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Description
The general objective of the project is to improve ecological status in targeted ecosystems, reducing the negative effects of human activities and reducing vulnerability to the impact of climate change. Thus, the main goal of the project is the restoration of 12 wetlands/peatlands, cumulating a surface of 720.76 ha clustered in geographical zone of North-East 1 region (Suceava county) and Center region (Sibiu and Brasov county). For each of the targeted sites restoration schemes were already established, being available on the website of the call.
Within the project implementation, for each site considered for reconstruction, specific mechanical interventions will be done in order to stop drainage, limit water loss through evapotranspiration, connect fragmented sites, limit anthropogenic activities within the site, waste collection, etc.
Another category of ecological activities will be also undertaken in order to overcome biodiversity loss - ex situ conservation of some endangered peatland phytotaxa and invasive species control. Activities to improve ecosystem services, such as people''s livelihood and attraction for tourism, will be promoted through communication and education events and involvement of local communities.
In order to evaluate the success of restoration/reconstruction, some monitoring activities will be carried out too, including assessment of water table, of CO2 emissions, vegetation recovery and dynamics (indicator species) etc. The societal output from restoration to local communities will be evaluate by contact and dialog with local people, industry, and local authorities.
Summary of project results
Improving the ecological state of ecosystems, reducing the negative effects of human activities, and reducing vulnerability to the impact of climate change, by restoring 12 wetlands and peatlands in the North-East 1 Region of Romania, cumulating a total area of 7,19 sq km is the main challenge of the PeatRO2 project.
The project activities were developed for the following peatlands/wetlands: Tinovul Găina Lucia (SV-004), Bahna Sunătorul Mare-Valea Stânii (SV-016), Mlaștina Tinovul Mare Poiana Stampei (SV-001), Tinovul de lângă drum – Lucina (SV-020), Tinovul Vestic Lucina (SV-021), Tinovul Estic Lucina (SV-022), Tinovul Balhui Coșna (SV-026), Terenul tinovos din spatele școlii Coșna (SV-027), Teșna Românești (SV-028), Tinovul Teșna (SV-029), Avrig (SB-013), Stupini (BV-004).
In connection with programme outcomes/outputs regarding “the achievement/preserving the good ecological status of the restored ecosystems”, one of the project activities refers to the ex-situ conservation of specific peatlands plant species, measure which make possible, on long term, their re-introduction into restored habitats in case of biodiversity losses.
Technical activities aiming the restoration of 12 selected wetlands and peatlands from the North-East 1 Region of Romania, pursued 4 technical specific objectives during project implementation, respectively:
- Restoring the structure and functions of 12 degraded peatland/wetland ecosystems. The result of this activity is considered also the main result of the project, namely the restoration of 12 wetlands/peatlands, of a total area of 720.76 ha, from the North-East 1 Region of Romania (https://www.ibiol.ro/peatro2/sites.html).
- Reducing the effects of climate change of 12 degraded peatland/wetland ecosystems in the North-East 1 Region of Romania; from scientific point or view, the effects of climate changes are connected with biodiversity losses and carbon emissions.
- Increasing the level of knowledge of local communities, stakeholders and the general public regarding the importance of peatlands/wetlands in the North-East 1 Region, thus decreasing of the anthropogenic pressure on peatland/wetland ecosystems.
- Support for local communities in mitigating and adapting to a changing climate, considering that an educated public will prevent threats and should be able to adapt to the nowadays challenges in the field of climate change and extreme phenomena.
The planned and developed project activities, entirely fulfilled, referred to:
- Elaboration of preparatory documents necessary for the implementation of measures dedicated to ecosystems restoration;
- Equipment purchase for technical-scientific measurements;
- Establishing and implementing a monitoring system for the periodic assessment of peatlands/wetlands status (peatlands water level or peatlands scarcity/lack of water, measurements of the peatland water chemical parameters);
- The implementation of restoration works and monitoring the works and their effects for each individual peatland;
- Ex-situ conservation of plant species specific to peatlands for introduction into restored habitats;
- Promoting restored wetlands and peatlands for ecotourism and improving the livelihood of local communities;
- Ecological education in peatlands and the importance of peatlands restoration;
- Providing "green-training" for entrepreneurs for economic development in local communities - raising awareness for wetlands from these areas;
Implementation of the project communication plan for general public, as well as for scientific world – with focus on dissemination of information related to the the objectives and impact of the EEA FM 2014-2021 grants, to the project results, highlighting the bilateral cooperation between project promoter and Norwegian project partner.
