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2.2 Wilderness in Europe
A political milestone in the EU’s definition of wilderness was the adoption of the
“European Parliament Resolution on Wilderness in Europe” in February 2009.
The whole process of creating a definition of wilderness in Europe lasted nearly
four years, from 2009 until 2013. A definition of wilderness had been formulated for
the Conference, in Prague in May 2009, and the Wilderness Working Group (WWG)
of the Wild Europe Initiative was established to develop this. The consensus definition of wilderness in a European context reads as follows:
A wilderness is an area governed by natural processes. It is composed of native habitats and
species, and large enough for the effective ecological functioning of natural processes. It is
unmodified or only slightly modified and without intrusive or extractive human activity,
settlements, infrastructure or visual disturbance (Wild Europe 2019).
2.3 Comparison of Wilderness Protection in the US
and Europe
As already mentioned above, there are different definitions of wilderness in the US
and Europe, and furthermore, differences exist in the definition and management of
national parks.
The first and most famous national park worldwide is Yellowstone National Park,
which was established in March 1872 and is rightly considered a turning point in
territorial conservation across the world. It was proclaimed not for the protection of
flora and fauna, but for unique geomorphological phenomena, especially geysers,
and for the enjoyment of Americans who could use it for recreation.
A similar model of a national park as being a large area without zoning, with
almost unlimited access for tourists can be found in many locations around the
world, especially in Africa, Latin America and Australia (Sterling 2002). The first
national parks were also established in Europe in places with a relatively low population density in Sweden in 1909 (EEA 2012). However, most national parks in
Europe represent smaller areas with some cases of human management. In such a
situation, zoning is very important for the protection of the living components of the
ecosystems within the NP.
The definition of wilderness and the national or regional conditions as regards
history, culture, economic and social conditions differ from state to state and region
to region. We can observe how these conditions influence the protection of wilderness as in the case of the Šumava National Park in Czech Republic.
Social and Economic Conditions for Wilderness Protection in Europe: Case of Šumava…
2.2 Wilderness in Europe
A political milestone in the EU’s definition of wilderness was the adoption of the
“European Parliament Resolution on Wilderness in Europe” in February 2009.
The whole process of creating a definition of wilderness in Europe lasted nearly
four years, from 2009 until 2013. A definition of wilderness had been formulated for
the Conference, in Prague in May 2009, and the Wilderness Working Group (WWG)
of the Wild Europe Initiative was established to develop this. The consensus definition of wilderness in a European context reads as follows:
A wilderness is an area governed by natural processes. It is composed of native habitats and
species, and large enough for the effective ecological functioning of natural processes. It is
unmodified or only slightly modified and without intrusive or extractive human activity,
settlements, infrastructure or visual disturbance (Wild Europe 2019).
2.3 Comparison of Wilderness Protection in the US
and Europe
As already mentioned above, there are different definitions of wilderness in the US
and Europe, and furthermore, differences exist in the definition and management of
national parks.
The first and most famous national park worldwide is Yellowstone National Park,
which was established in March 1872 and is rightly considered a turning point in
territorial conservation across the world. It was proclaimed not for the protection of
flora and fauna, but for unique geomorphological phenomena, especially geysers,
and for the enjoyment of Americans who could use it for recreation.
A similar model of a national park as being a large area without zoning, with
almost unlimited access for tourists can be found in many locations around the
world, especially in Africa, Latin America and Australia (Sterling 2002). The first
national parks were also established in Europe in places with a relatively low population density in Sweden in 1909 (EEA 2012). However, most national parks in
Europe represent smaller areas with some cases of human management. In such a
situation, zoning is very important for the protection of the living components of the
ecosystems within the NP.
The definition of wilderness and the national or regional conditions as regards
history, culture, economic and social conditions differ from state to state and region
to region. We can observe how these conditions influence the protection of wilderness as in the case of the Šumava National Park in Czech Republic.
Social and Economic Conditions for Wilderness Protection in Europe: Case of Šumava…