REVUE ONLINE CONVERSATION 13 MAY 2025

A video of the conversation is available here: https://youtu.be/uKWEJ2962TI?feature=shared

This time, we travelled to one of Europe's last primeval forests, where we encountered unique landscapes, warm hospitality, the potential for sustainable tourism as a long-term source of income, and the ongoing struggle against the deforestation of biodiverse woodlands by a ruthless "timber mafia".
 
Our guests were CIPRIAN COSTA, chairman of Naturefriends Romania and owner of the Naturefriends House “Cabana Codrin”, and MATTHIAS SCHICKHOFER, a photographer and activist committed to protecting Romania's forests and advocating for stricter regulations and sustainable tourism. Romania's "fairytale forests" remain a hidden gem and a true hotspot of biodiversity.

Matthias Schickhofer emphasized that these forests are a European treasure, and their protection concerns us all—not just Romania. In addition to offering interesting insights into various projects—such as the successful mapping of the primeval forests in Domogled National Park, he also shed light on the forest ecosystem, mafia structures, and tourism initiatives and developments.

Ciprian Costa gave participants insight into his daily life running a guesthouse, as well as into recent developments from a Romanian perspective. According to Ciprian, the Naturefriends House is not just a place to eat and drink – it is, above all, a place to experience nature.

Our conclusion: sustainable tourism can be a key solution! Unlike the short-term income generated by selling off natural resources, sustainable, community-based tourism offers a long-term economic lifeline and creates new job opportunities for local people.

TIPP: Article on our tourism_LOG "Sustainable tourism instead of logging" - https://tourismlog.respect.at/rumaenische-urwaelder-nachhaltiger-tourismus-statt-abholzung/#rum%C3%A4nien_englisch