Disappearing natural landscapes in Europe
Virgin forests are unfelled, undisturbed places.In Europe, humans have intensely transformed virgin landscapes (i.e., unfelled forests preserved in their original form). If we survey the history of land development in Europe, we discover that over the past few centuries virtually all the European forests â from Norway to Bulgaria, and Spain to the Northern Urals â have been felled, consistently and repeatedly.
They now cover only 1% of Europe. Editorâs note: 5% of America.About 2000 years ago virgin landscapes covered 80% of Europe.
Toward the end of the 19th century they had been so drastically reduced that they covered only 10-15% of their original area.
These landscapes were further destroyed in the 20th century. Now they make up no more than 1% of all of Europe. By the beginning of the 21st century, virgin landscapes were preserved only in a few geographical locations, including Europeâs northeast, the Caucasus, and Georgia.
Human activity, such as logging, is the culprit.Nowadays the destruction of virgin forests continues though deforestation, construction of new highways and industrial enterprises, and the excessive human use of mountain meadows and winter pastures. Lands that were once fertile have been reduced to âbadlandsâ â barren, rocky, erosive land, devoid of soil and vegetation cover.
Why are virgin landscapes important?
Whit Gibbons, an environmental professor, has defined virgin forests as:
The original meaning is simple, from the word meaning âchaste,â representing a forest that has never been timbered and in which the dominant, old-growth tree species have reached their maximum ages.1
The International Union of Forest Research Organizations extends this view to include young growth:
Not all virgin forests are old growth.There seems to be general agreement that not every virgin or primeval forest is of great age; that young stands may be of virgin or primeval character although they are not old growth. These would be stands that have regenerated after natural disturbances and have not been subjected to human disturbances.2
Virgin landscapes are unique natural complexes that, among other things:
Virgin forests shelter other undisturbed landscapes, such as meadows. regulate climate; for example, they store large amounts of carbon dioxide that would otherwise contribute to greenhouse gases
maintain water cycles and freshwater resources
ensure the survival of unique and endangered species
protect one-of-a-kind mountain meadows, marsh tracts and other ecosystems within their territory
prevent soil erosion and flooding of streams
provide ecological refuges for indigenous knowledge
The size of virgin landscapes may vary. For example, landscapes in mountainous countries range from a few square kilometers to dozens upon dozens of square kilometers. It is of great significance that a landscape is a sum of smaller natural units. These units are closely interconnected and dependent on one another.