Regional Seminar: The legal framework for management of water resources and protection of ecosystems associated with water: problems and solutions

On 22 March 2013 BIOTICA in collaboration with Stefan Voda district council organized the seminar "Legal framework for management of water resources and protection of ecosystems associated with water: problems and solutions". The event was organized in the frame of the project "Improving the management of water resources and ecosystem protection in Ramsar area priacvatice" Lower Dniester "implemented BIOTICA Ecological Society and funded by the Austrian Development Agency.

The event took place in Stefan Voda rayon council and representatives of Stefan Voda and Causeni district councils, mayors, local councilors from these two districts, representatives of deconcentrated services, private sector andNGOs took part in it.
The seminar was opened by Vice-chair of Stefan-Voda district, donor representative and project manager.
During the seminar important issues concerning international and national legislation in the field of water resources were presented. The participants discussed problems with which organizations responsible for forests and water management, ecological organizations, local authorities and population are facing. Discussions were active; many opinions were presented with arguments.
As result, the participants to the seminar have obtained or improved their knowledge related to the environmental legislation that is currently neglected.  During the seminar also some proposals and approaches to acute environmental problems in the area were proposed and once again the need to protect the natural heritage of the region reiterated including by respecting environmental legislation.

Training on methodology of NATURA 2000 and other EU legal tools

On 15 of February 2013 the training on methodology of NATURA 2000 and other EU legal tools was organized in the frame of „Improving water management and protection of water-related ecosystems in the Lower Dniester Ramsar Site” project financed by the Austrian Development Agency.
The workshop was conducted in Tiraspol and was oriented to the specialists in the field, including those who will be involved in the project activities further.
The purpose of the workshop was to inform specialists from the left banks of the Dniester River about
methodology of NATURA 2000 habitats and types of habitats present in the region, assuring  preservation of rare and endangered species and of their natural habitats. During the workshop were discussed legislative issues related to protected areas functioning  and necessity to improve the system of ecological monitoring.
At the workshop participated ADA representative, specialists in the relevant fields from both banks of the Dniester River, NGOs.

Improving water management and protection of water-related ecosystems in the Lower Dniester Ramsar Site

On 18th of January the launching ceremony of the project „Improving water management and protection of water-related ecosystems in the Lower Dniester Ramsar Site” took place in “Fazanul Argintiu” Hunting complex, Gradinita village (Stefan Voda district).

The project is financed bythe Austrian DevelopmentAgency and has the objective to contribute to water management mitigating environmental risks in favour of sustainable development. The project will be implemented by BIOTICA Ecological Society in partnership with NGO Renasterea (Talmaza village, Stefan Voda district), NGO Rodoliubets and NGO Ecospectrum (Transdniestria). Period of implementation is December 2012 – November 2014.

As the result of the project potable water supply will be sufficiently improved for people of Talmaza Village in support of local efforts and awareness on the need of water treatment system development will be raised.
In addition, the engineering project and hydro-technical regulation facility of water management will be established to support water-boundary ecosystems in Talmaza Wetland Core Area of International Importance – the pilot site in Moldova for actions in favour of local mitigation management.
The creation of the first regulated spawning place in Moldova on Turunciuc Island will be substantiated and planned in order to be prepared for building of regulating water lock. It is planned to increase water-protective integrity and functional capacity of riverside bands on the both banks of the Dniester River in the limits of the Ramsar Site. For that, technological charts will be prepared and tree and shrub planting done while local population will be informed on importance of protection of water and nature heritage.
In Transdniestrian part of the Ramsar Site researches will be conducted and valuable habitats identified according to the methodology of NATURA 2000, primary awareness on EU environmental legislation and Helsinki Convention will be raised and recommendations on protective regime for the identified sites developed. Awareness of stakeholders from the right bank of the Dniester River will be raised regarding water and water-linked legislation, and multiplication of project results promoted, to be used at a wider scale.

Improving water management and protection of water-related ecosystems in the Lower Dniester Ramsar Site

In December 2012 BIOTICA started the implementation of the project “Improving water management and protection of water-related ecosystems in the Lower Dniester Ramsar Site” funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) with funds of Austrian Development Cooperation. The project is planned for the period till November 2014 and will be implemented in partnership with NGO Rodoliubets, NGO Ecospectrum, NGO Renasterea. Project area is Lower Dniester Ramsar Site, which is facing serious socio-economic problems in the poorest European country.
The overall objective of the project is to contribute to water management mitigating environmental risks in favour of using an ecosystem services approach and sustainable development.

