Primary forests of Europe’s temperate zone play an important role in providing key ecosystem functions to our society. Primary forests also provide habitat for many species that help maintain biodiversity. Institutions and individuals behind the REMOTE (REsearch on MOuntain TEmperate) Primary Forests project help enhance our understanding of unique primary forests over long periods of time by means of various activities including research, public outreach, and education.

Destruction of the largest complex of primary forest in EU: the Fagaras Mts

Fagaras mountains are unique - according to our knowledge, they host the largest areas of primary forests in entire EU (around 10,000 hectares). To compare - it is the same area as all the primary forests found in the entire Slovak Republic. In addition, other large areas are covered by valuable natural forests, which connect primary forest localities into larger complexes of high naturalness. Therefore, it deserves special attention and conservation.

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Where are Europe’s last primary forests?

Researchers from the Geography Department of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin led the creation of the first map of Europe’s last wild forests, including more than 1.4 million hectares in 34 European countries. “It is not that these forests were never touched by man, this would be hard to believe in Europe” explains Dr Francesco Maria Sabatini, lead author of the study.

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