Project Summary:

Biodiversity in Moldova struggle permanent threats in the result of human encroachment through land conversion; soil erosion; pollution; non-native and/ or invasive species; unsustainable grazing; habitat fragmentation because of infrastructure development; illegal logging, collection of rare plants, hunting and fishing; and climate change.

Biodiversity mainstreaming project aims to enhance the effective biodiversity management outside Protected Areas in order to maintain the ecological integrity of Moldova’s ecosystems.  

The overall project scope is to mainstream biodiversity conservation priorities into Moldova’s territorial planning policies and practices.

Objectives:

• Modify the land use planning and enforcement system so that it addresses biodiversity loss;
• Demonstrate methods for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity on communal lands in two target districts.

Expected results:

• Modifications proposed to land and forest legislation and related regulations and standards for mainstreaming biodiversity at national and local levels;
• Monitoring system in place to track change in biodiversity-important areas, and take adaptive measures to reduce impacts; 
• Agency Moldsilva supported in the process of development of the new redaction of Forestry code that will ensure biodiversity mainstreaming into the forestry sector planning and management practices;
• Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment supported in development of the Environmental integrated information system concept and protected area registry concept;
• National multi-sectoral stakeholder committee established to oversee land-use plan development, implementation and enforcement; 
• System of penalties for malfeasance to the approved DSPs and LUPs developed; 
• Government officers from key institutions trained in participatory spatial planning that integrates biodiversity conservation principles; 
• Integrated district spatial plans (DSPs) and land use plans  (LUPs) accommodating biodiversity concerns are developed for Stefan Voda and Soroca districts; 
• A study for Ecosistem services valuation in Soroca and Stefan Voda districts developed;
• Technologies developed, tested and appropriate infrastructure established to showcase biodiversity-compatible land uses in 100 ha pasturelands in four communities from Stefan Voda and Soroca districts;
• Ecological connectivity established between and within different forest blocks through reforestation and sustainable forest management activities on 100 hectares;  
• The touristic guides for Soroca and Stefan-Voda districts developed;
• Land users trained in mainstreaming biodiversity concerns in land use practices; 
• Business activities associated with ecosystem services showcased;
• Public funds secured for biodiversity mainstreaming initiatives.

Accomplishments:

• Amendments were proposed to the existing legislation (Law on Vegetal Kingdom, Law on Animal Kingdom, Law on land use planning) so as to ensure that it becomes a requirement of land use planning exercises to identify vulnerable species, habitats, and ecosystem goods and services;
• Inputs provided for strategic environment assesment (SEA) Law enforcement (SEA Guidelines);
• Incorporation of biodiversity conservation priorities and ecosystem services provided for Moldova 2030 Strategy development;
• Pastures management plans developed for 4 communities from Soroca and Stefan Voda districts, covering 1,834 ha of pastures and forests’ management plans – covering 800 ha;
• The red list species inventory was performed in Soroca and Stefan Voda districts, which finalized with development of the passports for these species and their habitats (location and other species-related data), mandatory conservation actions that the landowners user must undertake in order to conserve the species and/or habitat and a handbook on habitats of rare plant and animal species in Soroca and Stefan Voda districts;
• Study of economic value of ecosystem services for Soroca and Stefan-Voda districts was developed;
• Ecological corridors (forest shelterbelts) was established through  reforestation activities on 100 ha of degraded lands in 4 target villages from Soroca and Stefan-Voda districts. Additional 52 ha of degraded lands were afforested in other 6 locations in partnership with NGO "Planting Good Deeds" and IFAD;
• Pasture restoration activities on was performed on 100 ha in 4 target villages from Soroca and Stefan-Voda districts through removal of encroaching shrub/woody vegetation, and improving vegetation cover (including species composition) based on rapid pasture inventory;
• Two eco-tourism guidelines for Soroca and Stefan Voda districts were developed intended to be used by the local authorities and tourist operators to promote the flow of tourists and to attract potential investments to the area;
• District Spatial Plans for Soroca and Stefan Voda districts were developed and approved at the local councils;
• General Urbanistic Plans for 4 communities from Stefan Voda and Soroca districts accommodating biodiversity concerns was developed and approved;
• Business activities associated with ecosystem services in 3 communities from target districts were initiated;
• Relevant information provided to Academy for Local Public Administration to include biodiversity mainstreaming aspects in existing trainings curricula for the public servants working in the environment sector;
• 29 officers from central and local level from Soroca and Stefan Voda district trained on integration of biodiversity considerations into land use plans, biodiversity data collection and monitoring.