The project "AGROECOLOGY - opportunities and perspectives for rural communities", proposed by the Women?s Association for Environment Protection and Sustainable Development, arose from the urgent need to take specific actions in order to promote the development of climate innovative agroecology.
Activities were carried out to promote the principles of agroecology in the Camenca River Basin by strengthening the capacities of farmers and water users, in order to adapt and mitigate climate change (fertilizer management, water saving, drought adaptation, planting forest strips, river strips), etc.), as well as by promoting the creation of forest lands.
The project was a response to the challenges faced by environmental protection field today. The project was developed in line with the SGP National Strategy, area covered by the project being Component 1 and 2 PGM of EO6: Climate innovative agroecology; Conservation of the terrestrial landscape at community level. The project proposed a model of integration of environmental protection actions with local socio-economic development through the promotion and realization of activities aimed at improving the quality of life in local communities, based on the sustainable use of resources in the project implementation pilot area.
On the one hand, the project had activities that attracted the attention of the population, farmers, non-governmental organizations and economic agents, at the integration of environmental protection principles, sustainable development and green economic development, the promotion of agroecology, climate change mitigation and adaptation; it was raised the level of knowledge on environmental protection among the population, especially young people and women. On the other hand, the project had activities aimed to reduce the negative impact of economic activity on the environment and improve measures to prevent pollution; it was ensured the rational use, protection and conservation of natural resources of surface waters and improved soil quality and ecological reconstruction of degraded lands, affected by landslides, and protection of strips of rivers, lakes and agricultural lands, etc.
The project was implemented mainly on the territory of the Camenca River Basin - an area that it?s recognized as the repository of some of the most picturesque natural landscapes and the most valuable cultural-historical and ethnographic objectives, with a great ecotourism potential in Republic of Moldova. It includes within its limits numerous monuments of nature, both floristic and faunal: coral reefs "Bute?ti", Cobani, Stânca Mare, "?ara Bâtlanilor", the reservation "P?durea Domneasc?", that are just a few landmarks that point the special value of this region.
Despite this special value, the Camenca River Basin is subject to a major risk of degradation. In recent decades, there has been a violent anthropogenic impact that has had as an immediate effect of degradation of the quality of small river waters and the ecological balance in this area, also, a degradation of natural and cultural heritage.
A key factor in promoting this process of degradation of the quality of aquatic resources and the environment, has been - and still continues to be - the non-participation of local communities in solving environmental problems, low ecological awareness, and poor public information on the importance of protection of resources and values of the historical natural and cultural heritage of the region.
In order to achieve this goal and to successfully implement the planned activities, the Women's Association for Environmenl Protection and Sustainable Development cooperated with the District Councils of Rascani, Glodeni and Falesti, with the city halls of the villages that have rivers along the River Basin, with schools, local business owners, villagers of the territory of Camenca River Basin and adjacent regions. At the same time, the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment had an important role in the implementation of the project, as well as other environmental non-governmental organizations and business owners from the national agricultural and food industry.
THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE of the project is to contribute to the promotion and support of land management practices, natural resources and water resources, the promotion of good environmental practices, including the preservation of the terrestrial landscape, the adaptation and mitigation of the effects of climate change in localities from the Camenca River Basin.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE 1: Promoting the principles of agroecology, promoting the creation of forest landscapes at Camenca River Basin.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE 2: Enhanced basin co-operation for Camenca's RB ecological rehabilitation, promotion of agroecology, land conservation principles, and proper water resources management.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE 3: Increasing the awareness and information of the local community and authorities regarding the promotion and application of environment friendly production technologies.
In order to achieve the proposed objectives and carry out the activities planned within the project ?AGROECOLOGY - opportunities and perspectives for rural communities? we targeted below specific groups: - Small and medium farmers, who are users of aquatic resources, are both the main target group and the main beneficiaries; - Local communities, local population, economic agents, women involved in the management of natural resources; - Young people from the schools involved in the project and from the region, who are involved in activities such as educational program, composting of vegetable waste, educational events, information sessions, workshops, planting works, etc. - Local and district public authorities and their subordinate institutions; - Interested NGOs and the scientific community;
The beneficiaries of the project are: - The population of the villages located in Camenca RB; - Farmers who will participate in seminars, - Economic agents from the region; - Schools and young people who will participate in the educational program; - The women involved in the management of the resources will also, be involved in the project activities; - City halls and economic agents that will benefit from the arranged tourist stop, planted trees, etc.
