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Description
In Romania, environmental national policies are developed in an one-way approach (”top-down”), so being less efficient and effective. Strategic planning should be based not only on higher rank strategies but also on problems and solutions identified locally. Thus, feedback from the civil society is ”a must” before any strategy can be approved. Moreover, citizen consultation is rather passive and the accountability of the authorities is sparse and partial, leading to a difficult decision-making process that is hard to be traced by the citizens. This project aims for 2 NGOs to assume the active binding role between citizens and authorities by providing two participative instruments for strategic planning which will ensure citizen involvement and accountability of decisions. These instruments usage (web platform and the mobile application E-Feedback) will be done within a Cooperation Platform framework committed through a Protocol signed by authorities, institutions and civil society representatives (35 entities). The functionality of the Instruments and Cooperation Platform will be put to test in Maramures county, as model representative area, by: i) reviewing the existent Strategy for development of the natural patrimony in Maramures, ii) by developing a Study of impact and resources needed to implement the EU Strategy on biodiversity for 2030 based on a national replicable Methodology. Participative instruments will be promoted to the citizens by an itinerant Caravan in at least 45 communities. Direct project beneficiaries are the citizens of the county, sectoral authorities and political decision-makers but also civil society representative. WWF Romania-Maramures Branch (WWF-Maramures Branch) has a vast experience in promoting sustainable and inter-sectoral approach in local development. GeoMMed holds valuable expertise in strategic planning and development of cooperation for biodiversity conservation.