Life Renata Project organizes range of events in Chisinau

Chisinau, 5 Nov. /MOLDPRES/ – The first week of November is full of events for the co-funded Life Renata Project, aiming to align the EMERALD network establishment and management to NATURA 2000 standards in Moldova. The 2nd project meeting, set for the 7th of November, highlights the progress made through sharing milestones, fosters cross-national collaborations and outlines the next steps towards achieving the project’s objectives.

The four-day event is set to include a synergy session, a consultation meeting and deliver the 1st training, with influential speakers from multiple international and local organisations. As for the synergy, partners will converge on November 5, focusing on collaborations with the “Natura 2000 Moldova: Promoting a European Approach to Nature Conservation in Moldova”, a project designed to promote a European approach to nature conservation within Moldova.

Key Highlights:

Synergy Session (November 5, 2024): kicking off with project introductions, updates, and discussions on shared objectives and knowledge exchange opportunities, this session invites collaboration between Life Renata and Natura 2000 Moldova: Promoting a European Approach to Nature Conservation in Moldova, spearheaded by contributions from organisations kartECO, Arnika, and ICAS.

Attending Natura 2000 Moldova Press Conference (November 5, 2024): Representatives from A.O. S.E. “BIOTICA”, the Czech Embassy, UNDP, and the European Federation of Rangers will address the public, sharing updates on the support framework/achievements and partnerships for voluntary environmental inspectors and protected areas, followed by a Q&A session to engage stakeholders in the conversation.

Training and Consultation Sessions (November 6, 2024): Training sessions led by experts will focus on EU Birds and Habitats Directives, best practice governance examples for Natura 2000, and Moldova’s governance transition towards the Emerald Network as part of Natura 2000 standards. Consultation topics will range from findings and challenges to the synergy of initiatives funded by the World Bank, Austrian Development Agency, and GEF.

Project Status Review and Planning (November 7-8, 2024): The final days will feature in-depth discussions on the project’s technical and financial achievements, upcoming project needs, and plans for the first progress report. Lever S.A., the project coordinator, will lead these sessions, ensuring a cohesive approach toward Moldova’s conservation milestones.

The project is supported by the LIFE Programme, aiming to bridge the management of Moldova’s Emerald Network with the standards set by the EU's Natura 2000 network. Coordinated by Lever S.A. and executed by a consortium of European and Moldovan partners [ICAS, EKBY (GNHM), kartECO, EcoContact] with a two-year long span, the project kicked off in February 2024.

These events offer a great opportunity for stakeholders, policymakers, and environmental practitioners to collaborate towards a unified attempt to enhance biodiversity conservation in the EU.