Aurel Lozan

Microreserve Stanca-Jeloboc - mode of nature coexistence with human activities

These twins are my brothers“, says Ion Ciaiccovschi, who is not only one of my teacher through the nature, but also a fighter for a better environment.

LocationCountryCategoriesDate
Soroca district area, Cosauti village (Forest remnants of North Dniester River Basin)MoldovaBiodiversity, Ecotourism, Education, Europe5 Sep 2006

The project originates from the concept of “Microreserve Stanca-Jeloboc” – an idea to protect the landscape, to preserve habitats and save historical components through making local people understand that their future depends on the survival of this forest.

The situation has dramatically changed over the last decades: the biggest remnat riverbank forest in north-east Moldova is disappearing as a shelter for many vulnerable species of plants and animals. The project overall goals are (1) conservation of the forest patches and their great biodiversity by (2) developing ecotourism as a way to involve communities in and make nature help itself.

The complexity of natural landscapes and archeological/paleontological monuments make the place very attractive for visitors so we see the environmental tourism activity be a solution for nature conservation and rational human intervention. The project aims at attraction of conservationists (ONG community, scientists etc.), authorities and local/regional business community to the development of a new activity for the region – ecotourism.

By initiating a local conservation group, organising a summer school for young ecologists (biodiversity conservation course, environmental management and uniqueness of the Microreserve), launch an ecotouristic route and organising a public information campaign (TV round table, local seminars and workshop) we will strengthen efforts and focus on ecological problems in the area.

The final conception is a healthier environment and safer future for the Stanca-Jeloboc complex. We will pledge for creating a legal functioning Microreserve as a model of rational co-existing of the man and nature.

For more information, contact hymenopt@yahoo.co.uk

Project Update Autumn 2006

We managed to unite Moldavian and Ukrainian authorities to reveal the perspectives of conservation of the Stanca-Jeloboc complex. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of the Moldova Republic, Konstantin Mihailescu, and director of State Environmental Management Service of the Vinita district, Iavorsky Elena, as well as local authorities of both sides have visited the place.

We agreed that this microreserve is a component part of a future transboundary reserve, a Natural Park, where such spots as Stanca-Jeloboc forest remnant with its historical and cultural heritage would be the core areas.

Project Update Spring 2007

Photo 1

Photo 2

The project goes well and we are gald that there is much progress, particulary in ties with local, republican and regional authorities. We see the transboundary conservation and regional ecotourism activity a chance for environment in the middle Nistru river basin (Moldova-Ukraine). And the present project is just the begining.

Here we are photo update on the spring phase of the project:

1) Photo 1 (2007 054). TV round table, organised at the faculty of Journalism and Communication Sciences of the Moldavian State University, lead by Andrei Dumbraveanu - our cameraman, a journalist, an ecoactivist, NGO, and environmental journalism teaching staff of the said institution. Other paticipants - Aurel Lozan and Alexei Palancean (Dr. biology, ecologist, forest management).

"Protected area index in Moldova is one of the lowest in Europe, with no national park. We would like, once again, to say that in a populated area, as Moldova-Ukraine is likewise the whole Europe, the human intervention into natural heritage is inevitable. The only one solution is to protect environment by taking also into account the needs of local people, therefore, they help would be crucial for successful conservation and development. We will pledge for a rational coexistance. The environmental tourism could be a chance for valuable landscapes, for habitats as indispensable home to biodiversity, ultimately for living side by side".

2) Photo 2 (2007 064). This is the class of computing and information of the secondary school "Cosauti", a local school in the Soroca district (Moldova) with its own problems and, sometimes, lack of information, teaching staff etc. The connection for Internet access via cable modem, but slow speed, is the only one way to to the Internet at the school and in the village at all. There are pupils intereseted in ecology and nature conservation, so we try to help and get them involved in our activities. Every book they take in the school library will be now accompanied by our booklet. Toworrow, some of pupils will be in line with our way of thinking...

Project Update Summer 2007

We have almost finished our field work and here is a summer update of activities.

1) Local workshop in the Soroca distric, Cosauti village, at the Cosauti-Jorjnita authority's office. The host is Mr Vasile Sarghii, local authority (Primar) of two villages - Cosauti and Jorjnita. Other participants: Valeriu Cojocaru (local craftsman/entrepreneur community), Ion Lozan (local craftsmen business community/NGO "Regele pietrii" (=King of Stone), Valeriu Andrievschii (local entepreneur/recycling plastic waste initiative in Soroca), Mr Oleg Barca (manager "Intersortrans" company, Soroca district), Local Church superior (Cosauti), Andrei Dumbraveanu (NGO Ave Natura, cameraman, ecologist-publicist), Victoria Lozan-Donica (ecotourist activist, manager), 3 local people, 6 children (V. Andrievschii's summer school team collecting plastic waste).

2) A field trip during our workshop to the Stanca-Jeloboc forest complex: Nicon Zaporojan, chief architect of the Chisinau city (capital of Moldova); Ion Lozan (local business community); Vicor Lozan, painter, local Cosauti art school; Victoria Lozan-Donica (our activist), 2 member of Soroca city magistrate, local architectural authority.

Main goal of the workshop, held in Cosauti village (6-7 July 2007), was the future of Stanca-Jeloboc historic-natural complex: our support for local development and nature conservation.

Final Report

Read more about the activities undertaken and findings of this project in the final report below.

File DownloadSize
RSG Report 2006-2007.doc1.63 MB
2nd RSG Awarded

Read about his latest RSG project at http://www.ruffordsmallgrants.org/rsg/projects/aurel_lozan_0


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