The implementation of the project activities led to the following achievements/ results:
- 12 restoration plans (one for each peatland/wetland) with agreements from protected area custodians and local authorities;
- A final technical report, demonstrating that the proposed activities improved the functions of the restored ecosystems within the project;
- 12 restored wetlands/peatlands from the North – East 1 Region of Romania, having a total area of 7,19 sq km, with improved ecosystem status;
- 30,000 peoples benefiting from the restored peatlands;
- ex-situ conservation of marches specific plant species for re-introduction into restored habitats (a number of 12 typical species were preserved in seed collections);
- developing protocols for introduction in vitro collection of cells and tissues with high regeneration potential (for 5 species);
- promoting restored marches and peatlands for ecotourism and improving livelihoods, by: creating an ecotourism development plan for promoting restored peatlands; creating the mobile version of the web page for each site (in Romanian and English) and QR codes for each site; creating and distributing informative brochures;
- developing ecological education and providing training to a number of 138 pupils from 8 classes of 3 secondary schools, on the importance of restoring peatlands;
- "eco-training" for economic development in local communities, by carrying out a number of 9 demonstrations and training of 15 beneficiaries, belonging to 9 local contractors from different areas of entrepreneurship and local institutions;
- implementation of the Communication Plan and organizing 3 information events: the project launch conference, 1 seminar on the exchange of experience - challenges and problems, and the closing conference of the project;
- development of the project''s bilingual web page (https://www.ibiol.ro/peatro2/ro/detalii.html) and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/PeatRO.IBB/?locale=ro_RO – creating more than 60 posts (photos, films) regarding the activities carried out in the field, educational and informational activities, etc. A web page dedicated to the project and a social media account were created, and permanently updated.
- 12 informative panels, installed in the field in each peatland. For each restored peatland, a panel placed on the site ensure transparent and correct information dissemination about the project funds, the purpose, the objectives and also about the results of the project and its impact on factors of local interest.
- 2 scientific articles published following participation in various national and international conferences, disseminating the project results (https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12030473, chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.animalsciencejournal.usamv.ro/pdf/2023/issue_2/Art76.pdf).
The project results and activities addressed to a large category of people, both from the residents and from the science field.
The beneficiaries of project results are: inhabitants; land owners; local authorities; Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests; Environmental Protection Agencies; professional research organizations on a national level and from abroad (state and private universities, research institutions, NGOs, etc.); students, graduates and young researchers, researchers with different degrees of experience (professionals); pupils and other private persons (non-professionals with a desire in acquiring knowledge).
Summary of bilateral results
Entire project implementation period was an active exchange of knowledge, materials and ideas between the Romanian researchers and the Norwegian researchers from Norwegian Institute for Nature Conservation Research (NINA), partner in the project, and the collaboration with the experts of the Norwegian partner NINA revealed the main similarities and differences between the peatland ecosystems in Norway and Romania. During working visit in Romania, the Norwegian partner NINA experts emphasized the differences between the characteristics of the peatland sites in Norway and Romania, as well as, implicitly, the restoration activities that are undertaken. The Norwegian experts explained in detail the working methods they apply for restoration and those for monitoring the effectiveness of the measures undertaken.The Norwegian partners appreciated the way in which the restoration activities within the project are implemented and also made some constructive suggestions, which led to added value in the implementation of the project''s activities through: additions regarding the structure of the restoration plans, suggestions regarding the content of the web pages for the presentation and promotion of the restored sites for ecotourism, exchange of information and educational materials, as well as, the effective participation in the classroom and in restored sites visits (ex.: training on the occasion of the visit to the Coșna Secondary School), by providing materials on how the eco-training of local contractors is carried out in Norway, by participating in different events held within the project (online or in person), having presentation related to project activities and results (such as: ”Peatland restoration – Using the mitigation hierarchy as a guideline”, ”Promoting restored forests and peatlands for ecotourism and livelihood improvement – how and what to measure?”).