The Transboundary Cooperation in the Protection of Mountain Heritage - the Carpathian Experience

Abstract

The mountain chain of the Carpathians is stretching out in the convex bow shape towards the north-east starting from surroundings of Vienna to the Iron Gate. The Carpathians host high geo- and biodiversity and are a homeland for nearly 20 million people who have the rich and diversified both material and spiritual culture. The first ideas being aimed at a protection of the Carpathians' nature are dated on the second half of the 19th century. Further efforts brought the foundation of the first European frontier park of the nature in the Pieniny Mountains (the Western Carpathians) in 1932. After the World War II the Carpathians belonged to the area of the Soviet bloc. During that time several new pretected areas were esablished, often on the both sides of the state boundaries, however the cross-border cooperation was limited. After political changes in 90’ of the XX c., there were some possibilities of establishing the direct working co-operation among boards of frontier protected areas - such a general idea has been already used. The international cooperation in the field of the implementation of the principles of the sustainable development in the area of the Carpathians found the strong support in the Carpathian Convention. The analysis of the example of the Carpathians, the mountain chain that is laid on territories of many countries, lets draw conclusions that not only can be taken back to the Carpathian mountains but to other mountains too. They are included into presented article.