In order to achieve the objectives proposed in the project, the WAEPD team carried out following activities:
G.A.1. Activities related to the promotion of agroecology principles at the Camenca River Basin.
- Were organized 3 seminars / workshops for farmers with the themes:
a) Correct use of fertilizers;
b) Conservation and rational use of soil moisture;
c) Promoting ecological methods in soil planning, etc.
- Was conducted a survey of the population, especially of small and medium farmers, on: the use of fertilizers and the impact on health, the use of compost, etc .;
- An educational program, "Schools for a green future", was conducted in order to teach them about waste composting and school yard landscaping, in the context of promoting agroecology and conservation of the landscape. The program was conducted in 9 educational institutions from the basins of the rivers Glodeanca and C?ld?ru?a, tributaries of the river Camenca;
- Ecological classes were organized and held with the participation of young people from schools involved in the project, also were organized meetings to summarize the activities.
G.A.2. Activities related to enhanced basin co-operation for the ecological rehabilitation of Camenca HB in order to promote agroecology, principles of land-use conservation and good management of water resources.
- 13 ha of riparian strip of small rivers in Camenca RB were afforested/planted;
- Communities were mobilized in the implementation of local development initiatives (greening of banks, sanitation of the banks of the tributary Glodeanca, over a distance of 30 km, etc.)
G.A.3. Activities related to increasing the awareness and information of the local community and the authorities regarding the promotion and application of environment friendly production technologies, ecological products, application of adaptation and mitigation of the effects of climate change on agricultural production, proper management of aquatic resources and the need to preserve the terrestrial landscape.
- Meeting to totalize the project activities, announce the results and continue the development of this region.
- It was carried out a campaign to publicize and disseminate information and project results:
a) Elaboration and editing:
- Guide for farmers "Agroecology, adaptation and mitigation of climate change";
- Leaflet on the preparation of compost at home and its use;
- Brochure - Activities and results of the project;
b) Articles in local and national media;
Placing the information on the medium.md website and the pages on social networks.
The information was shared on the website mediu.md and social media pages.
IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD: September 2019 ? February 2021.
TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET: 60750.23 USD
Total grant amount: USD 30355.97
Total amount obtained from other funding sources: 30394.26 USD
(50% represents funds provided by the GEF Small Grants Program, implemented by UNDP, and another 50% represents the co-financing of AFPMDD and its partners).
RESULTS:
The project aimed to stimulate the involvement of communities, especially farmers, young people and women in improving the ecological status of the Camenca River Basin (RB) and the proper management of natural and aquatic resources by: promoting agroecology and rational exploitation of natural resources, in order to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change, promoting of improved conditions for marketing and use of plant protection products to reduce the impact on users, consumers and aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, involvement of communities, businesses in the sustainable development of this region. Over 500 mayors, small and medium farmers, stakeholders, population were informed about the practice of agroecology and the application of alternative methods.
The young participants were trained and involved in composting activities from biodegradable waste (vegetables, managers, etc.) and creating demonstration fields by organizing and conducting the educational program "Schools for a Green Future".
Young people from schools in 9 villages located in the Glodeanca river basin participated in the educational program "Schools for a green future". Within this program, young people passionate about Nature from the Theoretical High School "Vasile Coroban" and "Dimitrie Cantemir" Gymnasium from Glodeni, from the Gymnasiums from Du?mani village, Ciuciulea, Vii?oara, Cajba, Hîjdieni (all from Glodeni district Chetri), gymnasiums (Falesti district) and Malinovscoe Gymnasium (Rascani district) learned "How to prepare compost - a simple and nutritious fertilizer for your garden". In each school the young people created facilities for composting vegetable waste and obtained compost that is used for flowers in the school hall, or for plants in the school garden. Other topics were: "The garden in the school yard, or how children learn to grow healthy food", "Increasing energy efficiency in schools", "Creative communication on environmental protection, stopping and adapting to climate change". Around 150 young people and 20 teachers-program coordinators from each school participated in this program.
