A two day conference focusing on “restoring the natural heart of Europe” has opened in Brussels, Belgium today (16/11/2010).   Having received official accreditation from the EC Presidency and support from the European Commission,  the conference will review the success stories of restoration across Europe, learn of ambitious plans for new areas and develop a joint strategy for large scale restoration.
Speakers at the Conference include:

  • Kurt Vandenberghe (Head of Cabinet for the Environment Commissioner)
  • Ladislav Miko (Director of Natural Environment, EC)
  • Jo Mulongoy (Head of Science, CBD head office Montreal)
  • Pavan Sukhdev (Coordinator, TEEB initiative)
  • Gyula Hegyi (Coordinator of EU Parliament resolution on wilderness & large natural habitat areas)

Over all the conference seeks to establish a strategy for restoration across Europe, and raise the policy and funding profile of this issue.
Wilderness Foundation UK CEO Jo Roberts will be contributing to the discussions during Day 2 of the conference, with her presentation looking at the social benefits that wild places, and in particular wilderness, have to offer society.  The attributes unique to wilderness and large wild areas can facilitate personal transformation.  It promotes self awareness, removal of ego & label, an ability to link with others on an individual basis and build cooperative bonds.  Our highly successful intervention programme for youth-at-risk “TurnAround” and our participation in the Peace and Reconciliation process in Northern Ireland are a testament to the transformative power of wilderness and this is just one reason why the protection and preservation of wild places is more important now than it has ever been.
The vision of the Wilderness Foundation UK is:

To preserve the world’s last remaining wild places and highlight their impact on the health of the individual, society and biodiversity

We believe in the irreplacable value of wilderness to the human spirit and the through our facilitated wilderness trails demonstrate the fundamental relationship between the natural world and humanity.   There is an urgent need for conversation of wild areas.  We must act now to preserve the last of the world’s wild place.
You can help us in our mission by making a donation or becoming a Friend of the Wilderness Foundation UK.  Whatever you decide to do, please do something.    Every penny we receive helps us to preserve wild places and change lives for the better.
Thank you.