PART II: Case Examples from Central and Eastern Europe
Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development of Retezat National Park
Romania
Maxim Lurie
with contributions by Macrin Desa
Romania
Maxim Lurie
with contributions by Macrin Desa
Vegetation is rich - 5.2 percent of the world's endemic plants species can be found here, including the Draba Dorneri. The Retezat Mountains are considered the European genetic center for Poa and Hieracium. The mammal population includes brown bears, wolves, lynx, wildcats, wild boars, roe and red deer and chamois, together with a large number of small carnivores and at least eight species of mustelides.
Following the installation of the communist regime, the problem of overgrazing appeared in Retezat National Park as the territories which belonged to former landowners inside the park were given to surrounding villages. The Royal Court and landlords had strict rules monitoring the number of animals in each valley and the quantity of dwarf pines to be cut for firewood and fencing. In 1970, the new land redistribution regulations included the right of local governments to contract out the alpine territories for residents or shepherds to use for pasture. Thus, the carrying capacity of the alpine pastures was exceeded by the increasing number of animals and of the dwarf pine cutting. By 1989, the overgrazing problem had become severe.
Problems concerning tourism first appeared in the 1950s, when mass tourism was encouraged by the communist regime. In 1975, the problem was first recognized when a group of children pulled large amounts of rusted cans from the glacier lakes and labeled each pile of cans with the following slogan: "Tourists, these cans were taken from the lake by a team of people who care about the environment. Please reflect upon your behavior."
The waste continues to increase, and, unfortunately, the problem has yet to be resolved.
The negative effects of tourism are briefly as follows:
Restrictions written in the park's regulations are weak and sanctions are not specified, while penalties for violations are ineffectual and do not act as a deterrent.
Since 1996, the official government position concerning the national park problems has been very constructive. In the "National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy," adopted in May 1996, Retezat National Park is the subject of three short-term pilot projects.
In the summer of 1992, the Retezat National Park cleaning activities began, resulting in the initial collection of almost 27 tons of waste. By 1993, the Bucura glacier site was almost totally free of waste.
From 1994 to 1995, as a continuing action of the cleaning activity, an environmental NGO called UNESCO Pro Natura collected the waste while raising public awareness concerning the problem. Civil Service International provided practical help in the form of volunteers. At the same time, an educational program for a more sustainable and "sympathetic" or "environmentally friendly" tourism was developed. Dealing with environmental problems in the Retezat National Park, the main work for Pro Natura, is part of the UNESCO Man and Biosphere program. The NGO has the permission of the UNESCO head office in Paris to use the name UNESCO.
In the summer of 1993, a German tourist visiting the Retezat Mountains was so impressed by the commitment of Romanian environmentalists that he contacted Banat Ja in Bonn - a German-Romanian NGO that has an indirect connection and influence on the German Ministry of National Defense. While visiting Romania in that period, Volker Ruhe, German minister of defense, convinced the Romanian National Defense Department and the Romanian army to help environmentalists clean up the mountains. Soon afterward, Romanian air force helicopters were mobilized in the area and the piles of waste were transported from the mountains down to the city of Hatege.
Following long debates with the authorities, discussions and reports were obtained from the Nature Monuments Commission of the Romanian Academy of Science - the custodians of Retezat National Park. UNESCO Pro Natura organized sustained patrols together with the army and foresters. This commission, according to the Environmental Protection Law 137/1995, is responsible for establishing specific standards concerning the conservation, maintenance, scientific exploration and guard of natural reserves with the local county council.
According to Environmental Protection Law 137/1995, the Ministry of Water, Forest and Environmental Protection (MWFEP), as proposed to the Romanian Academy, shall declare new areas for the extension of the national network of protected areas and natural monuments and place them into categories.
In addition to other activities, UNESCO Pro Natura published leaflets and brochures that contained information aimed at encouraging environmentally friendly behavior and provided facts concerning the regulations of the protected areas.
In this respect, the arrangements made by UNESCO Pro Natura created special places for waste collection, improved the marking system (by erecting panels with orientation and information features), and added signs listing restrictions and providing information about the Biosphere Reservation. The restoration and improvement of existing resting sites, refuges, markings and roads was also undertaken.
As a result of the educational programs organized by Pro Natura, fewer tourists camped in unauthorized areas. By 1995, more tourists were noticeably taking care of their own waste. Polls taken every year indicate that tourists' attitudes toward the environment have improved significantly, and they have become much more concerned about preserving nature.
Due to the excellent relations established with IUCN Romania, two IUCN international experts visited Retezat National Park in the spring of 1995 to evaluate progress. Their comments were presented at the Sofia Ministerial Conference and were included in the book "Best Practices for Conservation Planning in Rural Areas."
The World Bank (which is assisting the Romanian government in elaborating its biodiversity conservation strategy) is considering Retezat as a possible model site to be financed by the Global Environmental Facility.
Finally, having the support of international institutions, MWFEP developed the "National Strategy for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources." Three natural sites were taken into consideration as models for the implementation of a decentralized management, one of them being Retezat. These results were also possible with the assistance of IUCN Romania.
In 1996, UNESCO Pro Natura opened a Guard Control and Educational Center in Poiana Pelegii, with the support of the Deva Forestry Department.
Pro Natura and other NGOs established the Romanian Rangers Association (now affiliated with the International Ranger Association) in 1996 to develop and fully use human resources to manage the forest inside and around the park. The autonomous society, ROMSILVA, is the only body with permanent staff within the park, but, unfortunately, the employees are not highly qualified in conservation and tourist activities.
Through the "Retezat Commission," Pro Natura aims to be considered a long-term, viable partner in Retezat National Park management.
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