CONSERVATION TRANSYLVANIA

Our intention is to assure coexistence between human and wildlife living in our area, by a) conserving and recreating habitats and b) making local people part of the conservation process by increasing awareness for nature protection and establishing economic opportunities.
By implementing the forehead described program, we not only support conservation purposes but create a hothouse for economic growth in the area. Organic growth can be expected in the field of hotel and catering industry. Further employment opportunities will be opened e.g. in the ecotourism sector as tour guiding, and for example caretaker services at the Wildlife Rescue Center. Micro-enterprises comprising the selling of handicrafts made by locals will be strongly promoted by this program as well, by e.g. offering them as souvenirs to the tourists. The aim is to identify the potential raise of economic well-being for the locals and implement this concept with the partners.
Cultural events as Wildlife Photo expositions and film presentations might be organized in the historical atmosphere of the Zabola castle promoting the entire area on national and international level. The conference room in the main building of the Wildlife Rescue Center can be used for workshops and trainings for exchanging know-how about the handling of rescued animals with other research institutions as well as for educational purposes (capacity building). All these aspects will contribute to the overall flourishing of the area by significantly increasing social cohesion and livelihoods and thus benefit local communities as a positive side effect of habitat and species protection.

Output

1.  Improved understanding of wild animal behavior and the importance of the environment
2.  A wildlife center for sick and injured game rehabilitation
3.  Wetland for nesting, bird migration scientific and environmental education purposes

Keywords: habitat preservation, forest watch, wildlife observation, photo hides

For the past 10 years, we have been working on setting up a refuge area including 500 ha of deciduous and pinewood forests in which game can roam freely around. The aim was to minimize disturbances and thus create a hot spot of autochthonous species where there is no pressure of chainsaw sound or poachers and wildlife can be observed in a non-intrusive manner.

In order to facilitate the issue, with the help of an NGO working for environmental protection and biodiversity conservation, we implemented a sound alarm system a “technological forest watch” based on microphones, GPRS communication devices and solar energy that detect the sound of unwished activity (chainsaw, gunshots, logging) and send an alarm to the nearest ranger who can investigate the case right away. We are still testing the system (it needs to be functional in harsh weather conditions) but until now it is working perfectly since 2018.

As a side activity, we put up 2 photo hides and observation points from which amateur and professional photographers and nature lovers can spread the news of the abundance of wildlife in the Carpathian Curve.

Our future commitment is to enlarge the conservation area by giving alternative sustainable solutions of woodland usage.

Keywords: wetland regeneration, nestling place, groundwater normalization

The first aim of the project is to re-create a 5-hectare area of wetland which can be increased step by step to a maximum of an approximate 50ha. Wet meadows have been a part of the Transylvanian Highlands which together with the oxbow lakes of rivers (Feketeügy/Râul Negru and Olt) formed a breeding place and resting place for migrating birds. At the beginning of the 19^th century the fields were drained, but they still could be irrigated from the Feketeügy/ Râul Negru River or the abundant draining channels. With present climate changes the basin becomes more and more arid and former moors and swampy areas dry out, pastures and meadows lose their moisture.

With reestablishing a former wetland in Székelytamásfalva/Tamașfalău – Székelypetőfalva /Peteni area we would help two issues. On the one hand water birds would colonize the area, a new trophic level in the food chain would be generated and migrating birds would have a new stopover place. On the other hand, forming a moorland would raise groundwater levels thus helping surrounding pastures regeneration in the dry season. The dikes would also help in storing water for breeding livestock.

Above all the project would also have a scientific purpose as well, providing a place of study and environmental education. For this purpose, the facilities would include one observation tower, several observation huts, and a nature path for school children linking the observation huts.