Fauna & Flora International in the U.S.
FFI to help protect Romania's bears, wolves and forests
23rd May 2008
New foundation launched to build Romania's conservation capacity, ensuring long-term protection for the country's impressive wildlife.
A new institution has been established as part of a project to help conserve Romania's protected areas. The PROPARK Foundation was launched yesterday in Brasov, Romania, a country rich in natural or semi-natural habitats, much of which is within parks and reserves. These habitats harbour 60 percent of Europe's brown bears and 40 percent of its wolves, along with some of its most pristine forests.
However, wildlife authorities in Romania currently lack the capacity to manage them adequately. In addition, EU accession is encouraging rapid economic development, which many fear will put pressure on the country's extensive protected area network.
To better address current and future threats to Romania's wildlife, FFI is contributing to the development of the country's first national protected area capacity building programme.
The project is running in partnership with World Wildlife Fund Danube Carpathian Programme and is funded by The Mitsubishi Corporation Fund for Europe and Africa and the Association for Cultural Exchange.
“This exciting project should improve the management of Romania’s protected areas not just now, but long into the future, by laying the foundations of a national-level capacity building programme,” said FFI’s Eurasia Programme Coordinator, Suzanne Tom.
FFI, in collaboration with our partners and Romanian and international experts, is currently planning the training programme's syllabus. Participants will be trained in management planning, biodiversity management and monitoring, as well as business and community engagement skills. The first pilot training module is scheduled to occur in the second half of 2008.
Contact: Jilly Evans, FFI Communications Manager, on +44 (0)1223 579 473 or Jilly.evans@fauna-flora.org
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