The aim is to preserve some 100,000ha of forest, as well as the wildlife that lives there, and to manage it in a way that encourages environmentally friendly tourism.

Romania’s Transylvania region is usually thought of as a fall or Halloween getaway, when travellers head for the legendary Bran Castle, long associated with the fictional vampire, Count Dracula.

Myths aside, this tourist destination attracts visitors above all for its forest landscapes that cover the many valleys up to its high plateaus, which are covered in snow during the winter. Crossed by the Carpathian Mountains, the region is already popular with hiking enthusiasts.

However, Transylvania could be set to become a major destination in Europe for hikers, walkers and nature lovers. According to The Guardian, a nature conservation organisation called the Foundation Conservation Carpathia (FCC) intends to create Europe’s largest national forest park in the region, creating a sort of European Yellowstone.

The FCC has already started work, with forest plots purchased to prevent logging. According to the British newspaper, some 26,900ha of forest and grassland have already been purchased and protected, while over four million trees have been planted. The project’s ambition is vast, as it is seeking to preserve some 101,000ha of land in the form of a wilderness reserve. In total, Romania is home to over 6,000,000ha of forest.

The idea is to protect trees, but also the wildlife that inhabits these forest zones, including brown bears, bison and even lynx. The Foundation Conservation Carpathia has also purchased hunting rights applicable to 78,000ha.

Ultimately, the creation of this national park should enable the development of environmentally responsible tourism that helps support local communities, notably by providing access to local produce through a food hub set up by the FCC. There, visitors will be able to stock up on local cheeses, jams, honey and other locally made products. – AFP Relaxnews