BACKGROUND

Forests play a crucial role in a global ecosystem functioning. The forests of the Carpathian Mountains are a unique ecological region and have not only a regional importance but also are also globally significant. The mountain forests of the Carpathians help to regulate climate, protect water resources, store large amounts of carbon, and provide critical habitat for flora and fauna.

Although they compromise only 10% of the Carpathian Mountain range, the Ukrainian Carpathians have several unique characteristics, including the largest contiguous stand of old-growth European beech (Fagus sylvatica) forests in the world, and play an important role in the economic, social and cultural development of the region.

The Carpathian Mountains are the backbone of Central and Eastern Europe. Covering an area of more than 200,000 square kilometers, they stretch for over 1500 kilometers across seven countries, from the Danube in Austria in the northwest, to Romania in the south. The mountains are home to a wide array of wildlife, diverse nationalities and rich cultural heritage. The region has the highest degree of endemism in Europe and harbors some of the last remaining populations of large European mammal species, including predators. The location of the Carpathian mountain forests is a critical interface with the densely populated and highly urbanized European continent.