An Action Agenda for Europe’s Remaining Wild Areas 28 May 2009 |
News story “Europe should be proud and treasure the wilderness
it still has, but it needs to do more” said Ladislav Miko,
Minister of the Environment of the Czech Republic. Wilderness
and wild areas form less than one percent of Europe’s surface
but are a vital part of its natural heritage. Many of them are
facing imminent threats that require a rapid and effective
response. Vaclav Havel, former President of the Czech Republic,
commenting on the social and ethical aspects of the issue noted
that “We are blurring natural boundaries: forests are no longer
forests, meadows are no longer meadows. We have lost sight of
eternity and infinity and are destroying nature for future
generations." Pavan Sukhdev, study leader of the Economics of
Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) report, noted that “We are
prisoners of a system which favors manmade capital over national
capital and human capital and favor private goods over public
goods… that is the problem”