Large-scale virgin forests can still be found in the southern parts of the Romanian Carpathians. The picture shows the Boia Mica Valley in the Făgăras Mountains; around 1,000 hectares of wilderness with virgin forests in different development stages that are also home to lynxes and bears. Boia Mica was recently accepted for the national catalog of virgin and quasi virgin forests on the basis of studies at the Rottenburg University and after long negotiations with authorities.

Fig. 1: Large-scale virgin forests can still be found in the southern parts of the Romanian Carpathians. The picture shows the Boia Mica Valley in the Făgăras Mountains; around 1,000 hectares of wilderness with virgin forests in different development stages that are also home to lynxes and bears. Boia Mica was recently accepted for the national catalog of virgin and quasi virgin forests on the basis of studies at the Rottenburg University and after long negotiations with authorities.
Photo: Rainer Luick

The report "Virgin forests at the heart of Europe“ is a comprehensive analysis of the importance, situation and future of virgin and old-growth forests in Romania. The authors emphasize their great sympathy with the country and address on many aspects the importance of the remaining virgin forests in the Romanian Carpathians for the European natural heritage. The widespread extensive powerlessness and the lack of interest of state institutions to protect virgin and old forests are also meticulously portrayed. The investigations on a profound corruption and a criminal mixture in the forestry and timber sector that has developed in the interplay of politics, administration and corporate actors is shocking. Knowing about the large-scale loggings in protected areas, the study also picks out as a central theme and question why the EU institutions have shown very few reactions for many years.

The authors demand that it must be a pan-European concern to protect the last coherent virgin forests in the more central parts of Europe. This is also formulated as a key element in the EU's Biodiversity Strategy 2030. Romania will be a litmus test as to whether this will succeed.

On the Letea Island there are virgin stands of Quercus pedunculiflora.

Fig. 2: On the Letea Island there are virgin stands of Quercus pedunculiflora.
Photo: Albert Reif

The report "Virgin forests at the heart of Europe"

The English version (Virgin forests at the heart of Europe) is available under: