EWS Wilderness Quality Standard Preliminary Assessment

8/12/2019 EWS Wilderness Quality Standard Preliminary Assessment

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2014 Vers.. 1.1. - European Wilderness Society Dechant Franz Fuchs Str. 5 - A5-5580 Tamsweg www.wilderness-society.org

Statute Platinum Gold Silver Bronze My AreaCredit Wilderness

MedalWildernessCertificate

WildernessDiploma

WildernessAward

PreliminaryAssessment

Logo Please fillout the

respectivequestions

Title Terrestrial Wilderness AreaCriteria and Indicators Quality Standard

1. Protection andInternational relevance ofwilderness zone)1.1. Wilderness zone isadequately protected1.2. Wilderness zone is IUCNcategoryIa and/or Ib1.3. Park management applyto IUCN category Ia and Ib orII five years after EWS

certification

2. Wilderness management2. 1. Wilderness zone has a


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3.1. Wilderness zone has a full

perception of wildernesscharacter, with no artificial

features in the landscape and

minimal audible intrusion.

3.2. Park management will

develop a plan to strive for

perception of wilderness

character, with no artificial

features in the landscape and

minimal audible intrusion in

three years after EWS

certification

4. Restoration4.1. Wilderness zone has a

wildernessrestoration planto enlarge the core zone 4.2. Park management will

develop a wildernessrestoration action plan


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certification 15. Biodiversity5.1. Natural dynamics introphic diversity, even ifspecies and habitats are lost, is

accepted in wilderness zone as

inherent in the objective of

total natural integrity of the

ecosystem

Natural changes in

biodiversity are

accepted. Transition

from domestic to

wild-living

herbivores is

promoted tomaintain

biodiversity.

A fuller range of

traditional

intervention

management

practices based on

sustainability

principles areaccepted.

5.2. Wilderness zone have a

plan to maintain naturaldynamics in biodiversity5.3. Park management will

develop a plan to maintainnatural dynamicsinbiodiversity three years after

1Human assisted where necessary to support natural processes, e.g. where natural seed sources are absent or artificial drainage needs removing, using alternative seed or plant sourcesfrom closest available geographic proximity. Human intervention is also permitted for removal of human infrastructure (built structures, fences, roads, tracks etc).To include wildlifereintroductions and re-stockings using indigenous species only and supplementary feeding of scavengers (where legal) until numbers are up to appropriate carrying capacity levels. Suchactivities must be based on scientifically sound, site specific considerations. No forestry-style tree planting (no rows, no fertilizer or pesticide use). To be followed by non interventionmanagement.


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certification6.4.Wilderness zone shouldcontainundisturbedhabitats

at least for 4

endangered

species

at least for 3

endangered species

at least for 2

endangered species

at least for 1

endangered

species

6.3.Wilderness zone shouldcontain examples of

undisturbed ecosystemsat least 4

undisturbed

ecosystems

at least 3

undisturbed

ecosystems

at least 2

undisturbed

ecosystems

at least 1

undisturbed

ecosystems

6.4.Wilderness zone shouldsupports natural / spontaneous

natural processes 24 up to 2

spontaneous

natural processes

at least 3

spontaneous natural

processes

at least 2

spontaneous natural

processes

at least 1

spontaneous

natural process

7. Minimum size7.1. Sizeof wilderness zone Min 10,000 ha

with aspiration to

enlargement

Minimum 3,000 ha

with aspiration to

enlargement 10,000

ha

Minimum 1,000

with aspiration to

enlargement 3000

Minimum 500 ha

with aspiration to

enlargement 1000


develop a plan to achieveaspirational sizethree yearsafter EWS certification

7.3. Wilderness zone represents Min 5,000 ha Min 1,500 ha Min 500 ha Min 250 ha

2Processes that proceed in a definite direction when left to themselves, and in the absence of any attempt to drive them in reverse, are known as natural processes or spontaneouschanges.


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unfragmented ecosystems 8. Extractive uses8.0.1. Wilderness zone has noextractive uses8.0.2. Park management will

develop a

aspiration/commitment plan


certification to end anextractive useover the next10 years

8.0.3. Park management willdevelop a plan to monitor

activities and impact of

subsistence use of indigenous

peoples (Nordic countries) e.g.

hunting, fishing and game

management, livestock grazing,

dead wood collection and

collecting berries, nuts,

mushrooms, infrastructure of

traditional gathering sites in

wilderness zone two years after

the first EWS certification


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8.1. Forestry8.1.1. Wilderness zone has no

forestry operation (including

sanitary logging) 3

Allowed under

credible certified

scheme.

8.1.2. Park management has a

plan to remove forestry

operation five years after the

first EWS certification 4

8.2. Hunting, fishing andgame management8.2.1. Wilderness zone has no

game management (including

hunting)

Allowed under

strict regulation,

only if wildlife/

species numbers

allow.


plan to remove game

management (including

3Note to Bronze: No clear felling in excess of a small area (say a hectare), unless required to replace alien species with native habitat or for management of fire and pests (including barkbeetles). No new plantation forestry, with natural regeneration where possible.

4Note to Silver: Forestry allowed but highly restricted, under a credible certification scheme. The plan has a clear phasing out policy in any future Any felling (e.g.due to restoration)should be of individual specimens only in previously agreed areas, with stumps strictly cut right to ground level. No plantation forestry, and any replanting, if unavoidable, should be ofindigenous species only. No new road or track construction.


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hunting) 10 years after the first

EWS certification8.2.3. Wilderness zone has no

extractive fish management

(including fishing)

Allowed under

strict regulation,

only if wildlife/

species numbers

allow.


plan to remove game

management (including

hunting) 10 years after the first

EWS certification

8.3. Mining8.3.1. Wilderness zone has no

active mining

8.3.2. Wilderness zone has a

old mining sites restoration

plan in place if appropriate

8.3.3. Park management has arestoration plan of old mining

sites five years after the first

EWS certification

8.4. Livestock grazing


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8.4.1. Wilderness zone has no

domestic livestock (cattle,sheep, goats, etc) grazing


plan to remove domestic

livestock (cattle, sheep, goats,

etc) grazing five years after the

first EWS certification


plan to develop tool to controls

density of livestock, based on

sustainability principles, five

years after the first EWS

certification 5

8.5. Crop agriculture8.5.1. Wilderness zone has no

crop agriculture


plan to remove crop agriculture

five years after the first EWS

certification

5Note to Bronze: In no case should there be a significant negative impact on biodiversity. No additional grazing capacity would be permitted, and there should be plans with clear timelinesto phase out in any future core expansion area


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8.6. Dead wood collection8.6.1. Wilderness zone has nodeadwood collection


plan to control deadwood

collection five years after the


Very restricted, for

subsistence and

some tourism use

only.

Allowed, but with

certain restrictions

8.7. Collecting non timberforest product berries,nuts, mushrooms, etc.8.7.1. Wilderness zonehas nocommercial collecting berries,

nuts and mushrooms


plan to remove commercial

collecting berries, nuts and

mushrooms five years after the

first EWS certification 6

Allowed, but only

for visitor personal

use during their

visit and local

communities for

subsistence and

sale.

Allowed, provided

sustainable

management

principles are

followed

9. Settlement6Note to Silver and Bronze: There should be a clear phasing out policy of any collection for sale in any future core expansion area. In no case should there be any significant negativeimpact on biodiversity


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9.1. Wilderness zone has no

permanent settlementsNo new permanent

settlement.9.2. Temporarystructures forcamping and hides in

wilderness zone are subject to

regulation. Very large

wilderness areas with 50,000

hectares or more could

consider non-permanent

buildings. Local materials and

architecture is used, and

structures are hidden in the

landscape.

9.3. Wilderness zone has other

structures than uninhabitable

archaeological remains.9.4. Inherited settlements in

wilderness zone are not

maintained any more and there

is a plan to remove them 10


9.5. Wilderness zone has

settlements of traditional

gathering sites required by


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indigenous peoples to practice

their traditional reindeerherding in Nordic countries7)

five years after the first EWS.

9.6. Park management has a

plan to monitor impact of

settlements of traditional

gathering sites required by

indigenous peoples to practice

their traditional reindeer

herding in Nordic countries)

five years after the first EWS.

10. Infrastructure10.1. Wilderness zone has no

infrastructure or plan for

removal (e.g. building, power

lines, roads and tracks, fencing,

etc) in wilderness zone

No new

developments that

risk further

fragmenting the

habitats or

disturbing

landscape and

7Exceptions have been made with a number of criteria in Nordic countries where wilderness legislation already exists to permit certain activities, which cannot thus be legally excluded.However this situation does not apply elsewhere in Europe.


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visibility values,

including windfarms, ski slopes,

substantial

industrial plant or

large new

settlements.


develop a plan for removal of

existing/conflicting

infrastructure (e.g. building,

power lines, roads and tracks,

fencing, etc) the next five years

after the first EWS certification


footpaths with the minimal

markings (or plan for such

footpaths) unless necessary for

local conservation requirements

or public safety.


develop a plan for footpaths

with the minimal markings the

next five years after the first


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EWS certification

10.5. Wilderness zone has nofencing.

Temporary fencingonly if necessary for

restoration/

rewilding purposes.

Fencing allowed,but managed to

enable foraging

and other mobility

needs of wildlife

from the core and

buffer zones10.6. Any development of

facilities for wilderness zone

activities have low profile in

design and located so as not to

impede potential expansion of

the wilderness zone in the

future

10.7. In wilderness zone

infrastructure of inherited

settlements is not maintained

any more and there is a plan to

remove it five years after the


11. Access11.1. Wilderness zone has no

use of motorized transport


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(with exception of human

safety, forest fire and exceptfor restoration in the

management plan, etc)


possible minimal access by

wheels and motorized vehicle,

but very strictly regulated and

on designated tracks only

11.3. Park management is

actively working to end any

motorized transport (with

exception of human safety,

forest fire and except for

restoration in the management

plan, etc) plan ready five years


11.4. Wilderness zone has free

access on foot

11.5. Wilderness zone has clear

rules on the use of horses

11.6 Wilderness zone has a

clear rules on the use of dog

leads


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12. Research andMonitoring12.1. Wilderness zone has or is

planning wilderness research

regulated by management

plans, with minimal visual

impact and without ecological

impact

12.2. Wilderness zone has a

plan for wilderness research

at least for 4

research

partnersat least for 3

research

partnersat least for 2

research

partnersat least for1

research

partners12.3. Park management will

develop a plan for wilderness

research two years after the

first EWS certification12.4. Wilderness zone has or is

planning wilderness monitoring

regulated by management

plans, with minimal visual

impact and without ecological

impact

at least for 4

monitoring speciesat least for 3



monitoring species

12.5. Wilderness zone has a

plan for wilderness monitoring



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develop a plan for wilderness

monitoring two years after thefirst EWS certification13. Tourism and recreation13.1. Wilderness zone has

tourism and recreation

activities (e.g. camping,

canoeing, climbing, cross

country ski or wildlife watching)

integrated within the wilderness

concept with strict leave no

trace rules and spatial

restrictions. There should be no

ecological impact


develop plan for tourism and

recreation activities (e.g.

camping, canoeing, climbing,

cross country ski or wildlife

watching) with strict leave no

trace rules and spatial

restrictions. There should be no

ecological impact two years



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develop plan for tourism andrecreation activities (e.g.

camping, canoeing, climbing,

cross country ski or wildlife

watching but also hotel, lodge

and B&B development) with

strict leave no trace rules and

spatial restrictions with

promoting a broad spread of

benefits among the localcommunity. There should be no

ecological impact two years



integrated tourism and

recreation activities to

wilderness concept


develop plan to integrate

tourism and recreation

activities to wilderness concept

in the next five years after the



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tourism and recreationactivities which do not require

to build a new infrastructure


develop plan to tourism and

recreation activities which do

not require to build a new

infrastructure in the next five


certification14. Fire control 814.1. Wilderness zone has fire

control plan 9


develop fire control plan in five


certification

8Fire control only if needed (e.g. for public safety) and where fire is not part of natural process, and then by controlled burning rather than felling.

9Note to Platinum and Gold: Wilderness zone has fire control only if needed e.g. for public safety), fire is seen as a nature process within wilderness and should not be controlled, firecontrol is permissible if human lives or infrastructure are threaten, fire control management plan will be developed in the next 10 years after the first EWS certification. Fire control throughreestablishment of original fire-resistant vegetation and wild herb ivore grazing, where appropriate, to be explored and promoted.


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15. Disease control15.1. Wilderness zone has

disease control plan 10


develop disease control plan in


certification 11

16. Invasive speciescontrol16.1. Wilderness zone has

invasive species12control plan


develop invasive species control

management plan in the next


certificationName of protected area:

Self-assessment filed by on Date:

10Note to Platinum and Gold: Disease is seen as a nature process within wilderness and should not be controlled, disease control is permissible if human lives or infrastructure isthreatened.

11Note to Silver and Bronze: The plan should respect the following principles: non extractive, non chemical only (e.g. bark beetle traps)

12Careful definition is needed to exclude from this category species which may have migrated or been displaced by the effects of climate change

Documents

EWS Wilderness Quality Standard Preliminary Assessment