As part of the planning project supporting the preparation of landscape restoration, three group activities will be carried out:

The work group activities A. will set up the SWCL StEP – a functional mechanism, providing a proper framework for participatory planning and management of resources. Key SH will be actively engaging throughout the planning process as participants as well as contributors. The platform will be the place for information and data sharing, identification of challenges, co-creation of solutions, that can be effectively implemented by SH.

In Activity A.1. Review the SH analysis and develop SH engagement mechanism scenarios and plans, the PMT assisted by 2 experts on community engagement & facilitation will conduct a thorough analysis of other SH platforms from SWCL (currently 15 such groups have been identified) and will develop a tailored made engagement plan, fit to the needs of the SH and project aim. The activity will result in: a) 1 list and analysis of existing SH platforms and map of their areas of interest; b) 1 SH Engagement plan – draft for discussions within the StEP. The SH engagement plan will be a useful instrument throughout the planning process.  In A.2. Preparatory SH meetings, PMT and the 2 experts will engage SH in the planning process, ensuring that all representatives of all important SH platforms relevant for SWCL are contacted and informed (min. 15 representatives of existing SH groups contacted and informed). Activity A.3. Information and scoping meetings with key SH aiming to establish the StEP will set up the SWC StEP, a platform with key entities that can contribute to the maintenance and restoration of this living natural landscape. A.3. will be implemented by PMT, 2 experts and will have support from partners. 6 meetings will be organised in order to capture relevant information from StEP SH.  Once that StEP is formed in A.4. Establishing Working Groups (WG) for key topics related to maintaining a functional SWCL, with thriving and engaged communities, PMT and the 2 experts will set up and coordinate/manage at least 3 functional WG focusing on different topics: e.g. ecological restoration, nature based solutions for communities, sustainable tourism. Activity A.5 Involve young professionals in the planning process and prepare them for active involvement in the landscape management process will engage in the planning process of at least 10 young professionals. A.6. Initiate capacity building programmes on relevant topics for effective landscape management will be implemented by ProPark with support from PMT. A.6 will result in 1 capacity building programme initiated on at least 3 relevant topics, with at least 3 capacity building events organised, involving at least 15 relevant SH groups ‘representatives.

Group activity B. will define the status quo of the SWCL (biodiversity data, conservation initiatives/results as well as community development plans/projects) for the selection of ecological restoration objectives. PMT will be coordinating the activities. Partners will be mainly involved in data/information collection about biodiversity values and community initiatives, according to their expertise (B1, B2). External experts will be involved in activities B3, B4. Project team and members of StEP will implement Activity B.5.   

Activity B1. Review existing information about biodiversity values, including ecosystem services and collect minimum data about critical restoration needs will involve partners and will be coordinated by PMT. It will result in: maps/assessments/reports about key elements such as: core wilderness areas and critical corridors needed for maintaining/extending areas with natural processes, pressures and threats, species restoration priorities/possibilities (e.g. Eurasian griffon-Gyps fulvus, Danube salmon – Hucho hucho and/or European mink – Mustela lutreola), prioritised action plan integrating ongoing species reintroduction activities, potential and priority ecological restoration areas, human-wildlife conflicts hot zones, etc. The exact categories of data that the project should address will be agreed during planning meetings with partners and SH. Activity B2. Assess existing conservation plans and ongoing biodiversity and wilderness conservation projects / activities and their relevance for the SWCL maintenance / restoration, will be implemented by PMT with support from partners. It will result in: 1 list/portfolio of ongoing wilderness related activities (entities and types of activities) from PA management plans / projects, conservation entities, local communities. Activity B3. Collect and analyse tourism initiatives linked to the landscape values will be implemented by 2 external experts with support from PMT and CAPDD partner. It will result in: 1 portfolio of tourism related initiatives in the pilot landscape. Activity B4. Evaluate local community needs and attitudes towards landscape and wilderness conservation and understanding of potential impacts and benefits will be coordinated by PMT, and it will result in 1 Study on the attitude of local communities towards wilderness and ecological reconstruction and the level of understanding of potential benefits (external contract). Activity B5. Review funding opportunities for biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration and community development relevant for the SWCL is a relevant activity for having in place a list and description of funding opportunities for restoration and development in the area. The mapping of funding sources will be performed by PMT.

