The goal of the project is to reduce the pressure on biodiversity in Retezat National Park (RNP) through helping communities to develop alternative economic activities.
The target communities are the inhabitants of two communes at the north of RNP: Salasul de Sus and Raul de Mori. Most of the economic activities of local population are based on the resources in RNP (forest and alpine pastures). By restricting the exploitation of these resources, the park administration has come into a potential conflict state with the communities. Project aims to find ways for solving these problems between land owners and the park administration.
The project will support ecotourism development as an alternative, non consumptive economic activity and promote the area as an ecotourism destination, also it will decrease the pressure on private forests in RNP by creating a plantation of Christmas trees for the benefit of the association of land owners Plai Groapele.