Snapshots of the conference on wilderness and old-growth/primary forests in Bratislava
With the permission of attendees, this post includes a few images of the Conference on Wilderness and Old-Growth/Primary Forest in Bratislava on 20-21 November 2019.
Wood biomass workshop leaders Mary Booth (Director PPI, USA) and Professor Michael Norton (Director of the Environment Programme, European Academies of Science Advisory Council – EASAC) on day 1 
The Griffith/FZS team on day 1 explains progress with old growth/primary forest protection, Francesco Sabatini (Humboldt University, Berlin), Zoltan Kun (Chair – Head of Conservation, Wild Europe), Martin Mikolas (Czech University of Life Sciences), Mary Booth (Director PPI, USA), Maike Bartels (Frankfurt Zoological Society) and Michael Brombacher (Head of Europe Department, Frankfurt Zoological Society) 
Workshop on illegal logging led by David Gehl (European Director, Environmental Investigation Agency, white shirt in middle) 
A framework for large-scale restoration explained by Kris Decleer , International Board, Society for Ecological Restoration) 
President Zuzana Caputova and Ladislav Miko welcomed the participants 
Model initiatives in the field: Lydie Doisy (Coordinator of PRELE, France), Manuel Schweiger (Programme Director Germany, Frankfurt Zoological Society), Sorin Banciu (Regional Forest Lead, WWF Central & East Europe), Professor Pavel Kindlmann (Director CzechGlobe Foundation), Eladio Fernandez Galliano (Former Head of Biodiversity Council of Europe) 
Toby Aykroyd (Coordinator Wild Europe), Luc Bas (Director IUCN Regional Office for Europe), President Zuzana Caputova, and Ladislav Miko (Head of EU Representation in Slovakia, Chairman Wild Europe) 
Michal Wiezik MEP (Slovakia) assessing options for a European Parliament resolution of old growth/primary forest 
Overview: challenges and achievements in an era of climate change Luc Bas (Director IUCN Regional Office for Europe), Andreas Beckmann (Chief Executive WWF Central & East Europe), Harald Egerer (Chair – Head of UNEP Vienna Office and Carpathian Convention ), Toby Aykroyd (Coordinator Wild Europe) 
Model initiatives in Slovakia for wider replication – Martin Mikolas (Czech University of Life Sciences), Professor Viliam Pichler (Forestry Faculty University of Zvolen, Slovakia), Michal Wiezik MEP (European Parliament Environment Committee) Ladislav Miko (Head of EU Representation Slovakia, Chairman Wild Europe) 
Workshop on Rewilding Task Force: Steve Carver (Director Wildland Research Institute, Leeds University) explains the objectives 
Zoltan Kun (Head of Conservation Wild Europe) leading the Griffith session on old growth/primary forest protection 
New legal, enterprise and funding frameworks – provided by Bernhard Kohler (WWF Austria), Anastaysiya Bakteeva (Conservation Capital), Adam Eagle (Clifford Chance LLP) and Session Chair Viktoria Hasler (Federal Ministry for Sustainability & Tourism, Austria) 
David Gehl (European Director, Environmental Investigation Agency), Stephanie Kalberer (Frankfurt Zoological Society), Becka la Moine MP (Sweden) with Bill Murphy – Session Chair (former Head of Environment & Recreation at Irish Forestry Agency) – promoting best practice in the wild 
Launch of the European Wilderness Forum, facilitated by Adrian Hagatis (General Manager Romanian Wilderness Society), with Kaili Viilma (Environmental Board Estonia), Christoph Promberger (Director FCC, Carpathian Wilderness Reserve), Gernant Magnin – Chair (Wild Europe Executive Committee) 
A question from Edita Vysna (European Parliament), with Anand Punja (Regional Director Europe, Forest Stewardship Council) ) and Lydia Agari (European Parliament)