ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL VALUE OF EUROPEAN MOUNTAINS

Abstract

Europe has numerous mountain ranges situated in the territories of most countries. European mountains have a key importance for the numbers and diversity of flora and fauna, so they are called the “ecologically underestimated spine of Europe”. Despite the fact that individual mountain ranges reveal high geographical and natural diversification and are situated in countries conducting various economic policies, still so called mountain issues are similar. These comprise maintaining biodiversity, water protection, natural environment protection and creating centers of tourism, recreation and services. However, the most important current problem of the European mountain areas is preserving demographic substance, which is an initial condition for maintaining environmental adequacy and economic importance of the mountains.