An instrument for sustainable development: Ecotourism in Tara Dornelor

The Association of Ecotourism Tara Dornelor (AETD) was established in June, 2010, with the assistance of the project specialist from the AER, with the aim to bring together under the same goal the key private and public actors from the tourism sector in Tara Dornelor and to create an organizational structure to coordinate the development of the future ecotourism destination. AETD plays a double role: that of a social network (a framework for dialogue, commonsense and collaboration between its members), and that of a network of certified ecotourism services, which are offered by its members. Five guesthouses in the area were certified “Eco-Romania” – the certification system of the Association of Ecotourism in Romania.

 

Other major outputs related to the development of ecotourism were:

1. Capacity building for Calimani National Park’s staff (meant to improve their organizational and management capacity) and for the local ecotourism network (AETD) through: the development of a web page: www.taradornelor.ro , a set of informational and promotional materials (leaflet, brochure, map, posters, a professional slide-show) and training for its members. By these means the area was promoted under the motto: Discover Tara Dornelor at the international tourism fairs in Bucharest (October, 2010) and Oslo (Reiseliev, January 2011), regionally and locally;

 

2. The participatory development of the “Concept for the development of Tara Dornelor as an ecotourism destination”, including a comprehensive evaluation of the existing potential and guidelines for future developments, which could be further used as a tool for the development of the ecotourism destination by the AETD and other stakeholders;

 

3. The development of the 12 Apostles thematic trail, in one of the most attractive spots of Calimani National Park, which is a non-personal but interactive instrument for the national park to communicate with its visitors, to improve knowledge and raise awareness concerning its natural and cultural values and its role;
 

 

 

Simultaneously, the project contributed to awareness raising and capacity building in the field of renewable energy, not only among children and youngsters from the local schools but also for adults willing to create their own machineries able to produce electricity or heating by using renewable sources of energy. 

 

 

“Green Caravans” and sessions of training “How to build my own wind mill?” were organized in order to develop local knowledge and increase awareness on the existing alternative sources of “green” energy (solar, hydro and wind power) and on the practical, technical solutions meant to produce it. The systems installed in Tara Dornelor (2 wind mills built by the learners, 1 solar heater with warm air made with recycled materials, 1 system based on solar panel) are examples of activities, aiming to increase the level of interest of local people for the “clean” energy. In schools, theoretical knowledge was balanced by practical workshops where the pupils learned to build wooden installations that are able to produce renewable energy, like wind and water mills.

 

 

The two objectives proved to get interconnected: 2 representatives of guesthouses in the local network attending the trainings “How to build my own wind mill?” one of them being assisted by the project specialists in investigating the hydro potential of a runlet in its neighborhood and the technical possibilities to produce hydro energy. Moreover, the seminars organized in schools: “Eco-responsibility-a chance to learn respect for nature and local values” challenged pupils to subjects connected to renewable energy as well as to investigating the unexplored touristic potential of their villages.

 

Promoter:

Fundatia Speologica "Club Speo Bucovina" – www.speo.org.ro

Partners:

Association Of Ecotourism In Romania - http://www.eco-romania.ro/
Community-Based Natural Resource Management Network - http://www.cbnrm.net/