The Foundation for Civil Society Development (FDSC), ProPark Foundation and OMV Petrom Foundation continue the “Green for the Future” program, dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable development of local communities in protected areas in Romania.

With a budget of 2,400,000 euros, fully financed by the OMV Petrom Foundation, the program aims in the 2025-2027 edition to develop the Vânători Neamț Natural Park and the Putna-Vrancea Natural Park. The investment in the 2 parks under the program amounts to 3,200,000 euros since its launch in 2023.

The Land of the Bison: Conservation, Education and Tourism in the Vânători Neamț Natural Park

The project began with the redevelopment and modernization of the Visitor Center carried out in 2023-2024. In the 2025-2027 edition, interactive installations will be added to the visitor center and an area will be created that will integrate educational and ecotourism activities. The indoor visitor area will be expanded and will include both museum elements about local culture that aim to involve the community in protecting cultural values ​​and a commercial space dedicated to promoting local producers and products. The outdoor space of the Visitor Center will benefit from landscaping where natural materials and native plants will be used.

The project includes a premiere for Romania: Vânători Neamț Natural Park is the first natural park to initiate the process of the return of the moose (Alces alces), a major step in the restoration of the natural processes of the fauna in Romania, with a direct impact on restoring the ecological balance. The moose, a large herbivore, has the ability to shape the landscape and functions as an “umbrella” species, thus supporting the survival and prosperity of other smaller species. Vânători Neamț Natural Park also has a symbolic value in this process, being among the last places in the region where the elk was seen and recorded before its disappearance.

At the same time, four wetlands will be created with the function of watering for mammals and birds and shelter for amphibians, reptiles and various types of insects. These areas will contribute to maintaining biodiversity in the Park in the conditions of increasingly prolonged periods of drought in our country.

Also, for an efficient management of the fauna and the continuous assessment of the conservation status of the species in the Park, the network of monitoring stations equipped with cameras with sensors and audio devices will be expanded.

In addition, the park’s infrastructure will be enriched with a thematic educational trail that will include interactive installations that will offer visitors a unique learning experience about biodiversity and conservation. Thus, an educational area will be created – “Forest School” – which will integrate the Visitor Center, the acclimatization pen and the “Dragoș Vodă” zoo.

Putna-Vrancea Park, a wild and accessible park for the future

A mobile virtual observatory will be installed in the Putna-Vrancea Natural Park that will offer visitors with reduced mobility the opportunity to explore the park’s fauna and watch short films with wild animals, in an interactive experience.

Because environmental education is important for the communities surrounding the park, an educational space will be set up that will include activities for children and young people who will learn about the importance of protecting the environment.

To preserve biodiversity, pasture habitats with high natural value will be restored, through their traditional management, and invasive vegetation will be eliminated to protect rare species of butterflies and insects. The rivers in the park will also be restocked with indigenous trout, an important step in restoring aquatic ecosystems.

In parallel, a wildlife monitoring network will be created in the Putna-Vrancea Natural Park, which includes cameras and sensors that will contribute to protecting biodiversity and preventing poaching.

The project will run awareness campaigns and organize educational events, traveling photography exhibitions and documentary film screenings in local schools, to involve communities in protecting biodiversity and promoting ecotourism. The activities will help raise public awareness and attract a growing number of visitors interested in nature and conservation.

A photo album about the Vrancea Mountains will also be created, which will promote the natural and cultural values ​​of the park with the aim of helping to increase its visibility at local, national and international levels.