OUR VISION
and Commitments
Our intention is to turn the attention of the public towards the hidden life of large predators and wildlife of Transylvanian forests and thus increase awareness of woodland preservation.
Being the proud owner of a qualified Virgin Forest, we have the duty to set an example in preserving an intact environment. We would like to create the possibility for people to discover a spot of virgin forest in the ”green heart” of the Carpathians, get acquainted with an enhanced coexistence between humans and nature and to form a buffer territory where species can be observed in their natural habitat.
Doug and Kris Tompkins, both American conservationists, have been guests of the owners of the Zabola Estate in 2008. They inspired the Roy Chowdhury family which directed them towards a sustainable forest management. Eventually this led to a certification of one part of their Estate as a virgin forest recognized by the Romanian state authorities (Notification No. 358/2018 of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change). Further, with the guidance of Paul Lister (UK conservationist, founder of the European Nature Trust) the idea of a protective zone was developed which now covers an overall 3500 ha of private forest in Covasna county.
INTO THE WOODS
A visit to the virgin forest of Dobrica
Maintaining some of the few privately owned virgin forests in Transylvania is a great honour for us as well as a huge responsibility. We hope our thoughtful administration of this special forest resource can set a benchmark for forest habitat conservation and sustainability.
HABITAT CONSERVATION
A lovely spot to watch the wildlife
Careless forest management and intensive agriculture disrupts woodland and open land habitats and causes habitat degradation and loss.
For the past 10 years, we have been working to create a refuge area, including 500 hectares of deciduous and pinewood forests, where animals can roam freely. We aim to minimise disturbance and create an environment for indigenous species free from chainsaws and poachers, in which wildlife can be observed in a non-intrusive manner.
In order to facilitate this we have set up a sound alarm system: a ’technological forest watch. We also erected two photo hides and observation points from which amateur and professional photographers and nature lovers can observe the abundance of wildlife in the Carpathian Curve.
WETLAND PROJECT
Rebirth of a lost world
Wetlands have long been a part of the Transylvanian Highlands. Together with the oxbow lakes of the rivers Feketeügy/Râul Negru and Olt they form a breeding ground for migratory birds.
Land drainage and water course regularisation was the main objective of 19th-century agriculture. This helped increase farmland but started a process of soil degradation and erosion of wetland habitats. Conservation Transylvania wants to reverse the process and reclaim territories for water birds.
Reestablishing a former wetland can help water birds colonise the area and generate a new trophic level in the food chain. It can also raise groundwater levels, helping surrounding pastures to regenerate in the dry season.
Read more about our program on our dedicated website www.conservationtransylvania.com.