Natura 2000 and Rural Development in Romania

The project’s outputs include 6 developed business product models / products, a new registered business, and 7 certificates for sustainable use of resources (including FSC certification). We have also gained additional results, such as setting up a tourist and visitor information center in Cincor (Hartibac region), and development and registration of a Highlands Transilvania ecotourism destination. Working groups provided a good context to address a total of 3 critical cases (eg, the planning of the Sibiu-Pitesti highway and the construction of hydroelectric dams on the river Alb) and 15 other cases of unsustainable developments / practices in protected areas. Recently, a court decided to stop the development of a hydroelectric power plant as a result of WWF’s intervention. The objectives for the management of Natura 2000 areas have been integrated into the 2014-2020 county development plan. Maramureș County has become a pioneer in Romania, taking into account its natural capital and its heritage as a competitive advantage for local development. “The 2014-2020 Large Infrastructure Operational Programme (LIOP) was endorsed with WWF’s recommendations on the conservation and management of the biodiversity of Natura 2000 sites.

Executive AgencyWWF Danube-Carpathian Programme (DCPO)Partners"Milvus Group" Association; NGO Ecotur | ProPark Foundation for Protected Areas | WWF-SwitzerlandContract NumberRA 3ComponentPredefined projectImplementation areaRegional/NationalThematic areaSustainable rural developmentImplementation period01.07.2013 – 31.3.2017Budget of the project (CHF)1,103,392Swiss Contribution (CHF)984,136Project websiteN/AExecutive Agency websitewww.wwf.ro