Site: Saxon Villages region, southern Transylvania
Type(s) of Partnership: Direct financial support by business to protected area (corporate or personal giving); Enabling activity for small business development in support of conservation; Indirect support for the protected area (e.g., through income generation for adjacent communities); Normative partnership to set standards and build capacity to meet standards


Website(s): http://www.fundatia-adept.org/html/english.htm
Contact Name:
Phone:
Email: info@fundatia-adept.org
Address: ADEPT Transylvania, Central Office: 39 Lunga Street, Brasov, Romania

Description: The ADEPT Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation promoting environmental protection in the biologically important cultural landscapes of the Transylvania Region. The objectives are the protection of natural and cultural heritage, linked to economic regeneration of the area, such that each supports the other. This is summed up by the triple bottom line concept: conservation of biodiversity - sustainable use of natural resources - equitable sharing of benefits. The project is funded in part by Orange Telecom Romania.

The Saxon Villages Areais one of Europe’s last medieval landscapes and the grasslands probably the most extensive flower-rich grasslands remaining in lowland Europe. The project area is approximately 90,000 hectares, with a population of about 19,000 scattered in about 30 small villages and settlements. Low intensity agriculture coexists with an abundance of flora and fauna, including many Red List species. Although this ancient and special landscape remains substantially intact, the whole area is extremely fragile. In the case of such a human-influenced, semi-natural landscape, traditional economic activities are in fact necessary to protect the habitats and species. These activities will be supported by EU grants under the Natura 2000 model. Within a Natura 2000 area, a mosaic of other protection measures can be taken, suited to local conditions.
The key to the success of any protected area must be active local support. Without this, conservation measures cannot be implemented successfully. Therefore they should, from the outset, be designed with local consultation to ensure benefits and ‘buy-in’ by local communities. Local benefits will be persuasive: an economic case can and should be made for protected areas in landscapes on which people depend for a living. Conservation of the biodiversity of this semi-natural, anthropogenic area is only possible by maintaining the area’s economic viability. ADEPT is implementing a range of measures to boost local income from agriculture and from diversified income sources.
ADEPT is building capacity for farmers so that accession into the EU does not threaten traditional production. It also promotes sustainable tourism, inclduing assisting in the establishment of a rural tourism organization and the establishment of links the tourism industry. An umbrella brand helps to create an identity for the area, symbolising the link between nature conservation and community prosperity, and between good environmental practices and high-quality local products. Local products and services will be immediately recognisablehe ADEPT Environmental Quality Mark.
Source: Adept website