Raul Targului, proposed location for the FCC Beaver reintroduction programme. FCC is committed to bringing back what has been lost as a result of over hunting, such as beaver and bison

Rangers analysing bear tracks in the Rucar Hunting Area. To obtain a reliable estimate on the current population sizes of key species, FCC use genetic analysis of scat and hair samples in addition to traditional sign surveys such as this

Razvan, Wildlife Ranger. Foundation Conservation Carpathia employs over 60 staff, including rangers, foresters, biologists, communication and education specialists, legal advisers and protected area specialists

Smallholding on the road between Podu Dambovitei and Rucar. Local communities are the key to protected areas, and the Fagaras Mountains are one of the few remaining large areas without human settlements in Europe. Yet, they are surrounded by 28 communes, who have an important connection to the mountains

Members of the wildlife monitoring team patrolling Draganu Peak within the Rucar Hunting Area. In Romania, wildlife management and hunting rights are not linked to land ownership, but are instead administered by the state and auctioned off to private hunting associations. With this in mind, FCC has founded its own hunters association and in doing so, managed to secure multiple hunting concessions, bringing the total area to approximately 70,000 hectares

In order to effectively protect wildlife, FCC has founded its own hunters association and managed to lease hunting concessions for the core area of the project in the upper Dambovita Valley. Together with the adjacent Piatra Craiului National Park [pictured], this translates into an area of 80,000 hectares of hunting free zone.

Chief Ranger Bogdan assessing the bear cage on the outskirts of Rucar village. Understanding the attitudes and beliefs of the local communities, as well as their values and behaviours will help to define reasons for opposition and for FCC to better target their efforts

Wildlife Ranger Florin, photographed on patrol at the ‘chalet’ - a small building used in the summer months by local shepherds

The outskirts of Ciocano Village, in the Dambovicioara Hunting Area. It is a primary goal of the FCC to communicate the benefits of a protected area and to ensure that communities see a change towards the better in their daily lives through the establishment of a protected area

Laviniu on patrol in the Rucar Hunting Area

Animal tracks on a frozen Pecineagu Lake, Izvorul Dambovitei Hunting Area.

Radu and Codrut at the Dobroneagu Forest Replanting Site. The presence of FCC rangers patrolling an area of over 65,000 hectares has lead to a full stop on illegal logging in neighbouring forests

After a bear attacked this smallholding the previous night, FCC rangers lower a bear cage into place. Rather than allowing the bear to be killed, it will instead be sedated and transported back into the mountains. Suspicion amongst local communities is normal for such a project, especially in Romania where local people have been promised an economic uplifting by the state for a long time

Farmer in Ciocano Village. Economically, the rural villages are at a serious disadvantage. This is exacerbated by the younger generations abandoning these communities as they fail to see a future for themselves in the area. The UN Report on Biodiversity observes that initiatives such as this would benefit from an explicit consideration of the views, perspectives and rights of local communities

Up to now, FCC has planted over 1.5 million saplings and restored more than 500 hectares of clear-cut, badly degraded land for the benefit of hundreds of other species that will thrive and prosper in these forests. Here, a local team work at one of the FCC replanting sites

A young worker at the Dobroneagu Spruce Replanting Site

Ranger Bogdan checking the camera traps in the Barsa Hunting Area. This monitoring system has been incredibly successful and as a result, FCC have proved a drop in chamois number. Consequently, the state has put a moratorium on chamois hunting until the population recovers

Aron, Game Warden of Stoenesti Hunting Area. For the FCC to operate their extensive monitoring programme, they must form partnerships with other hunting associations in the area. FCC will eventually try to lease these hunting concessions if they come up for auction. Once declared a National Park, hunting would be banned in the entire area

The border between Piatra Craiului National Park and the Barsa Hunting Area

Razvan collecting samples above Rausorul in the Rucar Hunting Area

Felled forest in a winter storm, Tamas. High above the Dambovita Valley

Feathers on snow, Piatra Craiului National Park

Forest Ranger Mosu, photographed on his land in Magura Village, Piatra Craiului National Park

