Increasing biodiversity protection in the Prut River region

The primary objective of this project is to enhance the protection and preservation of biodiversity in the Prut River region, a critical natural habitat in Moldova and Romania. This area faces environmental challenges that threaten its unique biodiversity, and this project seeks to address these issues. The Prut River is one of the largest rivers in Western Ukraine, Moldova and Romania, one of the main tributaries of the Danube River. The Prut River basin is transboundary and is shared by three countries. Of the total basin area, 28% of the Prut River Basin is located in the territory of Moldova, 33% in the territory of Ukraine, and 39% in the territory of Romania. The Prut River originates on the south-western slope of the Hoverla mountain, at about 15 km south-south-east of Vorokhta village in the Chornogora massif of the Carpathian forest massifs, and discharges into the Danube River south of Giurgiulesti village, at about 164 km from the Danube mouth. Prut River has length of 967 km and a catchment area – 27 540 km 2. However, this unique ecosystem is under threat due to various factors, including habitat degradation, pollution, and climate change. This project aims to increase biodiversity protection in the Prut River region through a series of focused actions and strategies: 1. Identify and prioritize critical habitats and ecosystems (forests and fishes) along the Prut River and its adjacent areas. 2. Establish protected areas and conservation reserves to safeguard critical habitats (forests and fishes). 3. Monitor populations and enforce regulations to prevent poaching, illegal fishing and illegally deforested. 4. Engage local communities in conservation efforts, fostering a sense of stewardship and raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity. 5. Collaborate with neighboring countries, especially Romania, to ensure coordinated conservation efforts and the protection of migratory species that traverse the region and share best practices, data, and resources to maximize the impact of conservation initiatives. The project aspires to create a more resilient and biodiverse environment in the Prut River region, safeguarding the natural heritage of this transboundary area for current and future generations. By enhancing biodiversity protection, conserving critical habitats, and involving local communities, this initiative aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of this ecologically significant region. This project's novelty lies in its comprehensive and collaborative approach to address biodiversity protection in a transboundary region. It brings together stakeholders from Moldova and Romania to jointly tackle the common challenge of biodiversity decline, recognizing that the Prut River Basin is a shared resource. By fostering cross-border cooperation and involving local communities, this initiative sets a precedent for transnational biodiversity protection and sustainable management of natural resources, ultimately ensuring the long-term health and resilience of this ecologically significant region. Strengthening the protection and conservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure is a crucial objective, especially in the context of an energy crisis. Like many other countries, Moldova faces energy challenges and it is important to balance energy needs with environmental conservation. In this context, 1064 activities to prevent cases of illegal deforestation, transportation and storage of timber were organized by police employees from 01September 2022 to the present. As a result of the activities organized and carried out by Police employees in the reporting period, 430 cases of illegal felling and unauthorized harvesting of timber from the forest and outside the forest, as well as violations of the rules of timber transportation were detected and recorded. According to the statistics of reported offences registered at the Galați CPI, in 2023, a total of 147 forestry offences were reported and 31 in the field of fisheries. By achieving these biodiversity protection objectives, the project will create a more informed and engaged group of stakeholders who will actively support and participate in biodiversity protection.

Strengthening the capacity and capability of the Moldovan and Romanian Patrolling Police to effectively prevent and investigate offences related to environment protection by aligning to the environmentally friendly policy and extension of the joint patrolling concept on the issues of illegal deforestation and fishing, including incidents towards safety and security of the community in the border area.