Nature Reserves in Europe [antikvár]

IntroductionWithin the densely populated, industrialised countries of Europe, stretches of countryside still in their original, natural condition and not materially altered by man have become rarities. Greater and greater areas of ground are being taken up for the building of roads, housing and industrial developments. Extensive measures of pest control and melioration have become essential to the life of modern man and are depriving the animal world of living space and food to support life. Encroachments upon the fabric of nature, in which all the elements are mutually linked and inter-dependent, disturb the delicate balance of biological forces. The consequences of such disturbances have been becoming obvious to man for long enough. We do not want to suggest that we are opposed to the progress of civilisation, but we cannot deny that often these measures are taken contrary to good reason and against better judgement, more often in ignorance of the consequences, and time and again even in spite of a real attempt to gain insight into the probable results.This book shows how different countries in Europe are attempting to find a balance between the reasonable exploitation of natural resources and the conservation of nature. For some decades now, national bodies and public and private organisations have been engaged in an endeavour to protect nature, to maintain the character and beauty of the countryside and to preserve its flora and fauna.In the main, the countries of Europe bring to the task of nature conservancy, an approach in keeping with their own outlook and intentions. Over and above this, and going beyond bilateral agreements in the case of conservation areas lying on either side of a national border, there also exist international agreements and measures aimed at conservation. In 1948, an international body was formed in Fontainebleau to conserve nature and its resources. This International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (known as lUCN) is now based in Morges, Switzerland. It publishes the Red DataBooks in which it gives population statistics for species of mammals and birds endangered by extinction. As well as this, there are the "red lists" of endangered species of birds, including known or suspected causes for the decline in population. The lUCN, as the international centre for documentation and co-ordination in the sphere of nature conservation acts through its Executive Council in an advisory capacity to UNESCO (United Nation's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) and other United Nations organisations.Since the MAR Conference on wetlands and aquatic habitats held in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in the French Camargue in 1962, Project MAR has been maintained with the co-operation of lUCN, IWRB (International Wildfowl Research Bureau) and ICBP (International Council for Bird Preservation). It deals with the problem of the conservation and management of marshes, bogs, lakes and shallow areas of water in Europe and North Africa, working to prevent their drainage, pollution, blockage and misuse for hunting purposes. It has drawn up a definitive list of wetlands of international importance that are designated MAR regions.The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), founded in 1961 in Morges (Switzerland) in co-operation with its national WWF societies in the individual countries, provides financial support for the conservation of nature and animal life, it sets up and extends reserves and promotes the spread of education in the sphere of nature conservation. For example, the World Wildlife Fund played a decisive part in the foundation of the Skaftafell National Park in Iceland, the Coto Donana reserve in Spain and the Seewinkel conservation area in Austria.Although there exists no uniform structure of organisation for nature conservation for all the European countries, there are international proposals for a unified nomenclature and the classification of conservation areas according to specific characteristics. A conference in New Delhi drew up a definition of the term National Park, according to particular features and norms, although there are still some National Parks, for example those of Great Britain, that do not entirely conform to this definition. Nor can it be