Description
The project is needed for improvement of the ecosystems condition and aims to assess the state of ecosystems, namely the level of knowledge, information and awareness of the local community about the ecosystem’s services associated with the two sites analyzed. The deliverables are: students trained as technicians, a progress report, 1 joint methodology, 1 data base, inventory records created, 6 specific studies, 3 conferences, 4 workshops, 1 website, public consultations, media releases, documentary movie. The project will achieve its objectives through the implementation of the 5 major activities. It addresses to the following target groups: local population, local and national authorities, cultural institutions, NGOs, associations active in the field of biodiversity, the environment or protected areas, academic staff, teachers, media. The partnership will highlight some models of good practices and will encourage the research methodology transfer between all partners.
Summary of project results
The project undertook and carried out an integrated study focused on the ecosystem typology encountered in the Natura 2000 sites Pricop-Huta Certeze and Tisa Superioara, mapping the habitats and site specificities, analyzing the benefits of these services and investigating the state of (Services of ecosystems in Natura 2000 sites Pricop-Huta Certeze and Tisa Superioara). The study included partial results from several individual studies (water quality, forestry, tourism, demography, etc.). The results of the integrated study were disseminated through oral presentations in the academic environment, publications of scientific papers, press releases, advertisements and press articles, newsletters or documentary film, including through the media channels of the project. Dissemination of the results of the final integrated study was done among all identified local actors in the target group. The major objective of the project was to improve the state of ecosystems and the level of knowledge, information and public awareness of the benefits provided by ecosystem services as well as the importance of keeping them in good condition. The proposed actions to be carried out at the level of the habitats, defining the two sites, correlated with the involvement of the local community, have provided a good practice model regarding the interference of the status of a protected area with the socio-economic needs of the local community. The specific objectives associated with the activities proposed in the project were: implementation of solutions to exploit the benefits of ecosystems from the two Natura 2000 sites investigated; capitalization of ecosystems contribution in protected areas to economic development and welfare of human communities; encouraging actions to conserve habitats and priority species; enhancing the sustainable use of existing natural and cultural heritage; raising awareness among local communities; improving the attitudes of local communities and decision-makers and increasing the level of knowledge of their ecosystem values; raising the awareness of the target group; to educate the general public on existing biodiversity and ecosystems. At project level, the objective was achieved through the publication of an integrated study on ecosystem services disseminated to the beneficiaries of ecosystem services, including recommendations for the rational use of natural resources and their economic capitalization.
Summary of bilateral results
The partnership of the project focused on continuous cooperation and communication on the implemented activities and the way of fulfilling the assumed indicators. The partnership between Romanian and Norwegian partners had concrete results as: (i) updating project website; (ii) preparation of a presentation on the partnership (Eivind Aronsen, CS III at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research); (iii) participation in the project opening conference of a member of the Norwegian partner team, organized in Cluj-Napoca on November 25, 2015; (iv) participation in the press conference of a member of the Norwegian partner team, organized in Cluj-Napoca on November 25, 2015; (v) visit (14-18.11.2016) of Norwegian partners (and of Halley Duncan and Eivind Aronsen experts), in Romania, participating with project promoter and national partner, in all information, dissemination and awareness events. During the press conference (14.11.2016, Baia Mare), the Norwegian partners had interventions, radio and TV interviews related to partnership and project themes. In the framework of the public consultations, the Norwegian partners and Halley Duncan, added concrete examples of Norwegian local authorities’ intervention in similar situations to those from Romania. During the workshop (18.11.2016) Halley Duncan gave a presentation on the Norway's Best Practices on Biodiversity Conservation. Within the above-mentioned timeframe all the participants made field trips in the 2 Natura 2000 sites. Halley Duncan identified the existence of castor habitats on the Tisa - Teceu shores and outlined possible management measures to be applied to Upper Tisa Natura 2000 site. A documentary film including the Norwegian partners’ interviews on how they relate to biodiversity and conservation measures in the context of a human community that puts pressure on existing natural resources was realized. Norwegian partners gave consultancy and feedback on promoter studies, including the completion of certain aspects related to ecosystem services. Duncan Halley and Răzvan Bătinaş coordinated the volume entitled "Ecosystem services in protected areas Natura 2000 Pricop-Huta Certeze and Tisa Superioara", published in Cluj-Napoca. During fieldtrip of November 2016, some remarks related to the presence of beaver in the meadows of Tisa River were made by Norwegian partner. Norwegian expertise and knowledge contributed to the high quality of the integrated study and project implementation.