Motivation for establishing the NN
It is recognized that Romania still has pristine areas and a high level of biodiversity in Europe. Different types of ecosystems and species are providing different types of ecosystem services. Romania has a great biodiversity being characterized by some iconic landscapes like theDanube Delta and Danube floodplainsand the Carpathians. In addition, there are also iconic species like birds (Pelicanus crispus and Pelicanus onocrotalus) and a vast population of large carnivores in Europe (bear, wolf) to name just a few of them. Grasslands and virgin forests are still to be found in Romania. The country is also rich in other habitats and species of conservation interest. But species should not be conserved only because they have conservation values, but also because they are the foundation of life itself and ecosystem services is the expression of this.
Work is being done at international and national levels, to implement the concepts of ecosystem services. In Romania several projects are being implemented at this moment (2015) under the Biodiversity and ecosystem services’ programme with the support of EEA Grants and Norway Grants like for example – Ecosystems services valuation of the natural protected areas from Romania – (implemented by National Center for Sustainable Development –(CNDD);
Scope of the network:
The main aim of the ESP Romanian National Network is to actively promote transdisciplinary research through the development of network of researchers, with the involvement of local knowledge, and NGO communities in order to support the decision making process. We intent to use the network as more than a communication platform and focus on developing linkages between projects so that new ideas and projects can emerge. The network will also be used as a focal point for ES research in Romania and will support linkages at international level.
The ESP Romanian National Network platform could also be used for training activities and capacity building at national level, as a support to implement article 5 of the Biodiversity Strategy in Europe.
Network objectives
- Facilitate and support the knowledge transfer, exchange of expertise and experience for the implementation of ES concepts and methods, tools and practice at national and local levels (e.g. by contributing to national assessments and policy evaluations, providing case studies and actively contributing to the integration of ecosystem services into policy and management);
- Provide a focal point for ESP members at the national level, in their national language;
- Maintain a database of researchers and practitioners’ expertise, contacts and projects;
- Develop capacity building and promote educational opportunities to improve understanding of ES.