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 School of Geography and the Environment

Wild Daffodils on the Saca Peak - © Alina Szabo

Youth Participation in Protected Area Management in Rodna Mountains, Romania

This project has been funded by Defra's Darwin Initiative - which draws on the wealth of biodiversity expertise within the UK to help protect and enhance biodiversity around the world.

NEWS!

  • May 2007: Project results presented in Bulgaria as part of an exchange visit with the Central Balkan National Park and the Roussenski Lom Nature Reserve
  • March 2007: UK-Romanian project team travels to Slovakia to share experience with the High Tatras and the Slovenski Raj National Parks
  • January 2007: A new biodiversity research and conservation NGO, EcoRodna, established in Romania at the initiative of Darwin Clubs members to carry on activities beyond project lifespan
  • November 2006: "Participatory Management of Protected Areas in Romania – Current status and Future Trends" - a seminar to disseminate and discuss project results with Romanian participants
  • August 2006: The project receives recognition at the first European Congress of Conservation Biology – "Diversity for Europe", Eger, Hungary
  • July 2005: A new species of butterfly for Romania – Apotomis infida - discovered in Rodna Mountains by scientists collaborating with the project

Project Rationale

This project:

  • Incorporates strong participation through direct involvement of local people and students from an early stage in the planning, research and monitoring activities.
  • Supports students in the application of environmental education for the benefit of both biodiversity and local people. Thus environmental education is brought to life as young people gather the rewards of using what they learned in situations where they affect the outcomes.

Both of these aspects are completely new in Romania and indeed innovative at a global level. Consequently, this project aims to develop a model of regional significance.

The purpose of this project is to develop and implement in collaboration with park management authority, local experts, local communities and students a participatory management plan for the Rodna Mountains National Park and Biosphere Reserve (PNMR), and promote the methodology as a model of regional significance. Crucially, as requested by the Park Authority, the innovative approach involves 10-18 year old students from local schools - the future decision-makers - in all stages in the research, planning and implementation, through the "Darwin Club – Friends of PNMR" student clubs, training in nature guiding and biodiversity assessment and monitoring activities; thereby providing a real focus for them to apply environmental education, both to conservation and to local livelihoods.

Applying GIS and participatory biodiversity monitoring methods, this project develops an innovative approach to environmental education and protected area management.

Project Aims and Objectives

  1. Baseline and monitoring systems established.
  2. Management plan developed and implemented.
  3. Experience evaluated, model developed and promoted.

1. Baseline and monitoring systems established.

At the time of starting this project, the Administration of the Rodna Mountains National Park was very young, being established only in 2004 and in need for training and equipment; the project offered courses in participatory biodiversity assessment and monitoring, GIS and remote sensing for PA management and adaptive management concepts. Equipments and information materials were also purchased: a 4x4 car, binoculars, tents, computer, scanner, printer, GPS units, books and others. During the planning phase of the project, it became apparent that data on the biodiversity in the park were scarce and hence, the project aimed first to take stock of what was available in order to develop a strategy for data collection, storage and processing. Biodiversity data were collected by employing several methods: literature reviews; questionnaires of local community members to gather their views on traditional ways of using resources in the area and on park management issues; biodiversity surveys and monitoring undertaken by the Darwin Clubs students and studies conducted by specialists.

2. Management plan developed and implemented.

The management plan developed has an adaptive and participatory character. The main themes included are: biodiversity and landscape management, sustainable management of natural resources, education and awareness, encouraging local traditions and customs, tourism management, ecological rehabilitation, and administrative management.

3. Experience evaluated, model developed and promoted

This project features prominently in the local and regional mass-media. The results are also disseminated through public presentations in local communities and schools, workshops, seminars and participation to conferences. (See project downloads.)

Project Team

UK team:

  • – (ECI) project leader
  • – (ECI) project manager
  • Dr. Susan Canney (University of Oxford, Department of Zoology) – GIS consultant

Romanian collaborator:

  • The Administration of Rodna Mountains National Park

Project Downloads