Project Detail

Pedalling and rowing ? Ecotourism in Retezat and the Danube Delta for local community development and biodiversity conservation

The main idea of the project is to contribute to the biodiversity conservation in two of the Biosphere reserves ?Retezat-Tara Hategului? and ?The Danube Delta? by promoting eco-tourism destinations in these areas. Five bike routes will be arranged in the Dinosaurs Geopark Tara Hategului and five routes for oar boats in the North East part of the Danube Delta, paying special attention not disturbing the ?hot spots of biodiversity?. By educating both tourists and providers of tourism services in respecting the nature, valuing and preserving the services offered by mountain and aquatic ecosystems the project contributes to the local capacity development and, as transportation by bike and oar boats means promoting sustainable transport and avoiding GHG emissions, the project also address climate change thematic domain.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Asociatia de Ecoturism din Romania

Country:

Romania

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity
Climate Change Mitigation

Operational Phase:

Phase 5

Grant Amount:

US$ 45,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 28,020.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 23,900.00

Project Number:

ROM/SGP/OP5/CORE/BD/11/02

Start Date:

1/2012

End Date:

5/2013

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

30 persons are involved in training on project management, 40 persons out of 10 women are involved in training on the protected areas natural and cultural values, 20 locals are participating in the marking of the tourist routes, 1000 persons participate in the information activities.

Policy Influence

By promoting the high European standard for Eco-certification, SGP project influenced the decision of the National Authority for Tourism to integrate this concept in the National Strategy for eco-tourism development.

Planning non gef grant

For identifying new eco-destinations all over the country and for preparing the local communities to provide eco-tourism services at a larger scale, the grantee in partnership with other major actors in the field, developed a project proposal which will be submitted for financing under the EEA GRANT programme.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

The information activities contribute to the public awareness on sustainability of protected areas, through sustainable transport promotion.

Project sustainability

The local communities, supported by the NGOs and Local Public Administrations will continue the eco-tourism activities promoted by the project. The locals will continue to produce and sell the local certified products, increasing thus their income.

Capacity - Building Component

The project activities (information materials, training sessions, practical activities) contribute to the capacity building of the local population related to the improvement of sustainability of protected areas, promoting non-motorized transport.

Notable Community Participation

The project partners, Retezat Tourism Association and Ivan Patzachin Association are actually the representatives of the community. They were implicated in the identifying of the local community and institutional needs. Both organizations are in contact with the protected areas administrators and local institutions. The project is co-financed by three NGOs.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The project will contribute to the sustainability of two protected areas of the Biosphere reserves: Dinosaurs Geopark Tara Hategului, ?Retezat-Tara Hategului? and ?The Danube Delta? by promoting eco-tourism destinations in these areas.

Gender Focus

Through the nature of eco-tourism, women get the opportunity, especially from rural areas, to become involved and even to gain a central role through the administration of pensions and in tourist guiding activities.

Replication of project activities

Through the partnership established with the Ministry of Environment and the National Authority for Tourism the SGP project activities regarding the eco-certifications will be extended from the two eco-destinations (promoted through SGP project) to other 8 eco-destinations.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

Through the project will be certified and promoted at least 5 products with the brand "Eco-Romania".

Project Results

- 140,000 ha of protected areas sustainably managed
- 11 (mountain) bike routes marked
- 5 rowing routes (on Danube Delta channels) marked
- 13 products evaluated and 10 of them certified as "Eco-Romania"
- 2 eco-destinations promoted at national and international level
- 4 training sessions for local providers of tourism services, attended by 100 persons (60 women)
- 2 websites created and 1 updated, 1 on-line platform as IT support for the tourists
- 1,000 locals involved in information and training activities
- 6 articles published in "Traveler" magazine with approx. 24,000 readers
- 10,000 promotion materials printed and distributed
- 2 information/education sessions for media representatives organized - followed by 10 articles in central newspapers and 3 TV reportages.
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Indicators

Biophysical

Hectares of globally significant biodiversity area protected or sustainably managed by project 140000

Empowerment

Number of CBOs / NGOs participated / involved in SGP project 3

Empowerment

Number of women participated / involved in SGP project 100

Empowerment

Number of value added labels/certifications/quality standards received or achieved 5

Livehood

Number of individuals (gender diaggregated) who have benefited* from SGP project 1000

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