IUCN, European Programme

Large areas previously occupied by Warsaw Pact forces have been vacated in Central and Eastern Europe after the political changes in 1989 and 1990. Many of these areas are potentially rich in natural resources and variety of habitats. This report identifies sites of national and international importance in four Central European countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovak Republic), makes recommendations for appropriate degrees of protection and proposes management plans for a number of key sites.

This report suggests coherent policies for sustainable utilisation and management of the natural resources of the Danube and its tributaries. It examines the present situation, focuses on river corridors, restoration of riverine ecosystems and discusses how to increase public awareness and involvement.

This report draws on lessons learned from observations made at seven case study sites, all of which permit economic activities, especially recreation, that are not harmful to the biological values and natural functions of the area. There is now a need to translate these experiences into policy instruments. The guidelines, summarised in some 20 pages, offer sound and well-documented advice on how to proceed.

Written by teams from the two countries, this report presents an integrated picture of the environmental features of agriculture and the accompanying threat to biodiversity, supported by data related to the entire territory of the former Czechoslovakia. A valuable guide to agricultural policy makers and nature protectors even in an era of rapid change.

This plan sets out the policies and actions needed to ensure an adequate, effective and well-managed network of protected areas in Europe. It outlines how potential areas should be integrated with other sectors, such as agriculture, forestry and tourism; sets out priorities at European, sub-regional and national level; proposes actions to strengthen the legal framework, planning and management of Europe's protected areas, and explains how to create the public support necessary for success.