European Wilderness Quality Standard Quick-Audit Report
2016
Š European Wilderness Society www.wilderness-society.org
European Wilderness Quality Standard Quick-Audit Report 2016
Gorgany Wilderness Gorgany Wilderness preserves the natural state of the Carpathian mountain landscapes, typical natural complexes, unique primeval beech forests, and in particular forest with Swiss pine (Pinus cembra).
Gorgany Nature Reserve Park information Protected area
Gorgany Wilderness
Country
Ukraine, province Ivano-Frankivsk oblast
IUCN classification
Ia
Main ecological classification
broadleaf and conifer old-growth forest, alpine meadows, mountain creeks
Size of the Nature Reserve
5,344 ha
Size of the Wilderness
3,500 ha, with potential of enlargement for additional 1,500 ha
Established
1996
European Wilderness Quality Standard Quick-Audit
2016
Wilderness Uniqueness
Large un-fragmented area of old growth beech, Swiss pine and mixed forest
Number of visitors per year to the Nature Reserve
around 100
Number of visitors per year to the Wilderness
around 100
Wilderness Category
Bronze Candidate
Legend Park Boundary Forest Rivers Rocky Outcrops Settlements
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Š European Wilderness Society www.wilderness-society.org
Gorgany Nature Reserve, Ukraine
Biodiversity The Gorgany Wilderness contains rare primeval well protected forest with a relict tree species such as – Swiss pine. Peculiar and diverse landscape has a high number of rare, relict or endemic species. Diverse flora of the Gorgany Wilderness includes 459 species, including 72 rare plants species and 35 species of plants listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. Over 1500 species of vertebrate and invertebrate are registered within the Gorgany Wilderness and on the adjacent areas and 55 of them are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.
Small creek in the Gorgany Wilderness.
Gorgany Wilderness The Gorgany Wilderness has a very good Wilderness potential. A significant part of this area is covered by old-growth, primeval conifer as well as broadleaf forests. The area provides a safe refuge for native populations of all typical Carpathian carnivores such as brown bear, wolf, wildcat and lynx. The Gorgany Wilderness is road less and without any management intervention for several decades. Furthermore, there was only limited human impact over the last 60 years because strictly regulated access of visitors.
Audit in the Gorgany Wilderness.
Tourism values of the Gorgany Wilderness1 The Gorgany Wilderness is located ca 60 km from Ivano Frankivsk town. The area is accessible for cars and buses due to the relatively good asphalt roads, with exception of the last 20 km.
The intention to establish a wilderness within Gorgany National Reserve was born already several decades ago. 1) http://wilderness-society.org/gorgany-wilderness-ukraine Š European Wilderness Society www.wilderness-society.org
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European Wilderness Quality Standard Quick-Audit Report 2016
Wilderness WildRivers WildCoasts WildForests WildIslands
The European Wilderness Network2 Growing demand for more wilderness in Europe has led us to the creation of the European Wilderness Network showcasing some of the finest wilderness in Europe. This system includes the best European wilderness sprinkled from the Mediterranean up to the Arctic Circle, from the Atlantic coast to the Ural Mountains! All members of the European Wilderness Network have been audited according to the European Wilderness Quality Standard. The European Wilderness Society works in cooperation with their international partners to expand the future of the European Wilderness Network.
European Wilderness Quality Standard and Audit System The European Wilderness Quality Standard and Audit System defines four categories in the European Wilderness Network (Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum). Each category defines a specific quality standard with a clear focus on its wilderness values, especially of the core zones. The standard is based on nine Wilderness principles with 53 criteria and approximately 300 indicators. The European Wilderness Quality Standard and Audit System includes the following steps: • Agreement with management body of the Wilderness • Site visit and European Wilderness Quality Standard Quick-Audit • Agreement on audit mission • SWOT analysis and European Wilderness Quality Standard Audit Report • Certification and awarding ceremony (certificate for ten years) • Regular monitoring
2) http://wilderness-society.org/european-wilderness-definition/european-wilderness-network/
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© European Wilderness Society www.wilderness-society.org
Gorgany Nature Reserve, Ukraine
Quick-Audit Team
Quick-Audit Itinerary
Audit Team Mr. Vlado Vancura (lead Wilderness auditor) and Ms. Mariana Matsko (Wilderness auditor)
Sunday, 17 July 2016 Meeting with Jaroslav Dzebchuk (director) and Vasyl Jaremchuk (local ranger) in Gorgany Wilderness
Host Team Mr. Yaroslav Golynskyi (deputy director), Olena Slobodian (biologist) and Jaroslav Dzebchuk, Vasyl Jaremchuk (local rangers)
Monday, 18 July 2016 Fieldtrip guided by Mrs. Slobodian Olena (biologist), Jaroslav Dzebchuk and Vasyl Jaremchuk (local rangers) to Gorgany Wilderness Tuesday, 19 July 2016 Meeting in Gorgany Wilderness office, workshop and awarding Wilderness Diploma
Spontaneous and open ended dynamic natural procesess in Gorgany Wilderness.
