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Description
Most of the protected natural areas from Romania are threatened by irreversible degradation, they are only included in the legislative acts but they are not really managed by any entity. The situation become worse in 2019 when the former custodians were abusively removed by the state, being replaced by territorial structures of National Agency for Natural Protected Areas, structures unable to manage about 25% of Romania''s land territory. In this daily context, the media and NGOs notify and report flagrant abuses and violations of the specific environmental legislation, which lead to irreparable degradation of the natural values for which these protected natural areas have been designated. NGOs such as Association for the Biological Diversity Conservation and Propark have the obligation to be actively involved in attracting citizens in educational, monitoring and civic activism activities in order to maintain on long-term the values of natural heritage existing in the region of Moldova and to contribute as much as possible in the fight for reducing climate warming, accentuated in our case by deforestation. For our organization, the establishment of the volunteer center is a strategic objective, because volunteering is an important factor in the development of education and training of prospective team members and to increase social solidarity of the target groups that contribute to achieving our mission. Another important direction of action of us and Propark in this project is the education, empowerment and activation of the general public regarding the necessity of nature conservation and combating climate change. The target group is formed by young people aged 14-35, characterized by the desire for change, those citizens who are saturated with discussions without visible results on this topic and want concrete actions and immediate involvement.
Summary of project results
At the time this project was conceived, Romania was undergoing significant changes in the administration of its protected areas, creating a landscape where newly established structures were tasked with managing approximately 25% of the country’s territory—an immense responsibility. This project emerged to address a pressing need: actively engaging citizens in educational initiatives and civic activism to ensure the long-term preservation of natural heritage values in the Moldovan region.
The project unfolded through various impactful activities. A volunteer program was conducted, involving forty-eight dedicated volunteers who carried out monitoring activities across 289 protected areas and issued over 100 notifications to authorities regarding environmental degradation. Furthermore, six Wildlife Clubs were established, offering approximately 100 activities that engaged 493 young people. In addition, a photo and video contest focused on climate change and environmental protection attracted 79 participants, fostering awareness and creativity around these critical issues.
In terms of training and capacity building, the organization conducted eight in-person training sessions, empowering 220 individuals to take informed, active citizenship actions in support of protected areas. Additionally, four webinars were held, engaging 73 participants and further extending the project’s impact.
This project aligns closely with the organization’s mission to conserve threatened species and habitats and to promote sustainable development in collaboration with local communities. Since its founding in 2003, this mission has been central to the organization’s efforts, and this project has significantly contributed to its ongoing conservation work.