EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

are connected by ecological corridors consisting of forests subject to nature-based
management (Korpeľ, Saniga, Biris, Veen 2005). Therefore, our project proposes the
establishment of such corridors, in which a combination of conservation and forest
management regimes would be applied.
Objectives (and related tasks, work packages)
a) To create a continuous, contigeous complex of natural forests that will encompass and
connect (link) the important primeval forest reserves on the Slovak, Ukrainian and Romanian
territories; The objective can be achieved through the conservation of other remaining natural
forests within proposed corridors connecting the preserves, measures supporting the
succession of managed semi-natural forests between them and the application of nature-based
forest management (see Priority 4.1)
Given the current situation, the management of corridors management can be based on:
− The placement of the buffer zone areas under the Ia conservation management regime
to achieve the autoregulation of ecosystems
− The establishment of new forest reserves on territories connecting the sites (applies for
natural forests that has not been managed yet)
− The application of specific measures within the designated corridors connecting the
properties; these measures will include, according to the status of forest estates negotiated
in the 2 nd stage:
− reclassification of concerned forests stands as protective forests subject to a
low intensity management
− extension of the rotation period from current 110 years to ≥ 150 years and the
application small groups shelterwood system or its variations;
− a gradual transition from shelterwood system to the soft selection system that
features no rotation period but a continual regeneration period instead;
− mimicking the natural forests patterns through the introduction of the
continuous-cover forestry and its toolbox
− The entire abandonement of forestry operations and introduction of natural dynamics
The best possible or negotiable alternative for specific corridors will be implemented through
the management programmes of the respective protected areas or through the territorial plans
outside the protected areas. In both cases, changes will be also reflected in the forest
management plans elaborated for the concerned areas.
II. Protecting and developing cultural heritage
The natural values along with the cultural heritage of the concerned countries and regions
establish a base for ecotourism as one of the primary elements of sustainable development. On
a one hand side, there is a steadily growing interest for Carpathian ecosystems among forestry
scientists, ecologists, nature conservationists and enthusiasts, both native and international.
They learnt about primeval forests mostly from scientific literature, co-operation and the
internet sites. Excursions often resulted into further scientific co-operation and further visits
by people generally interested in nature (Zach 2003, Pichler 2005). Measured by the number
of study tour participants primeval forests excursions rank as the most popular and attractive
tours among other products in this group that include geology and botany field excursions.
Upon recommendation or personal initiative of excursion members, numerous groups of
visitors that usually constitute the customer base for study tours operators, both international
and domestic, also asked for guidance through the primeval forests. The excursion programs
usually featured a sandwich pattern, i. e. primeval forests visits were combined with cultural
heritage sites in a convenient manner. The interest is steadily growing but dependent on
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