BORDERLESS GREEN CORRIDOR

The JOINTGREENCORR project is a joint initiative of three partners, Odoreu commune (Romania), the self-government of Csenger (Hungary) and Interaction 2050 Association (Satu Mare), being supported by a great number of public and (volunteer) non-governmental institutions from both sides of the border. The partners have identified similar interests in developing ecological infrastructure on the two sides of the Romanian-Hungarian border and plan for a long term working relationship. The partnership consists of partners that complement each other. The importance of the cross-border approach to the topic addressed is clearly demonstrated through the fulfillment of the four cooperation criteria: joint development, joint implementation, joint staffing and joint financing. The partnership and the project management team covers the needed professional competence and relevant project management experience for the successful project implementation. Partners have acquired relevant experience in the thematic field concerned, and they also possess the financial and human resources capacity necessary for project implementation. Moreover, as a fundamental part of a well-functioning project, the Steering Committee will actively support the successful project implementation through a continuous overview of project progress and adopting key decisions as many times needed. Environmental resources are shared across borders and go beyond national interests. This is also true for the Somes river as a “green ecological corridor”, which has a rich and unique flora and fauna, being the home for various protected species: birds, mammals (otter, beaver, bats etc.), amphibians, reptiles and various species of plants. These are under growing pressure from human activity, therefore cooperation is crucial. The common challenge of the programme area the project is jointly tackling is the consevation, protection, promotion and development of the cross-border area of ‘Lower Somes’. Somes River, both on the territory of Romania and Hungary, including the Odoreu-Csenger cross-border area, has also the function of a “green ecological corridor”, providing the migration of many species of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and various species of plants. In the last 4-5 years, due to the low rainfall and drought, the water level fell significantly, which affected the conservation status of the species of plants and animals found here. Similarly, the “ecological species saving lake” in Csenger ensured a living space for many living creatures that have disappeared due to the lack of living space. The main overall objective of the project is conserving, protecting,promoting and developing the natural heritage in the cross-border area of ‘Lower Somes’ by encouraging the eco-tourism, environmental education activities, as alternatives for the community development and integration of practical experiences in teaching programmes. One of the project specific objectives is revitalising the cross-border area of ‘Lower Somes’ in order to conserve, protect and restore its natural values and attain a better conservation status of its habitats. Project implementation will lead to the achievement of some sights that will increase the attractiveness of the area in terms of environment and tourism, so at the end there is a performant and attractive eco-tourism destination that meets the needs for knowledge and experience of tourists and contributes on long term to the conservation and sustainable use of the protected natural areas. By promoting sustainable tourism that brings benefits for local community without adversely affecting the natural landscape, and the improvement of the infrastructure of ecotourism services the project will produce a significant social impact with emphasis on the development of the border counties of Satu Mare,and Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg by also stimulating other branches of tourism (encouraging agro-tourism, building accommodation places, developing local gastronomy), all these having a positive effect in the light of increasing the tourist overnight stays in the eligible programme area. The project is presenting a new innovative approach in the field of environment and nature protection, involving a great number of public and (volunteer) non-governmental institutions from both sides of the border. Besides conservation measures it also aims the joint promotion of the cross-border area as an attractive (eco)tourist destination, and the organization of joint activities on environment protection and biodiversity conservation by establishing and functioning of the so-called “Szamosmenti Environment Protection and Nature Conservation Platform”, by involving members of the surrounding communities, the inhabitants and volunteers. The project will be also facilitating the introduction of a new, innovative educational tools in the border region. As such, the project can serve as a positive example as its methodology, results and experience can be further on transferred. The target group of the project - ecological experts, public and non-profit organisations in the field of nature protection – will have the opportunity to transmit the information and experience realised within the frame of the project. Through the improved cross-border cooperation, exchanges of experience and “best practice” (transfer of know-how) will be realised between organisations and experts. Project results will be extended on both sides of the border, will draw attention to the protection of natural values, and will be strengthening cross-border relations through revealing the natural values of the border territories, and spreading the environmentally-aware behavior of the population living in the border region and the intensification of a healthy lifestyle. The project is perfectly in line with relevant European legislation in the field of environment protection and biodiversity that is a basic condition for its successful implementation. In the same time, the project contributes to wider strategies on more policy levels (EU/national/regional/county) contingency, also being in synergy with other key interventions. It is also making a positive contribution to the programme horizontal principles: equal opportunities and non-discrimination, equality between men and women, sustainable development. The JOINTGREENCORR project with a new, original approach in the field of environment and nature protection is joint and trans-border in effect all through the preparation, implementation and maintenance phases and under a joint management. The planned activities along with the various joint promotional actions and marketing tools will facilitate the development of cross-border partnerships in the field of tourism development and nature protection, aiming the increase of the number of joint initiatives thus contributing to the achievement of the expected outcomes of the programme.

Achieved: 1) Large public informed on environmental protection issues as a result of participation to the organized environmental events/contests/workshop. 2) Continuous water supply ensured by the well, increased life space of water-related animals in the lake from Csenger, informative presentation of the species to be protected, useful leisure programs for inhabitants from Csenger and the visiting guests; 3) Relatively constant level of water in all sectors of the dead arm of Somes River; optimal conditions for maintaining some breeding and feeding habitats for amphibians, otter and fish, and for developing a water vegetation of yellow water lily; Finalized: 1) Over 10 organized environmental events; contests: “The Most Successful Mascot” and “The Best at Recycling”; pedestrian bridge in Odoreu and pontoon in Csenger made of recyclable materials; 2) Opinion survey (made before the project start) and 1 workshop organized for economic operators authorized for activities of exploitation of the sand and gravel from the beds of Somes River (with 50 participants); 3) Reconstructed ecological species saving lake in Csenger (HU); 4) First phase of revitalisation works of the old bed of Somes River in Odoreu (RO), such as clogging, preparation works, building the information centre, etc. 5)Environmental events organized on both sides of the border (Forest Month events, International Day of Biodiversity, World Environment Day, Earth Day, European Mobility Week); 6) Revitalised old bed of Somes River in Odoreu (RO); 7) Environmental events organized on both sides of the border (World Water Day, World Day of Birds); 8) Eco tourist guide and promotional film for the promotion of the cross-border area.

By promoting sustainable tourism that brings benefits for local community without adversely affecting the natural landscape, and the improvement of the eco tourist infrastructure the project will produce a significant social impact with emphasis on the development of the border counties of Satu Mare and Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg by also stimulating other branches of tourism (encouraging the agro-tourism, building accommodation places, developing local gastronomy etc.), all these having a positive effect, in the light of increasing the tourist overnight stays in the eligible programme area. Consequently, the implementation of the proposed project will be contributing to the achievement of the result indicator for the Investment priority 6/c “Tourist overnight stays in the eligible programme area”. Moreover, taking into consideration the objectives and proposed joint activities bringing together people from both sides of the border, the project is also harmonizing and showing synergies with Investment priority 11/b “Promoting legal and administrative cooperation and cooperation between citizens and institutions” of the Programme, thus contributing to the achievement of the output indicator “Number of people participating in cross-border cooperation initiatives” and also of the result indicator “Intensity of cross-border cooperation”.