Š European Wilderness Society www.wilderness-society.org
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European Wilderness Quality Standard Quick-Audit Report 2016
Representatives of the European Wilderness Society and Gorgany National Reserve met in Summer 2016.
Results of the European Wilderness Quality Standard Quick-Audit The following paragraph and table provides the initial results of the European Wilderness Quality Standard Quick-Audit based on two days of work in the Gorgany Wilderness (one day office and one day field work). A full audit would result in the more comprehensive assessment of the Wilderness with more detailed recommendations.
The fox is an important part of the Gorgany Wilderness.
Diversity in Gorgany Wilderness.
Outcome of the Gorgany European Wilderness Quality Standard Quick-Audit 1. Wilderness size and zoning The visited area of the Gorgany Wilderness has a clearly defined boundary and the proposed size of Wilderness is 3,500 ha with potential of enlargement to an additional 1,500 ha. In order to achieve this the restoration and transition zones need to be clearly identified. 2. Natural processes and biodiversity The visited area of the Gorgany Wilderness fully follows natural processes to maintain natural dynamics in biodiversity, significantly contributing to the conservation of Wilderness indicative species (wolf, bear, lynx) and containing excellent examples of undisturbed ecosystems. To fully meet this principle, it is necessary to develop a comprehensive management plan for the restoration and transition zone.
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Š European Wilderness Society www.wilderness-society.org
Gorgany Nature Reserve, Ukraine
3. Wilderness management The Gorgany Wilderness is protected by law. The overall management plan includes chapters specifically relevant for the Gorgany Wilderness and is managed by a sufficiently large management team. To fully meet this principle it is necessary to focus on the development and the implementation of the training plan with an emphasis on staff working with Wilderness. 4. Wilderness restoration The Gorgany Wilderness has to identify and formulate a clear long-term vision and strategy how to enlarge Wilderness. It is critically important to formulate and implement a concrete, site-specific Wilderness restoration plan. 5. Wilderness and extractive uses The visited area of the Gorgany Wilderness has no extractive or commercial use such as forestry operation, hunting and/or game management. No fishing, no active mining, no old mining sites, no domestic livestock grazing and agriculture, no deadwood collection and very limited collection of berries and mushrooms near the official trails were found. 6. Wilderness disturbance The visited area of the Gorgany Wilderness has no permanent infrastructure, no settlements, very limited amount of temporary structures (such as information boards), no inherited settlements, no archaeological remains and very limited use of motorised transport (usually at the edges of the Wilderness). The visited area of the Gorgany Wilderness has very limited free access by foot. No use of horses, no fences, no use of dogs due to excluded access of the public to the visited area, etc. is allowed. 7. Control strategies for fire, diseases, invasive species and other natural disturbances The visited area of the Gorgany Wilderness has no clearly defined fire, disease and neophyte and invasive species management strategy. Fire, diseases and other unpredictable natural events (windstorm, avalanches, floods, etc.) are not always considered an inevitable element of Wilderness. The Gorgany Wilderness should not supress fire in the Wilderness zone. 8. Wilderness research and monitoring The Gorgany Wilderness has a long history of Wilderness research and monitoring. Nonetheless, there currently seems to be a problem with demands to open this area not only for visitors but also for extractive use. Current monitoring of the Gorgany Wilderness is documenting most of the activities and possible extractive uses. The Gorgany Wilderness is missing a detailed and systematic cooperation plan with scientific institutions and universities. 9. International relevance The Gorgany Wilderness is officially internationally recognised as IUCN category Ia. It is also nominated as a member of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany”. The Gorgany Wilderness supports the protection of several internationally threatened species (wolf, bear, lynx, golden eagle). The Gorgany Wilderness is currently missing capacity and resources to reach the highest international recognitions. European Wilderness Quality Standard Principles
Conclusions • Gorgany Wilderness will be a Certified Wilderness Bronze Candidate due to its quality and size. • Effective immediately Gorgany Wilderness will be a member of the European Wilderness Network. • It is necessary to look for co-funding for the European Wilderness Quality Standard Audit planned in 2017.
Quick-Audit
1. Wilderness zoning and size 2. Natural processes and biodiversity 3. Wilderness management 4. Wilderness restoration 5. Wilderness extractive and intrusive uses 6. Wilderness Disturbances 7. There are management strategies for fire, neophyte and invasive species, and natural disturbances 8. Wilderness Research and Monitoring 9. International relevance and the importance of the Wilderness
© European Wilderness Society www.wilderness-society.org
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European Wilderness Quality Standard Quick-Audit Report
European Wilderness Society Registration number / ZVR Zahl: 305471009 Registered in Austria Dechant-Franz-Fuchs Str. 5 | A-5580 Tamsweg EU Transparency registration number: 706136913777-83 (category non-governmental organisation)