A new national park in the Făgăraș Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains dominate Romania’s central region; here, more than 250,000 hectares of virgin forests remain – the largest unfragmented forest region in Europe. They are a critical stronghold of European biodiversity – but Romania’s forests are continually under threat. With the fall of communism, Romania privatised many of its formerly nationalised forests. Logging companies bought many privately owned forests, and the result was tremendous levels of deforestation. Today, illegal logging threatens the integrity of the Carpathian ecosystem.
We support Foundation Conservation Carpathia (FCC) in their efforts to protect the forests of the southeastern Carpathians from deforestation, conserve a crucial outpost for European biodiversity, and create a new national park for Romania.
We support FCC’s work
Foundation Conservation Carpathia (FCC) was established in 2009 with the goal of stopping illegal logging and of protecting a significant area of Carpathian forest for future generations. The organisation purchases forest and alpine meadows in the Carpathians, securing the highest level of legal protection for acquired areas. The ultimate vision is to return landownings to the public in the form of a new national park – tipped to become the ‘Yellowstone’ of Europe.
FCC has begun the restoration of thousands of hectares of degraded forest habitats in core regions of the southeastern Carpathians. By purchasing lands that have been clear-cut, FCC is restoring native tree species through extensive planting programmes.
FCC has set up its own hunters association, aiming to stop trophy and sport hunting on purchased lands, instead implementing anti-poaching programmes and monitoring initiatives of wildlife populations, including bears, wolves, and lynx. FCC are reintroducing native species that have been lost from the ecosystem, including the European bison. To forge coexistence, FCC are leading nature education efforts, while creating new nature-based economies.
FCC’s Achievements
>25,400 hectares of forests and alpine meadows purchased and fully protected in the southeastern Carpathians
>75,000 hectares now routinely patrolled by FCC rangers
>65,000 hectares established as sport and trophy hunting free areas
“The support of The European Nature Trust over the last ten years has been invaluable, from financial contributions to key introductions, they have been long-standing supporters”
Christoph Promberger
Executive Director, FCC
TENT and FCC’s Partnership
The European Nature Trust has been working with FCC for over a decade to help purchase forests and alpine meadows in the Carpathians; reforest tracts of clear-cut land; and acquire hunting rights. TENT supports FCC through direct funding initiatives, sourcing sponsorship, and conservation networking. We support the development of educational media to raise awareness of Romanian wilderness.
Visit the Romanian Carpathians, immerse in nature and support the mission
Curious to visit? The Romanian Carpathians Coexistence Adventure – impactful wildlife watching journeys curated by The European Nature Trust – allow you to immerse and unwind in the vast, forested valleys of the Carpathians. This Coexistence Adventure will take you to the most forested region of Europe, while supporting the efforts of Romania’s largest and most visionary conservation project. You will explore old-growth and virgin forests, looking for signs of bears, wolves and lynx, while understanding how nature here can be protected through the creation of a new National Park, aka “The Yellowstone of Europe”. With expert guidance throughout, and unique, authentic accommodations designed to get you closer to nature, you’ll return from the trip inspired and invigorated. 50% of your trip’s cost is a direct donation to Foundation Conservation Carpathia, meaning you can drive nature’s recovery, through the adventure.
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Read MoreEurope’s Yellowstone Frequently Asked Questions
Discover all about this exciting project.
Europe’s Yellowstone is the vision for a new national park in the Făgăraș Mountains of the Romanian Carpathians. Foundation Conservation Carpathia (FCC) buys forests and alpine meadows and secures the highest level of legal protection for them. The long-term aim is to return these lands to the public as a new national park.
After the fall of communism, Romania privatised many of its formerly nationalised forests. Logging companies bought many of them, which led to tremendous levels of deforestation. Illegal logging still threatens the integrity of the Carpathian ecosystem.
More than 250,000 hectares of virgin forest remain in the Carpathian Mountains of central Romania. This is the largest unfragmented forest region in Europe and a critical stronghold for European biodiversity.
Foundation Conservation Carpathia (FCC) was established in 2009 to stop illegal logging and protect a significant area of Carpathian forest for future generations. It has purchased and fully protected more than 25,400 hectares of forest and alpine meadow in the southeastern Carpathians. Its rangers routinely patrol more than 75,000 hectares.
FCC runs anti-poaching programmes and monitors wildlife populations including bears, wolves and lynx. It set up its own hunters association to stop trophy and sport hunting on its land. More than 65,000 hectares are now free of trophy and sport hunting. FCC is also reintroducing lost native species, including the European bison.
FCC buys land that has been clear-cut and restores native tree species through extensive planting programmes. It has begun restoring thousands of hectares of degraded forest in core areas of the southeastern Carpathians. To support coexistence, it also leads nature education and creates new nature-based economies.
The European Nature Trust has worked with Foundation Conservation Carpathia for more than a decade. TENT has helped purchase forests and alpine meadows, reforest clear-cut land and acquire hunting rights. It supports FCC through direct funding and sponsorship, along with conservation networking. It also supports educational media that raise awareness of Romanian wilderness.
Yes. TENT’s Romanian Carpathians Adventure takes travellers into old-growth and virgin forests to look for signs of bears, wolves and lynx, with expert guidance throughout. Half of the trip cost is a direct donation to Foundation Conservation Carpathia.
