Environmental research

RAF 07/07 VALEA VERDE The scope of this project is to contribute to the improvement of the utilisation of sawdust and wood waste and forest biomass as renewable sources for energy production, in the north-eastern area of the Historical Maramures. The project is contributing to solve the problem represented by uncontrolled deposits of sawdust, polluting land and waters. The project is improving the public understanding, and develops the capacities at the stakeholders level, regarding the use of renewable sources (saw dust and forest biomass) for energy production, and stopping the uncontrolled depositing of these materials. A Common Action Plan regarding the integrated management of sawdust and wood wastes will be developed by the stakeholders. As practical activity, the production of pellets from saw dust will be initiated and the final products will be used in the benefit of whole community. PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS Notable Community Participation Four NGOs, the rural community from Danes, Tigmandru and Soard and the local environmental authority participate and co-finance the project. Capacity - Building Component The project s activities (information, trainings and practical activities) will enhance community s capacity regarding: - the climate change and its effects; - the use of renewable energy sources for residential heating and warm water preparation. Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods The project supports the locals efforts to increase their income by promoting and demonstrating the use of renewable energy sources (solar energy) for heating and warm water preparation systems. Gender Focus 93 women (out of which 25 roma ethnics) are directly involved in project s activities: they are part of the project team, are developing training activities, are involved in information and practical activities. Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples 50 persons participate in training (including local media representatives), 270 persons (out of which 50 belong to roma community) participate in seminars and public events; 3,000 persons (including school population) are involved in information activities. Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment The project activities raise awareness of the local population on the climate changes, GHG emissions, energy efficiency and use of RES. Indicators The project promoted and demonstrated the use of RES, in general, and solar energy, in particular. Two systems using solar energy were built within the project. A passive system, for warm water heating was built with students support, and is used for demonstration purposes at Andrei Saguna College in Sighisoara and an active solar system (consisting in solar collectors, submersible pumps and heat regulators) was built (partially with population support) and installed at the Education Center in Soard village for heating and preparation of warm water. The members of Soard community (roma ethnics in majority), living in an area with no or low access to utilities, benefit of improved conditions, offered for free, at the Education Center, where the heating and warm water are provided by the active solar system built and installed within the project. The project targeted to involve the roma population in project implementation, as the most disadvantaged category from the rural area. As they, generally, are not organized in civic associations, the project supported the establishment of one Roma Action Group in each of the three rural localities (Soard, Danes, Tifmandru). As a result, members of the roma communities were more sensitive to the project activities and participated in information events and practical workshops for the construction of the solar panels. Policy Impact Results 1. Nine environmental journalists from local media trained on climate change issues and 30 articles published. 2. Two training sessions for teachers organized in 10 schools. 3. One specific contest for students (creative materials related to climate change) organized and five prizes awarded. 4. Twelve awareness and education campaigns organized in 10 schools and one public awareness session for roma population organized. 5. Three Roma Action Groups established. 6. Two practical workshops for the construction of solar collectors organized. 7. Two solar systems built. 8. 1,000 brochures on climate change printed and disseminated. Policy Sustainability The teachers trained within the project will continue to organize education activities for students; the community members who were trained in solar collectors production are already involved in house building for the poor population and will use their skills to equip these houses with solar panels for warm water production; the new established Roma Action Group will continue to mobilize roma community in civic actions and will cooperate partner NGOs for solar system maintenance and for accessing other funds dedicated to disadvantaged population. Replication The Association Sighisoara Durabila intends to find partners in order to replicate the solar heating and warm water preparation system in a hospital from a rural community. RAF 07/07 VALEA VERDE The scope of this project is to contribute to the improvement of the utilisation of sawdust and wood waste and forest biomass as renewable sources for energy production, in the north-eastern area of the Historical Maramures. The project is contributing to solve the problem represented by uncontrolled deposits of sawdust, polluting land and

Romania