OMV Petrom finances conservation of biodiversity

In the period April 2023 – March 2024, the Romanian Ecotourism Association (AER) in partnership with the PNVNT Administration, a unit with legal personality of RNP-Romsilva, the Association for the Conservation of Biological Diversity, the Mioritics Association, with the support of the OMV Petrom Foundation, the Development Foundation Civil Society and ProPark will collaborate to provide a model of biodiversity conservation through natural processes and sustainable development, through education and ecotourism.

The Vânători Neamț Natural Park is the core of an ecotourism destination of reference for the northern part of the country: Zimbrului Land. The visiting infrastructure is specific to a natural park that will be developed here. By remodeling the interior exhibition of the visitor center, increasing the energy efficiency of the visitor center building, setting up a recreational area, restoring and expanding the bridge that provides a panoramic view of the bison acclimatization pen, the restoration of 3 mountain tourist hiking trails will increase the degree of attractiveness and sustainability of the Park.

Over the course of a year, a monitoring plan for wild mammals, including bison, will be created, followed by a study on aspects related to the interaction of bison with other wild mammals and with the habitats specific to the area. The plan will improve the management of the protected area, in order to maintain biodiversity by conserving key species and ecosystems – forests, and grasslands, and preventing human-fauna conflicts.

To ensure the sustainability of the natural area, environmental education in the communities near the Park is a necessity. Thus, a network of nature educators will be created that will support the conservation initiatives carried out by the PNVNT Administration through education programs dedicated to children and young people from neighboring communities. Among the activities are the creation of ecological education kits, thematic paths, and the organization of activities within the "Green Week" program.

National and Natural Parks are important refuges for species and habitats endangered or threatened by human activities, with a critical role in the carbon cycle.

Vânători Neamț Natural Park (PNVNT) located in the NE of Neamț county has an area of ​​30,631 hectares, it was established in 1999, being declared a protected area in 2000. It is recognized for the conservation of biodiversity and landscapes, the protection of the natural, spiritual, and cultural heritage of the area, the sustainable management of forests, the reintroduction of large wild herbivores that have disappeared from Romania's fauna, the promotion of ecotourism and the sustainable development of local communities.

The Biodiversity of the Park is remarkable, as a result of the fact that about 80% of the surface is covered by forests, there are also areas of meadows important for biodiversity. This natural park is a special one, a fact confirmed by several official certificates and recognitions: bison were reintroduced here, for the first time in Romania, the first FSC certificates for sustainable forest management were obtained at the national level, the park was mentioned as a natural site with spiritual value ("sacred natural site") by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), "Vânători Neamț monastic cultural landscape" was entered as the only mixed site (natural and cultural) in the indicative list of Romania for the UNESCO World Heritage List.