Responsible community – conserved terrestrial landscape

sigla_proiect

The “Responsible community – conserved terrestrial landscape” project is being carried out by the Ecological Movement from Moldova with the support of the GEF Small Grants Program, implemented by UNDP, which addresses the issue of the conservation of the terrestrial landscape at community and national level. The implementation of the project will be carried out in the pilot region “Orheiul Vechi” Cultural-Natural Reserve, located on the territory of Trebujeni, Ivancea, Piatra, Susleni, Mascauti, Holercani, Marcauti and Molovata. Additionally, the issues related to establishing a dialogue between the parties involved in the project, as well as the publicity and visibility of the project will be carried out at national level.

Implementation period: August 2017 – October 2018.

The aim of this project is to develop a model for capitalizing and preserving the landscape at the community level in the pilot cultural area of ​​Orheiul Vechi and to initiate a process of completing and adjusting the legislative framework for landscape preservation at national level.

In this context, a number of specific objectives have been drawn up reflecting the priorities of this project:

  • Objective 1: Valorisation and promotion of biodiversity, landscape, flora and fauna in the „Orheiul Vechi” cultural-natural reserve by developing a birdwatching thematic touristic route and promoting the representative species in the area.
  • Objective 2: Creating the conditions for the development of natural habitats, wild flora and fauna by restoring 8 ha of forest or forest curtains in the „Orhei Vechi” Cultural-Natural Reserve or adjacent areas.
  • Objective 3: Establishing a dialogue between central public authorities, civil society and academia on the need to create and adjust the legislative framework for the protection and preservation of the terrestrial landscape.
  • Objective 4: Raising awareness and informimg authorities and local communities regarding the need to preserve the terrestrial landscape.

Through the proposed objectives and planned activities, the project “Responsible community – conserved terrestrial landscape” addresses specific target groups:

  • local and central public authorities (municipalities from the pilot-region villages as well as adjacent regions, the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment and its subordinated institutions, forest enterprises);
  • Interested NGOs and the scientific community;
  • the local communities, entrepreneurs and young people from the region.

The beneficiaries of the project are:

  • Administration of the Natural-Cultural Reserve „Orheiul Vechi”, which will benefit from a new product: the tourist sightseeing and birdwatching route;
  • Municipalities of the villages from the cultural-natural reserve area, on whose territories will be rehabilitated 8 ha of forest curtains;
  • Students and teachers who will participate in environmental classes;
  • Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, to which will be presented a recommendation document on completing and adjusting the legislative framework in the field of landscape preservation;
  • Entrepreneurs from the the tourism industry who will participate in a study visit and will be able to diversify their offer by including birdwatching in their tourist progammes.

In order to achieve the objectives proposed in the project, the MEM team will carry out a number of activities:

  • Identification and marking of a birdwatching trail in Orheiul Vechi;
  • Promoting the representative fauna and flora species in the pilot area by developing and printing an informative leaflet and supporting 10 thematic environmntal classes in schools from the villages included in the „Orheiul Vechi” Natural-Cultural Reserve;
  • Elaboration of a rehabilitation plan of 8 ha of forest protection or forest curtains;
  • Identification and preparation of the prmotional material and its quantity;
  • Performing rehabilitation works;
  • Conducting information sessions on the rehabilitation of the forest curtains and the benefits they bring;
  • Post rehabilitation evaluation;
  • Organizing consultation and lobby meetings on the need to create and adjust the legislative framework to protect and preserve the terrestrial landscape;
  • Conduct a publicity campaign on the value and necessity of preserving biodiversity, as well as creating and adjusting the legislative framework for the protection and preservation of the terrestrial landscape (press conferences, thematic radio programs, video reports, articles in the print media).

Total project budget: € 99,540.00 (50% represents funds provided by the GEF Small Grants Program, implemented by UNDP, and another 50% represents the co-financing of MEM and its partners).

The “Responsible community – conserved terrestrial landscape” project contributes to the development of the “Conservation of the Earth Landscape at Community Level” area,  which is the SGP nr. 1 Component of EO6 and proposes activities that will contribute to achieving the Program’s objectives. The project reflects the needs identified in a series of documents and agreements of national and international importance that contain provisions on the preservation of the landscape and biodiversity and to which the Republic of Moldova is a signatory state:
- The Environmental Strategy 2013-2023,
- The Biological Diversity Strategy of the Republic of Moldova for the years 2015-2020,
- the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, adopted in Bonn,
- The European Landscape Convention, adopted in Florence,
- Convention on Biological Diversity,
- Provisions iof the 16th Chapter of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement.

The project also complements, through its specific objectives, the initiatives of the USAID Competitiveness Project in Moldova regarding the development of tourism in the Orheiul Vechi cultural-natural reserve.

