Project Detail

Local communities’ involvement in biodiversity conservation within Bison Land area

The monastic communities, which are concentrated in the northern and central part of the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park, are home to about 1,100 monks and nuns. Thus, the area represents the second largest Christian monastic concentration in Europe, after that of Mt. Athos, Greece. Centuries of monastic land ownership and the long-standing continuous presence of large monastic communities have shaped the landscape in a particular way and today the entire area is a unique expression of monastic settlements within a forested area. Even today, each monastic community still indulges in traditional activities that have no significant negative impact on the environment. Vanatori Neamt Nature Park is a Natura 2000 site, but also an important tourist area, especially the monastic zone.
Based on the above-mentioned, the project ?The involvement of monastic communities in biodiversity conservation within Bison Land area?, proposed by Ecosilvex 2000 Piatra Neamt Foundation, intend to obtain certain environment benefits through this involvement. The monastic communities represent a good example for local communities, for pilgrims and for tourists. For this reason the impact area of this project will be bigger than the monastic area. The level of nature protection and communities? participation in VNNP will be upgraded due to this project.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Ecosilvex 2000 Piatra Neamt

Country:

Romania

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity
Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

OP4 - Y2 (Jul 08 - Jun 09)

Grant Amount:

US$ 43,574.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 17,434.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 10,800.00

Project Number:

ROM/SGP/OP4/Y2/CORE/08/01

Start Date:

12/2008

End Date:

11/2009

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

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Project Characteristics and Results

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

1000 locals (including monastic communities) will be involved in information activities, 90 persons (including school population) will participate in trainings and seminars 200 persons participate in practical cleaning activities developed within the project.

Capacity - Building Component

Special trainings and information activities will be organized, in order to develop the local capacity related to importance of biodiversity and the sustainable use of its resources. The school population will be trained in specific methods for biodiversity inventory.

Notable Community Participation

The local community from Agapia and Vanatori Neamt (including the monastic community: the second big Orthodox community from Europe) and two local authorities are involved in project activities and co-finance the project.

Project sustainability

The new concept introduced by the actual SGP project ?natural sites with sacred value? was fully adopted by the local community, including authorities, who understood the importance of biodiversity conservation and the advantages for local community. The Local Councils will continue to promote this concept within all local events (?The days of the Vanatori Neamt Commune?, Folklore Festivals etc.), they assumed the continuation of selective waste collection and committed funds for this; the ECOSILVEX 2000 Foundation together with the Administration of the Natural Park Vanatori Neamt will continue to up-date the biologic inventory with the participation of laic and monastic communities on anual basis and to valorise these data by developing a school manual for an optional discipline; the local population income will continue to increase by the valorisation of the 3 local products certified within this project. The project partners (under the coordination of the Natural Park Administration) submitted an application for financing from EU structural funds (Operational Programme Environment) which was successful, thus the biodiversity conservation, in particular the bison specie, will continue.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

The project location is situated in a Natura 2000 site and its activities promote public awareness regarding the biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of its resources.

Linkages gef projects

The project location is within the Natural Park Vanatori Neamt, protected area established within the large GEF project ?The management of the Biodiversity Conservation?(1999-2006). The structures and infrastructure established in the large GEF project were used within the SGP project and its activities contributed to the park development and conservation.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The project supports the local populations to increase their income through: - development and improvement of tourism services (especially in the monastic area) - sustainable use of biodiversity resources and certification of local products - integrated waste management (selective collection and recycling) - revitalization and valorization of the traditional handicrafts

Gender Focus

The project targets significant women communities. 700 women are involved in biodiversity conservation activities, information events, trainings and practical actions organized within the project (sanitation, processing biodiversity based products).

Policy Influence

The project?s activities related to waste management in rural/touristic areas (including selective collection, recycling and valorisation) influenced the local policies. The Local Councils from Agapia and Vanatori issued 2 special regulations regarding the waste management.

Project Results

1. One biologic inventory of the Natural Park Vanatori Neamt developed with the laic and monastic communities.
2. Two trainings for school population on biodiversity conservation and on methods used for biologic inventory.
3. One workshop established in a school (Vanatori Neamt Commune) for traditional handicrafts.
4. Two information campaigns sustained (on biologic inventory and on ?natural sites with sacred value?) and 6 promotion materials printed in 600 copies each (1 on project promotion, 2 on biodiversity conservation, 1 on sustainable use of natural resources, 2 on natural sites with sacred value)
5. Three registered trademarks (certified by the State Office for Inventions and Marks) for three local traditional products.
6. 650 waste collection facilities acquired and installed in rural areas and in tourism interest locations.
7. One PET shredder machine acquired, installed and operated.

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Indicators

Biophysical

Hectares of globally significant biodiversity area protected or sustainably managed by project 11000

Biophysical

Tonnes of CO2 decreased or avoided by energy efficient and renewable energy technologies or applying environmentally sustainable transport practices introduced by SGP Project 2

Biophysical

Number of innovations or new technologies developed / applied 1

Empowerment

Number of women participated / involved in SGP project 400

Empowerment

Number of value added labels/certifications/quality standards received or achieved 3

Livehood

Number of individuals (gender diaggregated) who have benefited* from SGP project 700

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