AS level Project Magazine first articles.

The first two articles I came up with are informative or they are also called Service Articles. They offer information about a specific field, such as sports, film or video games, music or, in my case, topics of the environment’s general interest. In my magazine I want to offer information about my hometown’s important environment and conservation goals as well as the two NGOs are providing the city with.

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Going green on local level

As the great environmentalist David Attenborough says “There is not much time left for us to act upon the environment issues we caused…” so here I am trying to act by raising awareness and putting the “focus” on those who keep things in motion on local level doing the ecological work for the community’s future. I’d like to present in my column one of Targu-Mures town’s (Romania) very own local heroes: the Focus Eco Center.

Focus Eco Center is an environmental non-governmental organization promoting sustainable development, as they like to present themselves. But hey are so much more than that: their topics include sustainable development, ecological education, climate change issues and water management also.

The organization was founded in 1994 by an enthusiastic group (consisting of teachers, engineers, lawyers) interested in the questions of environment protection in Targu - Mures. They have gained professional recognition over the years, becoming a member of international networks such as the European Eco-Counselors Association, the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and the European Centre for Agrotourism (ECEAT).

Many of their projects they carry out were new in Romania at the time. They were not only climate activists but also the icebreakers for the local involvement in preserving the environment. Among these projects they can mention the public debate they organized about the implementation of the local town plan (PUG) of Targu - Mures (the only time in Romania when a plan was significantly adjusted following the proposals from an environmental NGO). Focus Eco Center also launched the first center for environmental education, planned the rehabilitation of a wetland in Transylvania (Adrianu Mare, Mures county), and organized an ecotourism network. The Green Agenda they have been developing (a sustainable development strategy led at the scale of a micro-region) has been internationally recognized and implemented in similar projects in Croatia, Macedonia, and Moldova. Nowadays their main concerns are about implementing the European Union’s regulation on environmental issues in Romania. They draw attention upon harmonization with the acquis Communautaire in the field of water and the monitoring of Structural Funds. They believe that their organization is characterized by a spirit of innovation and professionalism and hope that their actions provide useful information and inspiration for any environmental activities.

The organization’s General coordinator is Hajdu Zoltán who founded the organization with his wife, Hajdu Erzsebet. They aim high always, and act in topics as climate protection, water management and sustainable food commercialization.

They say: “the only way of achieving a good life today is by cutting out things, doing things differently. Rather than sitting in a traffic jam, jumping on our bikes. Better for us, better for the climate.” Also, they organized several workshops about water management where participants discussed about river regulation works at Niraj River. This event’s goal was to inform the citizens, NGO’s, and the authorities about the consequences after this regulation works.

Focus Eco Center organization initiated direct food-sales system you can buy fruits and vegetables from the surrounding villages of Targu-Mures. They named the initiative “webkamra” (webpaintry) and it’s a local food system launched in 2002, a few years before the wide movement of ASAT (Asociația pentru Susținerea Agriculturii Țărănești) was launched in Romania, inspired by the French initiative.

Webkamra has evolved over the years and consists today of a monthly local market taking place in the premises of Focus Eco Center in Tg Mures. Here you can meet the local farmers and discover their products, ranging from cheese to tea blends. We are currently working on weekly vegetables boxes with a new market gardener. These meetings are also the opportunity to participate in events, such as film screenings, food tasting, or café-debate, in which everybody is welcome.

Being part of a short food supply chain is more than a consumer’s choice. It is also an eco-citizen act through which you can support an alternative, human and locally based model of agriculture. In addition to enjoying fresh and local food, you also help build a community with the local farmers and the consumers.

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I also did an article about the other ecological NGO of my home town "Milvus Group". They are primarily focused on the wellbeing of wildlife and particularly the avian population.

Milvus group: heros for the local fauna

My acquaintance with the Milvus group began the day when an injured pigeon fell onto my balcony searching for help. I contacted the ONG and took the bird to their headquarters. I was relieved that I had the chance to help the injured bird leaving it with people able to solve the problem. I revisited them later to check on the pigeon and learned a lot about their activities and mission. I realized that they envision a world where people live in balance with nature, see it as a core value and everyone acts accordingly. They are committed to safeguarding our natural heritage and carry out applied research and conservation work for endangered species, raise awareness and educate people, monitor compliance with nature conservation regulations and engage in influencing environmental policies.

Their values can be described in:

· EXPERTISE: the staff includes biologists and ecologists with longstanding experience in nature conservation.

· CREDIBILITY: in making decisions, they rely on best practice models and our field experience.

· PERSEVERANCE: They have been committed to the mission since they founded our organization in 1991.

In 1991 a few bird enthusiasts founded Milvus Group Association. I also learned about them that thanks to the EU funds, they could help a lot of wild animals during this period, but they also had to understand very soon that they cannot solve all problems. However, they still try to. After the designation of protected areas, they become custodians of several sites, which consume a huge amount of our energy. They have been rescuing birds for a long time and the moment has arrived to get to the next level. Together with Vets4Wild, they are creating a nationwide network and building professional aviaries. With success, they are influencing the economy branches with the biggest consequences on nature. For instance, they are trying to change the financial support system in the agricultural sector to make it friendlier with nature and small farmers by developing new Agri-environment schemes. They strive to give a voice to nature in other policies, too: forest management and wildlife hunting. They carry out projects that aim at the conservation of several species: the Lesser Spotted Eagle, the Saker Falcon, the European Roller etc. They have a few memorable achievements over these years. Over 15 pairs of Saker Falcon (one of the nearly extinct nesting species) are now nesting in the western part of the country, using the artificial nests that we have previously installed. They also started some monitoring programs by us or together with the Romanian Ornithological Society. Within their ecological education program, they keep seminars for teachers all over the country and publish many guidebooks. The Milvus Scholarship supports the research of students engaged in nature conservation.

The organization does not focus only on birds, but also on mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish – anything related to nature conservation. They are also starting an environmental education program.

Besides academic studies, the organization has relevant project based focusing on bird ringing camps in the Gurghiu Mountains for ten years, and for two years on Chituc Spit.

ONGOING PROJECTS:

· Improving Agri-Environmental Policies through Participatory Research and Civic Engagement

· Process oriented nature conservation

· The project Game over? Do not let climate change the game! is based on an international partnership, aim to draw attention to the problems of global warming.

· ROHU-14 – The Nature Corner: Natural Treasures in the Corners of Two Countries

· Management Plans for ROSCI 0210, ROSCI 0367, ROSCI 0368, ROSCI 0369 Natura 2000 Protected Areas, SMIS 117254

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