Group activity C. will result in a strategy and action plan of the SWCL as well as ELP restoration project proposal. PMT will be coordinating the group activity C, having responsibility on delivering under Activity C.2. Members of StEP, under coordination of PMT will actively contribute to Activity C.1.

Activity C1. Conducting a participatory process to develop the vision, objectives and prioritised action plan shared by key SH will engage StEP members in co-developing a strategy and action plan for the SWCL, carried out in a participatory manner and agreed by the key stakeholders (includes priorities for restoration as well as for and local development). Activity C.2. Develop ELP project proposal will result in: a) ELP restoration project proposal, including: i) a map of prioritised areas for ecological restoration, ii) action plan for species restoration, if applicable (depending on the feasibility studies), iii) action plan for prioritised stakeholder outreach activities, iv) plan for local community development projects.

The project will support part of the project management costs: salaries, transport costs and administrative costs for a Project Management Team (PMT) of 3 staff members. Activities will be coordinated by the PMT, with most of the SH outreach and communication work carried out by this team, and having support from 2 external community engagement & facilitation experts and from partner organisations. StEP members will be involved throughout the project. Partners will partly contribute to project implementation, ensuring some of the implementation costs if needed (staff allocation, travel).

We managed to achieve the project aim of creating the conditions for effective landscape management. 

Objective A (active SH engagement in the process of safeguarding the South Western Carpathian Landscape) has been achieved by establishing the SWCL Stakeholder Engagement Platform (StEP) as a functional mechanism: the updated SH analysis allowed for the identification of 2 key partners, the National Agency for Mountain Areas (ANZM) and the National Forest Administration (RNP Romsilva), with whom Partnerships Agreements have been signed; 70 representatives of existing SH groups (members under identified key partners agencies) have been constantly informed and involved via the 4 Working Groups established to develop the SWCL strategy. The WGs covered identified priority issues such as landscape conservation, grasslands, tourism and community development. 14 young professionals have been involved in the planning process and trained about Protected Areas – Nature protection, leisure and education. 2 more trainings have been delivered, one for key SH groups on financing opportunities for sustainable landscape development, and one on community development and landscape conservation dedicated to local actors with a role in territorial planning at local, county and regional level. 

Objective B (collection of solid data/information to justify selection of specified restoration and development targets) has been achieved through preliminary analysis and community interactions by the local experts in the project team, followed by the above-mentioned WGs discussions and deliverables. A WG with Protected Areas representatives from the project area was established at the beginning of the project with the purpose to support the project team with gathering and assessing data about protected areas and other areas of conservation interest. Furthermore, a reporting tool (https://natura2000.ro/elsp-reporting/) and a set of maps with most important data layers have been created for working groups (and some have been published online (https://natura2000.ro/elsp/) for technical cooperation within the project). Information has been organized and stored in the Coalition’s network storage and on a google drive dedicated to the project for easier work within the team as well as with local SH. The foreseen qualitative study on the attitude of local communities towards wilderness and nature conservation has also been realized and published in the form of an open scientific article here:  https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/6/2/60  

Objective C (co-creation of vision, strategy and action plan for SWCL conservation) has been achieved thanks to the enabling conditions created under the previous objectives. At the final SH meeting, the Strategy and Action Plan for the conservation of the SWCL were agreed together with the landscape governance mechanism and the key steps SH will follow after ending of the project in order to ensure continuity in the collaboration for landscape restoration process.

The planning grant project has brought existing work and projects throughout the SWCL to the next level by establishing the StEP with key SH representatives for the whole territory. It is the first time that a landscape vision, strategy and action have been agreed among key SH. Although continuing collaboration after ending of the project is an inevitable challenge, especially without dedicated funding, awareness has been raised and shared understanding achieved on the importance of integrated landscape management for the wellbeing of local communities. Implementation of the SWCL Strategy and Action Plan that was managed to be agreed among key SH under the planning grant project, will be important to secure the maintenance of the SWCL. Not lastly, the efforts for successful cooperation within a wide spectrum of stakeholders and the collective generated knowledge have definitely created a solid foundation for future work in the project area.

The Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme aims to restore natural ecological processes, species populations, and habitats for a better and more sustainable future. It signals a shift away from a narrative of “slowing declines” and “no net loss” to a positive and creative conservation agenda in which the potential of our land and seas is recognized. The Endangered
Landscapes & Seascapes Programme is managed by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative in partnership with Arcadia, a charitable foundation that works to protect nature, preserve cultural heritage, and promote open access to knowledge.