Alpine meadows in the Barsa Hunting Area

Tracking a wolf pack in the Dambovita Valley. Wolves will generally follow each other’s tracks, making it difficult to determine the size of the pack. It is only at river crossings such as this, where the Wolves are forced to leap across the water, can the exact number of animals be counted

FCC has challenged the traditional wildlife monitoring system which is normally conducted by the hunters themselves and prone to mistakes and falsification, with the goal to obtain higher quotas. The use of camera traps, in addition to the genetic analysis of samples has revolutionised the collection of data in the Carpathian Mountains

Checkpoint in the Dambovicioara Hunting Area

View from the FCC bear hide in the Izvorul Dambovitei Hunting Area. A protected area needs proper infrastructure to attract visitors to specific locations. An example of this, is the development of wildlife hides and lodges for unique wilderness and wildlife experiences

Carpathia

Working in partnership with Romanian NGO Foundation Conservation Carpathia (FCC), ‘Carpathia’ is a work-in-progress, documenting the formation of an emblematic National Park in the Southern Carpathian Mountains of Romania. The gallery of photographs forms a snapshot of the work thus far. The final project will be divided into several ‘chapters’ detailing the various activities associated with forming the new National Park. Work on ‘Carpathia’ began in 2018, as a result of being awarded the Royal Photographic Society ‘Environmental Bursary’ in association with The Photographic Angle and Metro Imaging.

When it comes to economic data, Romania is nearing the bottom of all of the statistics in the European Union. However, when it comes to environmental statistics, the county comes out on top. Boasting 6 million hectares of forests, it has the largest surface of virgin and unfragmented forest in the Union; the most significant population of large carnivores, where bears, wolves and lynx are still commonly seen in their natural environment; and over 3700 plant species, many of them endemic to the region.

It is said that “the forest is Romania’s brother”, however in recent years, this innate connection to the forests is being put under incredible strain. The restitution of formerly nationalised land, a process that began in 2004, eventually resulted in a new ownership structure of two thirds of Romania’s forests. Communities and landowners associations received larger, contiguous properties, while the majority of private land consisted of smaller parcels with less than 50 hectares. In the years that followed, logging companies bought many of the privately-owned forests, and tremendous deforestation was the outcome. This resulted in large clear-cuts that have painfully scarred vast mountain slopes, leaving the area deserted. The only viable solution to protect these areas from greed and corruption was via direct purchase.

Founded in 2009, Foundation Conservation Carpathia (FCC) is spearheading efforts to protect and restore a significant area within the Southern Carpathians through the creation of a new European Wilderness Reserve. By purchasing large tracts of forests and meadows, FCC ceases logging operations and lease hunting rights to guarantee full protection of all natural elements. Over the past decade, FCC has succeeded in acquiring over 21,000 ha of forests for protection and has managed to create an entirely hunting free area of 36,000 hectares, in addition to planting over 1.5 million saplings and restoring more than 500 hectares of clear-cut land.

The Romanian Carpathians are home to an incredibly diverse mix of wildlife – over 3,500 animal species thrive there, many of which are strictly protected by European law. With few exceptions such as bison and beaver, the entire mammal fauna is still present in viable numbers, including the large carnivores. After the fall of communism, however, numbers of large mammals have suffered from over-hunting, poaching and disturbance through logging. In Romania, wildlife management and hunting rights are not linked to land ownership, but are instead administered by the state and auctioned off to national or private hunting associations.

FCC has founded its own hunter’s association and managed to lease hunting rights for the core area of the project in the Upper Dambovita Valley. Together with the adjacent Piatra Craiului National Park, this translates into an area of 36,000 hectares of hunting free zone.

Additionally, FCC has also challenged the traditional wildlife monitoring system. Ordinarily conducted by the hunters themselves, this process was naturally prone to mistakes and even falsification to obtain higher quotas. In order to achieve a reliable estimate on the current population sizes of key species, FCC has implemented the use of genetic analysis of scat and hair samples as well as the use of camera traps.

By forming partnerships with other hunting associations in the area, FCC hopes to improve the situation while also trying to lease additional concessions if they come up for auction. Once declared a national park, hunting would be banned in the entire area