Products:

Radio:

1. Radio Moldova Actualități (Matinal de Weekend) -  Interview with Elena Scobioala (16.09.2017)

2. Radio EcoFM (Între DA și NU) - Interview with Aurel Lozan and Elena Scobioală (16.11.2017)

3. Radio Vocea Basarabiei (Ecomonitor) – Interview with Alecu Reniță (08.12.2017)

4. Radio Moldova Actualități (Matinal de weekend): Interview with Silvia Ursul (21.01.2018)

5. Radio EcoFM, „Birds – the colours of nature” with Silvia Ursul (15.03.2018)

6. Radio EcoFM, „Birds – the colours of nature” with Silvia Ursul (22.03.2018)

7. Radio EcoFM, „Birds – the colours of nature” with Silvia Ursul (29.03.2018)

8. Radio EcoFM, „Birds – the colours of nature” with Silvia Ursul (26.04.2018)

9. Radio EcoFM, „Birds – the colours of nature” with Silvia Ursul (10.05.2018)

10. Radio EcoFM, „Birds – the colours of nature” with Silvia Ursul (24.05.2018)

11. Radio EcoFM, „Birds – the colours of nature” with Silvia Ursul (31.05.2018)

12. Radio EcoFM, „Birds – the colours of nature” with Silvia Ursul (07.06.2018)

13. Radio EcoFM (Între Da și NU): Interview with Elena Scobioală (06.04.2018)

14. Radio EcoFM (Călătorii cu gust): Interview with Elena Scobioală (03.11.2018)

15. Radio Vocea Basarabiei (Ecomonitor): Interview with Ala Rotaru, senior consultant of the Biodiversity Policy Department (09.06.2018)

Television:

1. Moldova 1 („Cine vine la noi?”) - Interview with Silvia Ursul (project assistant) about the avifaunistic potential of the cultural-natural reserve “Orheiul Vechi”

Video reports:

1. Video report about the avifauna of cultural-natural reserve “Old Orhei”

2. Video report about the landscape and biodiversity of thecultural-natural reserve “Old Orhei”

3. TV8: Video report about the launch of birdwatching trails from the cultural-natural reserve “Orheiul Vechi”

Press conferences:

1. Moldova 1, „Natura în obiectiv”: “Evolution and sustainable transformation of the landscape”  (IPN press release)

2. ”Diversification of tourism options at Orheiul Vechi. Hiking, bird watching and cycling – new attractions for tourists”

Press:

1. NATURA Magazine: “Orhei National Park – natural and tourist potential” (September 2017)

2. NATURA Magazine: “Visiting the most spectacular canyon in Moldova” (October 2017)

3. NATURA Magazine: “Geographic landscapes require protection” (November 2017)

4. NATURA Magazine: “Ecosystem services – the natural capital surrounding us” (December 2017)

5. NATURA Magazine: “Among the rocks of Furceni” (December 2017)

6. NATURA Magazine: „The colours of nature in the „Orheiul Vechi” reserve” (January 2018)

7. NATURA Magazine: „The law of landscape: a strict necessity” (February 2018)

Online:

1. EcoFM: Round table”The evolution and sustainable transformation of the landscape”

2. ecopresa.md: „Among the Furceni rocks”

3. ecopresa.md: „Ecosystem services: the natural capital which surrounds us”

4. ecopresa.md: „Geographic landscapes: who protects them?”

5. ecopresa.md: „Discovering the most spectacular canyon in Moldova”

6. ecopresa.md: „Orhei National Park: natural and tourist potential”

7. ecopresa.md: „The colors of nature in the Orhei Vechi reserve”

8. ecopresa.md: „Birds from “Orheiul Vechi”: rocky habitats species”

9. ecopresa.md: „Birds from “Orheiul Vechi”: the owls”

10. ecopresa.md: „Birds from Orheiul Vechi: wetland species”

11. ecopresa.md: „Birds from Orheiul Vechi: the woodpeckers”

12. Realitatea.md: „Turiștii vor putea descoperi Orheiul Vechi prin șase trasee noi”

Papers and recommendations:

Informative note on the results of the workshop, 21.09.2017

Informative note on the results of the workshop, 02.11.2017

Document de poziție referitor la elaborarea Legii-cadru a peisajului

Study on the avifaunistic potential of the cultural-natural reserve “Orheiul Vechi”. Author: Vitalie Ajder

Guidelines on mobilization and awareness. Author: Lilia Rusu

Establishment of forest curtains in the Trebujeni village

Information boards:

Board nr. 1: Facts about the Reserve

Board nr. 2: Trebujeni village

Board nr. 3: Butuceni village

Board nr. 4: Sheperd`s Peak

Board nr. 5: Tatar baths

Board nr. 6: Piatra village

Board nr. 7: Furceni village

Board nr. 8: Butuceni Promontory

Informational materials:

Leaflet – “The new world from Old Orhei” (pdf)

Birdwatching rules

Bird guide for the birdwatching trail (RO)

Bird guide for the birdwatching trail (EN)

Birdwatching tours: Interactive map

Video tutorial on how to use the interactive map

Birdwatching trails: Story Maps (RO)

Birdwatching trails: Story Maps (EN)

Story Maps video tutorial