The project expected results:
Expected Result 1. The water management regulation facility will be established to support water-boundary ecosystems in Talmaza Wetland Core Area of International Importance by building a water lock and training the responsible persons for it- the pilot site in Moldova for action in favour of local mitigation management.
Expected Result 2. The first regulated spawning place in Moldova will be substantiated and planned on Turunciuc Island; that will allow to be prepared for building of regulating water lock.
Expected Result 3. Water-protective integrity and functional capacity of riverside bands of the Dniester River in the limits of Ramsar Site will be increased by conducting forest planting based on technological charts where it is necessary and local population will be informed on importance of protection of water and nature heritage.
Expected Result 4. NATURA 2000 site(s) will be recognised in Transdniestrian part of the Ramsar Site; primary awareness on EU environmental legislation and Helsinki Convention will be raised and recommendations on protective regime for the identified site(s) will be developed.
Expected Result 5. Awareness of stakeholders from the right bank of the Dniester River on water and water-linked legislation will be raised via organised seminars and a handbook on environmental legislation and multiplication of project results will be promoted via a national seminar.
Expected Result 6. Potable water supply will be sufficiently improved for people of Talmaza Village by building a new water reservoir and extending pipeline in support of local efforts and awareness on the need of water treatment system development will be raised.

Wide publicity of project achievements on the both banks of the Dniester River will be performed for multiplication effect in a wider region. Seven workshops with stakeholders, interventions in mass-media and website information will be undertaken.

Seminar on awareness raising in the field of wetlands

The seminar on awareness raising was organized on 7 December 2012 and gathered 53 participants, representative of Ramsar Secretariat, Ministry of Environment, Moldsilva Forest Agency, local ecological inspections, NGOs. The event was opened by Laura Maiz, representative of the Ramsar Convention secretariat and Veronica Josu, deputy head of the department of natural resources and biodiversity, Ministry of Environment. 
The seminar comprises presentations on Wetlands Policy implementation at international level, Ramsar Convention and wetland management in the Republic of Moldova, state,  importance and threats for wetlands management, management of forests and pastures in wetlands, including in the water protective forest strips, as well as of water bodies. Problems of management and institutional aspects and the issues of respecting the legislation regarding wetlands were presented to the seminar participants.
During the seminar some active debates on the problems of wetlands management at local level were done, emphasizing among the problems illegal pasturing, illegal fishing, illegal hunting and wood collecting within forests, as well as unauthorized constructions. Also water pollution in the small rivers is a big problem.
Also participants mentioned that the wetlands of international importance are included in the fund of protected natural areas, but there are no mechanisms of practical implementation on the ground. A great problem on the Middle Dniester was mentioned by local representatives as sand extraction from the riverbed, also illegal construction and illegal felling.
The discussions during the seminar were very fruitful, revealing the problems at local level. The representatives of the Ministry of Environment emphasized that they will take into account all these problems and will try to put on the agenda of the Ministry and step by step to try to solve them.
The importance of wetlands and their management were promoted during the seminar and participants were informed about the issues of their rational using. The problem of the wetlands and some possibilities of wetland management were proposed and thus, making some steps forward in improving wetlands management at local level.

NATIONAL CONSULTATION ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL STRATEGY ON WETLANDS

On 24 October 2012 the National consultation on the draft Strategy on wetlands was organised by BIOTICA ES in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment. The goal of this meeting was to present and to discuss the draft National Strategy on wetlands that should be elaborated by the Country according with the provisions of Ramsar Convention and its Resolutions. At the seminar participated 45 persons, representatives of the Ministry of Environment, Environmental Inspectorate, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Construction and Territory Development, Ministry of Economy, ADA representative, IUCN FLEG ENPI representative, representatives of Agency Moldsilva, Apele Moldovei, Land relation and Cadastre institution, Institute of Zoology, Institute of Ecology, local public authorities, NGOs.

The event was opened by the Vice-Minister of Environment, Mr. Lazar Chirica, who emphasized the importance of wetlands that are in quite bad situation and necessity to preserve them and to take urgent measures for this, including the development of legislation in relation with wetlands. During the seminar information about Ramsar Convention, resolutions, provisions on National Wetland Strategy approving and implementation. Also the participants were informed about the general state of wetlands in the Republic of Moldova. The criteria of designation of a wetland of national importance were presented and necessary steps to improve national legislation in relation with the implementation of the National Wetlands Strategy also were given. The draft national strategy on wetlands was presented, as well as objectives, activities and indicators that were discussed by participants to the seminar. The participants to the seminar actively were involved in the discussion and made their proposals to be taken into consideration at the improvement of the draft Strategy. As the situation of wetlands in the country is quite bad we need to find a new approach for wetlands conservation by establishing financing mechanisms.

