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Fundatia ADEPT… protecting Transylvania’s unique farmed landscapes, their biodiversity, and the farming communities who live within them.

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Some of the most important high nature farmed landscapes in Europe are found in Romania

These landscapes

• are a refuge for many threatened species and habitats, lost in much of Europe
• provide ecosystem services that are of vital importance for a sustainable European future.

These high-biodiversity landscapes have been created by farmers over hundreds of years, and can only be preserved by continued traditional management by the farmers there today.

Saving such areas is of great importance for the public goods and ecosystem services they provide for Europe .... for example, clean air, clean water, flood prevention, pollination, bodiversity and agro-biodiversity ... which are essential for our future. 

Fundatia ADEPT has been working since 2002 with farmers, local communities, universities, other NGOs, and government at all levels in order to solve the range of problems threatening the survival of these remarkable landscapes and of the small-scale farming communities living within them. 

An innovative approach is required if these landscapes and communities are to survive in the 21st century. Fundatia ADEPT is carrying out an integrated programme linking economic and social benefits with biodiversity conservation, and raising local capacity for good management in the future. 

This website provides information, in English and Romanian, for local people and visitors who are interested in protecting this area, and similar High Nature Value landscapes in Romania and in Europe more widely.

 

EU Life project: Saving the Important Pastoral Ecosystems of Transylvania (STIPA)

The Sighisoara-Târnava Mare SCI (Natura 2000 site  declared under the EU Habitats Directive) is characterised by dry grassland habitat  types which are threatened in Europe. A significant part of these habitats in the project area is either abandoned or overgrazed, for economic reasons. Farmers do not get sufficient economic return for managing them traditionally.

• Overgrazing causes loss of species richness.
• Abandonment leads to the spread of thorny scrub, and accumulation of dead grassy material.

In both cases, loss of habitat condition grazing land and in hay meadows leads to loss of associated flora and fauna including important bird and butterfly species. These effects are obvious but still easily reversible by re-establishment of traditional management. 

In late 2012, the STIPA team completed the Conservation Action Plan for the restoration and protection of the important dry grassland habitats of the Târnava Mare area. The Conservation Action Plan can only succeed with the active support of local authorities and farmers. We are pleased that this plan has been well received by stakeholders, since it will bring financial benefits to local people through increased productive grassland areas, and increased access to Common Agricultural Policy funding: both Direct Payments and agri-environment payments.

See LIFE Nature STIPA project page for further details.

       
These booklets have been prepared under the STIPA project in order to raise local awareness of the importance of the dry grassland habitats and associated indicator species, and to enable farmers and local schools to participate in monitoring of indicator species.

High Nature Value Grasslands: filling gaps in policy and practice

The importance of High Nature Value Grasslands, the threats to them, and possible policy solutions, are summarised in documents developed for the HNV Grasslands Conference, Sibiu, 2010. These have provided inputs into the proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy 2014-2020. 

The policy document describes the need for targeted support of HNV farming systems, and proposals for achieving them under the CAP post 2013. 

Conference brochure contains an introduction to the farming systems of the HNV landscapes of Transylvania. 

See Conference page for further details, and links to policy documents.

Forthcoming events

Transhumance 2013

A project that aims for traditional travel of 300 sheep led by shepherds through the Carpathian Mountains ...

For further details download PDF file

Mountain Hay Meadows Conference 23-24 May 2013

Conference at the Boros Guesthouse, Lunca de Jos (Gyimesközéplok), Romania, organised by Pogány-havas (Pagan Snow Cap) Association. The conference will bring together experts and practitioners in various fields (farmers, biologists, sociologists, economists, ethnographers, policy makers and NGOs in Romania and abroad) to discuss and improve the appreciation, conservation and sustainable management of hay meadows.
For further details see conference page.

About Fundatia ADEPT

ADEPT activities

Our team

Fundaţia ADEPT Transilvania’s project – "Discover Târnava Mare" is a touristic mini guide through which you can visit and plan, overall, a walk through Târnava Mare - Transylvania.

LATEST

Fundația ADEPT begins 3 year project for economic development of Romania’s High Nature Value farmed landscapes

See news report for further details.

Fundația ADEPT awarded top EU prize for farm advisory activities

 


  See news report.

Fundația ADEPT selected to represent Romania in competition for European Landscape Award 2013

See news report for further details.

Fundația ADEPT wins international competition for funding mountain bike trails that link nature to rural incomes

 

See news report for further details.

Fundația ADEPT and Fauna & Flora International

In March 2013, Fundația ADEPT and Fauna & Flora International (FFI) have begun a major strategic partnership, under which FFI and ADEPT will work together protecting High Nature Value Farmed landscapes at local and national levels in Romania, and at European level. See FFI partnership page for further details.

News Headlines

Fundatia ADEPT wins top European prize for farm advisory services  Read more

Swiss-funded project for economic development of High Nature Value farmed landscapes  Read more

Fundația ADEPT represents Romania in European Landscape Award competition, 2013  Read more

ADEPT wins international competition for funding for mountain bike trail that links nature to rural incomes  Read more

Fundația ADEPT participates in debate on sustainable farming and food security, Copenhagen  Read more

See all news headlines

Innovation

See poster summarising innovative approaches to rural develop-ment used by Fundatia ADEPT Transylvania.

Orange-ADEPT film clip

ADEPT has created a short musical clip for showing in Orange Romania outlets. This will increase the interest of a younger Romanian audience in our aims and activities. See film clip here.

Prince Charles opens model unit for micro-scale food producers

View film of speech given by HRH The Prince of Wales at Saschiz, at the opening of a model food processing Food Barn. This offers a practical solution, and economic future, for small-scale producers who want access to market.

New: The Art of Dar

The Art of Dar combines the highest quality Transylvanian foods and crafts. It has successfully used a news story, provoking media interest, to raise the profile of Transylvanian products in general.

The product line was launched at the SIAL global food fair in Paris, in October 2012. It is sold in limited numbers.

See Art of Dar film clip and Art of Dar website.