PARTNERS

The Association of Ecotourism in Romania (AER) succeeded to realise a partnership for nature conservation and tourism development among tourism associations, non-governmental associations acting in local development and nature conservation, nature conservation projects and travel agencies. The innovative idea brought by AER is to bring together the public, non-governmental and the private sector in a partnership for nature conservation and sustainable tourism development.

For further information and details on the availability of guided tours, visit www.eco-romania.ro

Discover Romania is a fully licensed tour operator based in Brasov who specialise in organising special interest itineraries for small groups as this allows the flexibility to use a variety of local transport and to stay in accommodation that otherwise would be impossible for larger groups. In this way they can be more sensitive to the people and places visited, and can travel in a more personal way, more like a group of friends than a tour group. .

For further information visit www.discoveromania.ro

Ecotur is an environmental, non-profit, professional, scientific and cultural NGO. Its aim is ecological and sustainable development, registered as a Romanian charity in 1994. Main activities are: rehabilitation of parks and natural areas; professional assistance and consultancy for citizens and environmental institutions; impact assessments for aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems; elaboration of ecological management plans for hydrographical basins; environmental quality monitoring; training for other environmental associations members; ecological education for citizens (photos/slides, films, workshops, symposiums, conferences, broadcastings); editing posters, booklets and books. It is a leading member of Romania’s environmental NGO coalition.

The Foundation for Culture & ecology (FCE) is a non-profit organization based in Medias, Romania, for the promotion of cultural and ecological development. The intention of the foundation is to initiate and support new ways of social development in Romania, promoting worthy projects in a variety of areas. The foundation supports individuals and groups working in various fields of social life and supports farmers through training them to become skilled ecological agriculturalists. Its aim is to encourage organic and biodynamic agriculture in Romania. The working principle is to give aid for self-help. 

For further information and details on the availability of guided tours, visit http://www.fcenet.com

Wildlife rich grasslands in Europe are under severe threat. Since the 1930s, for example, 97% of the UK’s grasslands have been destroyed through modern intensive agriculture, development or neglect. The Grasslands Trust exists to address this crisis by protecting grasslands rich in wildlife or important for their beauty, landscape or cultural value. Current activities include:

• secure, restore and protect important and threatened grassland sites for wildlife and people.
• raise awareness about the value and vulnerability of grasslands.
• co-ordinate work on grassland conservation with other organisations to avoid duplicating effort and continually explore new solutions.
• provide advice on grassland management and restoration.

In 2004-2005 The Grasslands Trust has:

• purchased important UK wildlife sites, taken management measures jointly with local wildlife trusts and regional agencies
• advised landowners/institutions on wildflower grassland restoration
• become an active member of British Government’s Habitat Action Plan Steering Group
• co-ordinated management/strategies with other charities
• organised volunteer work parties, made presentations, designed trails, trained wardens, promoting public access and understanding.

INTBAU (International Network for Traditional Building and Urbanism) has opened an Information Centre in Laslea which will offer support to the local community in restoring their traditional houses, following traditional methods and promoting the Saxon architecture.   The centre will also disseminate information on ecotourism and promote an organic agricultural type of development. The centre is functioning in a Saxon house, located next to the Mayor’s Office and can be used – free of charge – by all those charities interested in promoting traditional architecture, ecotourism and organic agriculture.

The ADEPT Tourist Information Centre in Saschiz and the INTBAU Information Centre in Laslea are cooperating to enhance the dissemination of information.

INTBAU have are planning a drawing tour in June 2006 and anyone interested to participate should visit www.intbau.org/Transylvaniadrawing.htm

INTBAU are also planning a masonry and urbanism summer school for architecture students (maybe from University of Timisoara) and others, the first two weeks of August. Students will do hands-on restoration of the interiors of House 344.

For further information visit www.intbau.org

The Milvus Group isa non-governmental, non-profit organisation, dedicated to bird and nature protection, acting in the fields of conservation, education, research and advisory in order to make Romania a better place for birds, wildlife and people. The Milvus was established in 1991 and worked initially asa branch of the Romanian Ornithological Society. Initiating and coordinating national and international projects and broadening the area of work, it became and independent organisation in 2001 under the name Association for Bird and Nature Protection “Milvus Group”. it has branches and school groups in different localities and realises projects on regional, national and international levels. the majority of activities are coordinated by Working Groups.

For further information and details on the availability of guided tours, visit www.milvus.ro

Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Rural Development (MAFRD) actively supports the rural development and agri-environment elements of the project. Its extension/consultancy services wing, ANCA, has promised active cooperation in joint training in all aspects of conservation-friendly agriculture, marketing, and alternative rural incomes. ANCA’s objectives include preparing the rural population in the agriculture and silviculture sectors for European integration, diversification of rural activities, and promotion of rural development programmes. The ANCA representatives resident in the project area are the natural channel of communication through which to consult local farmers and other local stakeholders in the process of designing practical management proposals for biodiversity-friendly grassland management, and to disseminate agri-environmental concepts and techniques.

