Support for Protected Area Management in Moldova
About the Project:
The Republic of Moldova is enhancing its nature protection system, by improving the management of protected areas and supporting local volunteer rangers, as part of Czech-Moldovan cooperation, facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The project has contributed to improved management of three protected areas (Lower Nistru National Park, Orhei National Park and Codrii Nature Reserve). At the same time, with support of Czech and UNDP, Moldova is seeking to establish the Natura 2000 network in Moldova. Natura 2000 is the key instrument to protect biodiversity in the European Union. It is an ecological network of protected areas, set up to ensure the survival of Europe’s most valuable species and habitats.
With funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic offered via UNDP, the CSOs Arnika (Czech Republic) and Biotica (Republic of Moldova), strengthened volunteer rangers’ network – currently 40 people in the Republic of Moldova, mostly concentrated in central part of the country. The volunteer rangers benefited from a capacity development programme, improving their knowledge about protected areas‘ management, excessive tourism, use of drones, forest management, river revitalisation etc.
Also, the rangers received essential equipment: binoculars, 1st aid kids and branded materials. Each beneficiary protected area (Orhei, Lower Nistru and Codrii) received a drone and a small boat to help monitoring the protected areas.
Learn more:
Moldova strengthens its local volunteers’ rangers network and protected area management, with Czech and UNDP support (UNDP Moldova CO article, November 2024)
Arnika article (November 2024)