The strategy on wetlands would play an important role in this. The presentation done during the seminars (In Romanian):
Veronica Josu, Ramsar Convention and management of wetlands in the Republic of Moldova
Liliana Josan, Objectives of Ramsar Convention in relation to elaboration of the National Wetland Policy
Alexei Andrev, Baseline notions, criteria and general state of wetlands in Moldova
Andrei Isac, The Draft Environment Strategy: general context and priorities in the field of wetlands
Andrei Isac, Provisions and indicators of National Wetland Policy
Gabriel Margineanu, The needs of legislation improvement in relation to the implementation of the National Wetland Policy

The proposed goals, measures, activities and indicators of the draft National Wetland Strategy (in Romanian) can be found here.

Project Development of the National Ecological Network of Moldova as part of the Pan-European Ecological Network, with emphasis on transboundary cooperation

BIOTICA ES in cooperation with IUCN implemented during 2009-2012 the project “Development of the National Ecological Network of Moldova as part of the Pan-European Ecological Network, with emphasis on transboundary cooperation” with the support of Norway Government.

Information about project can be found on the web site of IUCN here.

The project has following results:
Final assessment of the probable core areas in Moldova was carried out using the system of criteria of National Ecological Network improved in 2010 and the next results obtained: 113 recognised core areas of National Ecological Network including 9 ones of international importance 13 – of national and 91 of local importance. Five core areas of the international importance are situated within three recognized Ramsar Sites, or site under considerations, or probable Ramsar Site; two other such core areas support outstanding plant species concentrations mainly of steppe origin; two areas besides high biodiversity maintain outstanding concentrations of archaeological findings. New eleven core areas (of the local importance) are recognised while one territory was excluded from list of core areas after inclusion of new information.

Data on Core Areas provided a system material on distribution of many species by locations including of rare species. Such data were never organized in Moldova and make a good basis for red-listing in future in order to avoid arbitrary expert evaluation, which a used for official Red Data Books in Moldova, Ukraine and other countries where biodiversity monitoring is absent as the system.

Directory of the National Ecological Network Key Elements (in Romanian and Russian) includes descriptions of those 125 Core Areas of Moldova and Ukraine in the cross-boundary zone.

Drafts of eight Indicative GIS-maps and of pre-printing versions had been prepared: 1. Core areas of the National Ecological Network (NEN): major biodiversity values; 2. Core areas of the NEN: target species; 3. The NEN core areas in support of landscape diversity; 4. The NEN core areas on the background of anthropogenic pressure upon environment; 5. Pilot zoning of the NEN core areas; 6. Pilot implementation of CORINE BIOTOPS classification within the NEN; 7. Pilot identification of NATURA-2000 habitats in Moldova; 8. Assessment of the integrity of major NEN corridors.

Guide on management plans for key elements of ecological network (In Romanian and Russian). The Guide is prepared incorporating important experience of BIOTICA’s experts in biodiversity studies, management planning for Ramsar Sites and for creation of the Lower Dniester National Park (GEF medium size project under supervision of the World Bank), environmental law, knowledge about landscapes and agriculture, High Nature Value farmland and state of nature conservation in Moldova as well as about state and obstacles of implementation of National program on establishing the National Ecological Network.

 Information set for decision-makers (In Romanian and Russian). The set incorporates next brief sections: Importance of National Ecological Network, Economic justification of the necessity of ecological network creation (information about economic costs and losses related to creation or non-creation of Eco-net), Ecological network and climate changes, notions on legislative basis of National Ecological Network, list of Environmental Conventions to which Moldova is Part.

All these products (the Indicative GIS-maps Directory of the National Ecological Network Key Elements, the Guide on management plans for key elements of ecological network, Indicative maps and the Information set for decision-makers are published on CD-disc.

Ecological Network seen through its Core Areas. That is the additional project output done as coloured booklet in English about project.

Proceedings of the Conference “Ecological Networks – Introduction to experiences and approaches”, Chisinau, 13-14 of October 2011 - Set of articles includes the both works of participants based on presentations and works of colleagues who could not come (e.g. Ms. Nela Miauta, Ministry of Environment of Romania): 13 articles of specialists from Moldova, 4 – of specialists from Romania, 6 – from Ukraine including 4 from boundary oblasts, and 2 articles from Russian Federation. As the result conference proceedings demonstrate very well the state-of-art in development of Pan-European Ecological Network in North Black Sea region and Eastern Europe, achievements and difficulties in different spheres of relevant activities, methodology and planning approaches (“bottom-up”, “top-down” and some hybrid variants) with their advantages and shortcomings.

National Seminar with local and other stakeholders. The seminar was held on 29 May 2012 in the Ministry of Environment and gathered 30 participants. Major of them are representatives of district authorities. The seminar was opened by Mr. Lazar Chirica, the Vice-minister of Environment and the IUCN Project Coordinator. Presentations done by BIOTICA’s team, representatives of the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Construction and Territorial Development caused an active discussion of participants that revealed some differences in viewpoints of local authorities and central authorities. The local authorities expressed support to project developments and implementation the National Ecological Network building.