There are a few parts of Europe where large truly wild or ‘wilderness’ areas can currently be found in the sense of the IUCN Classification, referring to very substantial regions that are largely untouched by the hand of man. They occur in parts of Finland, Sweden, Norway, Ukraine and Western Russia together with bordering states; there are also elements in Central and Southern Europe. The strategy focus here is on protection of existing heritage.

By contrast smaller wild or nearly wild areas can be said to cover a range of intermediate landscapes – referring to smaller scale and often fragmented areas, where the condition of natural habitat and relevant species is either partially or substantially modified by grazing, forestry, sporting activity or general imprint of human artifact. There areas are scattered across the continent.

For further information on the definition of Wilderness and Wild Lands click here

Many wilderness and wild natural habitat areas are increasingly under threat from forestry, intensification of agriculture, mining, development of infrastructure - and climate change.

At the same time there are great opportunities for large-scale restoration, creating a network of habitats linked by ecological corridors. Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) alone could result in substantial reallocation of resources and change in land use - especially for more marginal areas of farmland - both within the European Union and beyond.