7 installations were created for the preparation of compost from vegetable waste. The meetings with teachers, the ecological classes presented by the project implementation team in each school, increased the capacity of teachers in presenting topics related to ecological education and culture. As a result of these ecological education activities in the project "AGROECOLOGY - opportunities and perspectives for rural communities", young people from these schools, guided by teachers-coordinators carried out 7 ecological projects, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Austrian Agency for Development.
Consolidated basin cooperation for the ecological rehabilitation of Camenca RB. AFPMDD, in partnership with the city halls of Danu, Cobani, Balatina, Hîjdieni and Vii?oara communes in Glodeni district, planted about 13 ha of riparian strip of Glodeanca and Camenca rivers. Thus, in accordance with European norms, the foundations have been laid for an ecological corridor that will protect waters against evaporation and will make a connection with the ?Royal Forest? reservation, forming a local ecological network.
Communities were mobilized to implement local development initiatives. Within the implemented projects, the young people passionate about nature, together with the population from the villages, and LPA participated in the sanitation of the river banks, of the water basins.
It has increased the awareness and information of the local community, as well as of the authorities, regarding the promotion and application of environment friendly production technologies, etc. It has also increased the visibility of the importance of the practice and development of agroecology, the need to conserve the landscape, the good management of aquatic resources and biodegradable waste, in the context of sustainable development of rural communities by editing educational materials.
Materials published in the project, such as: The guide for farmers in the format A3; COMPOST leaflet, about home compost preparation and its use; The activities and brochures of the project are also tools that the target groups involved in the project will be able to use in the future to develop their own projects at the local level.
Following the activities carried out, after several discussions with young people passionate about nature, teachers, local and district public authorities, farmers and civil society, we set out to look for opportunities to continue this project and implement it throughout the territory of Camenca RB, maybe replication nationwide.
PROBLEMS:
During the implementation of the project, in addition to the impediments indicated in the interim narrative report, the Women's Association for Environment Protection and Sustainable Development, together with it partner II Anastasia Colibaba, encountered bureaucratic difficulties from the Central Environmental Authorities, and other Authorities that withheld development permits for the tourist stop. Therefore, we had to change the destination of the amounts provided and use it for the planting of the riparian strips. In this way we planted another 11 ha of riparian strip of Camenca and Glodeanca rivers, in partnership with 4 city halls in Glodeni district, located along these rivers.
Another problem was the establishment of the restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, due to traffic restrictions and distance rules imposed by the authorities, weather conditions, the drought that was this year, bureaucracy in public institutions from the Republic of Moldova, we were affected by the good development of the educational program and the evaluation of the work submitted by the young people, and we didn?t have the opportunity to gather them all together to get to know each other. But we managed to complete the activities with results. In order to award and hand over certificates of participation, we went to each school separately, the young people prepared evaluation programs of the activities.
LESSONS LEARNED:
Within the project implementation we learned once again how important is the involvement of the local community and its active participation in all types of initiatives. The consultation and information of the locals is crucial in the successful achievement of this type of projects.
We?ve learned that in such complex projects, containing various types of activities, there are a lot of unforeseen costs and unexpected activities so this has to be indicated in the project proposal both in terms of planning and budget.
The lessons learned for teachers and young people involved in the project activities are:
- The importance of developing team spirit, involving young people in carrying out practical activities of composting biodegradable waste and disseminating information to stakeholders and the public.
- The importance of the participation of young people in the creation of composting installations and the responsibility for supervising the composting process, in order to obtain a valuable fertilizer for agriculture, which can replace large quantities of chemical fertilizers;
- The participation of young people in the creation of a small garden in the school yard, for which minimal effort is made.