AS level Project Magazine second articles (interviews)

The following pages are interviews that i conducted with representatives of Focus Eco center and Milvus Group. The interviews were had in hungarian but i translated the questions to english for the magazine as the interviewed parties were more confortable in their native language. I decided to include interviews among the articles of the magazine because there interesting for everyone as well as help answer questions that people who don't know much about environmentalism and these NGOs specifically would have. I asked both of them the same questions in order to give a batter understanding of each NGOs perspective on the same topics.

Focus Eco-center representative, Erysébet Hajdu

First Interview and article:

Organization:

I had this interview with one of the Focus Eco Center’s founders: Mrs. Erzsébet Hajdu, a high-school physics teacher. She is a well-known and appreciated member of the Focus Eco Center, who started this organization together with her husband, Mr. Hajdu Zoltán the General coordinator of the NGO. She characterizes the organization as one full of spirit of innovation and professionalism. Together with her husband and other committed friends she launched the first center for environmental education, planned the rehabilitation of a wetland in Transylvania (Adrianu Mare), and organized an ecotourism network, and she’s not done yet.

1. What was the idea behind your ecology organization? How did you get started?

The Focus Eco-Centre grew from a group of friends into an organization, started by teachers, engineers and lawyers who shared an interest in nature conservation and especially in the protection of the environment in Târgu Mures, and it can be said that the result of their thinking together during excursions and nature walks is Focus. Nature walks, hikes and hiking tours were popular even when ecology was still an unknown concept in our society. The shared activity gradually grew from a hobby into a passion, a vocation, and a foundation for everything we have developed since. We were aware that in the ninety’s nature conservation, ecology and sustainability were in their infancy in Romania, but for us the starting point was already there, so the motivation to create a well-functioning environmental organization was even stronger.

2. How much effort has it taken to achieve your current success? How long did it take to build the organization?

The organization has been in operation since the 1990s (1994), with the same enthusiasm and perseverance as in the beginning. As we are talking about an environmental and social organization that is committed to the principles of sustainable development, we have planned and organized our development according to these principles. Over the years, we have become increasingly qualified by becoming members of the EEB (European Environmental Bureau) and ECEAT (European Centre for Eco Agro Tourism) international organizations.

3. What are the main objectives of the organization?

Many of our programs were first introduced in Romania. Among them, we can mention the organization of a public debate in Târgu Mures with the General Urban Development Plan (a unique case in Romania, where an environmental NGO proposed to change this plan), the creation of the first ecological environmental education center, the first wetland rehabilitation in Transylvania (in Nagyadorján), the creation of an ecotourism network, etc. The Green Protocol Model (a strategy for the sustainable development of a micro-region, which we have implemented, and which has been taken over from us and similarly implemented in other countries: Croatia, Macedonia, and the Republic of Moldova. We continue to work along these lines.

4. In what direction would you like to develop your network? What are the next goals to be achieved?

Our current activities are related to the harmonization of environmental legislation in Romania and the EU. We are working on the adoption of the Community Acquis in the field of water and the continuous monitoring of the Structural Funds. As our areas of expertise are related to sustainable development, ecological education, climate change, water management and ecotourism, it is obvious that we will continue to see these as the direction of the development of the organization. A lot of our efforts are also focused on environmental education. We have created and run from the beginning programs to bring the concepts of sustainability and ecology to students, so we are always open to launching new projects.

5. In your view, how important is it to have local environmental and ecological organizations?

We consider the presence of NGOs in public life to be important, and the presence of NGOs that are genuinely committed to sustainability is essential in setting local environmental policy and development guidelines. Through their professionals and volunteers, these organizations can see local problems and opportunities and can therefore not only warn but also propose solutions.

6. How can the citizens of our town help your organization? How can residents contribute to local ecological goals?

The help of the citizens of the city is essential for an environmental organization. Without them, the work for a clean, sustainable environment would be empty. The city is both a subject and a beneficiary of our work. Residents can be active participants in the activities we initiate they can buy organic produce through our web campaign, participate in our competitions, become eco- tourists in their free time to reduce their fuel footprint during holidays and vacations. Basically, they don't have to do anything different from what they would do anyway, just in a more environmentally conscious way, with our help. We are trying to raise awareness of these possibilities among the inhabitants of the city, and we are also raising awareness among the students through our educational work.

7. In your view, how does your organization’s presence in the area benefit the city's residents?

By taking advantage of these opportunities, citizens are clearly beneficiaries of our environmental and social work, which, based on the principles of sustainable development, represents the interests of both the city’s population and the environment.

Milvus Group representative, Réka Beáta

Second Interview and article:

I had this interview with one of the Milvus Ornithological Association’s employees: Mrs. Réka Beáta Kiss, a wildlife biologist specializing in birds. She is a well-known and appreciated member of the Milvus NGO, who oversees the group’s educational program. Her purpose is to help raise generations that would treat nature as a fundamental value and necessity in whatever field they would be active in. I ‘we known her before the interview from a couple activities linked to nature preservation and animal aid.

1. What was the idea behind your ecology organization? How did it start?

The organization was started by enthusiastic students who were interested in birds. With the help of one or two professionals, the hobby slowly evolved, with many natures walks and more conservation activities. Nature walks evolved into active conservation programs.

2. How much effort has it taken to achieve your current success? How long did it take to build the organization?

A lot of volunteer work has laid the foundation for the group. I volunteered for 15 years before I was employed. In the beginning there were only small grants, but later we managed to expand the group through larger grants and to maintain the activities we had started. Now we are a 32-year-old organization.

3. What are the main objectives of the organization?

Nature conservation and species protection. Education and awareness-raising. Research and monitoring wildlife.

4. In what direction would you like to develop your network? What are the next goals to be achieved?

Our organization is currently working on an organizational start-up strategy. We would like to expand our education team. We want to set up our own center. We would like to develop green spaces nearby that we can use for awareness raising and educational programs.

5. In your view, how important is to have local environmental and ecological organization?

It is very important- people are increasingly degrading the environment and nature is less and less able to regenerate because of exploitation, unsuitable farming.

Human existence depends on the proper use of natural resurces, so it is important that everyone has the right knowlegde. Conservation associations provide the professional bais that everyone needs to change their perception of nature and its use. It is therefore important that these associations try to pass on their knowledge and set an example with their conservation measures.

6. How can the citizens of this town help your organization? How can residents contribute to local ecological goals?

The citizens of Targu Mures must have the determination that is important to deal with these conservation problems, the determination to increase their knowledge. They can support us, volunteer, vote for us, take our views into account when thinking of changes and solutions.

7. In your view, how does your organization’s presence in the area benefit the city’s residents?

We help people in the city to deepen their knowledge of nature and environmental issues. We give advice on nature conservation problems. We solve problems with injured animals and help with the bear problems in the town’s surroundings.