Ministry of Environment and Water Management (MEWM) supports the ADEPT project and the inclusion of the area in Natura 2000. The Environmental Protection Agencies of Mures, Sibiu and Brasov Counties, under MEWM, are responsible for implementation of environmental policies, legislation and current regulations; coordination and elaboration of action plans; coordination of environmental protection activities; supporting environmental protection initiatives of civil society; local inventory of Special Conservation Areas and of Special Protection Bird Areas (Natura 2000).

Oxford Brookes University is the UK’s most active university in food and tourism. Over 50 years the Department of Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism Management has developed an international reputation as a centre of excellence, which stems from their innovative approach to learning and teaching, their links with industry, and the quality of their research and consultancy.

For further information visit www.business.brookes.ac.uk

Pro Patrimonio, the Romanian National Heritage Trust, is an international non-profit NGO registered as a charity in Romania, United Kingdom, France and USA.

Its mission is to identify, preserve, and advocate for the historical heritage of Romania.

It aims to restore, rescue and revitalise endangered built and natural heritage for the benefit of future generations.

The Pro Patrimonio Foundation has been selected by the Romanian Ministry of Culture as a special advisor to help define a new legislation framework compatible with European Union legislation for the management and preservation of the architectural heritage. Within the ten-year partnership agreement Pro Patrimonio will also participate in several other projects, one of them being the coordination of the development of urban historic centres in Romania.

For further information visit www.propatrimonio.org .

Slow Food is an international non-profit organisation based in Italy and currently made up of nearly 1,000 convivia, or chapters, whose vast network of over 80,000 members in over 100 countries is the greatest strength of the movement. Through its understanding of gastronomy with relation to politics, agriculture and the environment, Slow Food has become an active player in agriculture and ecology. The association’s activities seek to defend biodiversity in our food supply, spread the education of taste, and link producers of excellent foods to consumers through events and initiatives.

Town Hall Saschiz - the local authority representing the commune of Saschiz, 3 villages and 10,000 ha, one tenth of the total project area. Saschiz is strategically well placed to host the pilot project, it has a high proportion of priority habitats and species, administers its own forest, and its local community has agreed an outline sustainable development management plan developed with assistance of ADEPT Foundation. The Mayor, Local Council and consultative committee of Saschiz share the vision of this project and will assist the project with meetings, locations for signs, dissemination activities, contact with local people, etc.

For further information visit www.saschiz.ro

Transylvania Uncovered is a specialist agency dedicated to all aspects of travel to Romania. Book your flights, accommodation, car hire or guide services with the security of a network of specialists located throughout Romania to assist you. (for further information visit www.beyondtheforest.com )

For your protection Transylvania Uncovered hold an Air Travel Organisers' Licence and are an IATA accredited agent. The air holidays and flights shown are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. ATOL protection extends primarily to customers who book and pay in the United Kingdom.

University Babes-Bolyai, Cluj-Napoca (a leading state university in natural sciences). The Department of Taxonomy and Ecology has jointly managed various research projects such as ‘Grasslands Inventory in Romania’ (PIN MATRA), ‘Important Protected Areas in Romania’ (Natura 2000). The scientific staff of the Department is composed of specialists in terrestrial plant and animal taxonomy and ecology (algae, fungi, lichens, bryophytes, vascular plants, invertebrates and vertebrates). In 2007 it hosted the international Planta Europaea conference within the framework of Natura 2000 programme.

University Lucian Blaga, Sibiu (a leading state university in natural sciences). The Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection has considerable experience in research projects concerning protected areas, vegetation and flora, fauna, habitats, land use, land management, water management, etc. The Department has post-doctoral specialists in terrestrial and aquatic ecology, plant and animal taxonomy and systematics, geology, climatology, geography, chemistry, toxicology, population genetics.

University of Medicine & Pharmacy, Targu Mures, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, has the leading field botanists for the area on its staff. It is a member of the Romanian Association of Botanic Gardens. UMF-TGM worked in cooperation with Cluj University in the ‘Important Protected Areas in Romania’ (Natura 2000) project, and is member of the International Association of Phytosociology. Professor Oroian and colleagues have published a study of actual and potential Protected Areas in Mures, based on their own field work.

World Wide Fund for Nature – Danube Carpathian Programme Romania office has been in the forefront of the development of the Natura 2000 network in Romania. WWF-DCP has considerable experience in forest conservation issues in Romania, and is currently project manager of LIFE Project “Priority forest, alpine and sub-alpine habitats in Romania”, with which the ADEPT project has useful synergies.