Environmental research series / IUCN European Programme

Rock climbing is a continent-wide phenomenon. Any ban on climbing in one country invevitably leads to increased pressure on sites in other countries. Thus, regional if not continent-wide approaches are essential to identify sites where restrictions on climbing may be necessary, and to justify, negotiate, and publicise these restrictions (which are often temporary or seasonal). This report examines the history of climbing and its social and economic significance. It describes the typical flora and fauna of the rock biotope.

Cooperation at the scale of entire mountain ranges, whether through formal agreements or regional institutions, is widely acknowledged to be desirable. The Caucasus, generally better known for conflict than cooperation, is a major centre of biological, landscape, and cultural diversity. Appropriate mechanisms to maintain and foster these various types of diversity - which are intricately linked - are urgently needed and as first step, this report gives an overview of the region and details of existing structures for cooperation at all levels

This report was written as a contribution to Action Theme 10 (mountain ecosystems) of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy (PEBLDS). It comprises and introduction to Activity 10.6, on cooperation in mountain ranges, of the PBLDS, followed by a review and assessment of existing mechanisms for inter-governmental cooperation in the Alps. Particular emphasis is placed on cooperation between levels, e.g., between nation-states and between sub-nationl administrative entities. Such cooperation between levels is of increasing importance at the turn of the millennium.

Fishponds represent a rich natural and cultural heritage of tremendous importance and are of great economic value to the regions in which they are found. This is particularly true of the fishponds found in Central and Eastern Europe, some of which were established 5 and 600 years ago. However, the social, cultural, economic and political upheaval that has characterised the recent history of the region has brought in its wake serious implications for their survival.

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.

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.