Last updated: November 2024
The "Tree Plantation Month" is an annual national initiative in Romania, organized by the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Forests through the National Directorate of Forests. This initiative focuses on afforestation, forest regeneration, and raising awareness about the ecological benefits of forests, while promoting sustainable behaviors (4, 9, 10). Having been in place for 60 years, the program has recently aligned with the principles outlined in the 1991 Paris Declaration on the Sustainable Development of Forests (10). At the national level, the initiative is regulated with overarching goals aimed at protecting and sustainably managing Romania's forests (9). The program allows for the involvement of various actors, including public institutions, municipalities, NGOs, and schools, who collaborate with regional forestry directorates to implement local activities (4). In 2019, as part of this initiative in Iași, the Asociația Tineretul Ortodox Român Iași (ATOR), a youth-led religious association, actively participated in one of the campaigns. They planted 1,000 tree saplings in the Moara de Vânt district, an area that had suffered from deforestation and was prone to landslides (1, 2). The afforestation efforts were designed to address these environmental challenges by stabilizing the soil, reducing the risk of overflow and flooding, maintaining soil moisture, and regulating extreme temperatures (1). To ensure long-term success, the saplings were regularly monitored, and restoration efforts were carried out in cases where the trees were affected by fires or drought (3).
Moara de Vant
https://24-ore.ro/2019/03/12/actiune-de-impadurire-in-zona-moara-de-vant-organizata-de-tinerii-ortodocsi/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
- Other
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Landslides reduction
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Sense of community and community engagement
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of large parks and urban and peri-urban forests, Protection of natural ecosystems, Expansion of protected areas, Transformation of previously derelict areas, Transformation of vacant land into green spaces, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Educational and awareness raising programs
Project objectives
Climate action goals:
To carry out afforestation and regeneration of forests affected by hazards such as drought or wildfires (4).
To improve air quality, protect against strong winds, and alleviate flooding risks (4, p. 4).
To help ameliorate the effects of climate change by regulating extreme temperatures (4, p. 4).
To address the consequences of deforestation and prevent landslides (1).
To create forest curtains and extend protected forest areas (1)
Educational and community goals:
To popularize and educate about the beneficial role of forests by organizing educational workshops (4).
To educate on the proper methods for preparing terrain for tree sapling plantations (4).
To foster active ecological attitudes (4).
To improve the quality of life for citizens and society (4, p. 3).
To protect and ensure the appropriate care of forests (9).
Implementation activities
In 2019, a plantation of 1,000 tree saplings took place in Moara de Vânt, involving 150 youth-led volunteers (1 & 2). Prior to the planning activities the project organized a technical and labor protection session to discuss health and safety at work. Additionally, three workshops and seminars were organized to educate participants on the beneficial effects of forests and tree plantations (6). Ongoing monitoring activities are being conducted by the regional forestry directorate to ensure the healthy development of the saplings (7). These activities include afforestation efforts, crop and seed care, tree management, and stand maintenance through clearing, weeding, pruning, and thinning. Special conservation and tree regeneration works are also part of the initiative (7).
The plantation serves as the primary action aimed at addressing the main environmental issues identified. However, the educational workshops play a crucial role in fostering public engagement and promoting a sense of care and responsibility towards forests (6).
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Implement measures that prevent/manage desertification, soil erosion and landslides
- Increase urban vegetation cover to reduce urban heat island effect
- Restore and protect forests to prevent water runoff and assets loss due to flooding
- Restore and protect forests for soil stabilisation and prevention of landslides
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Non-government organisation/Civil Society
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Public sector institution
- Non-government organisation/civil society
- District/neighbourhood association
- Researchers/university
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The National Forest directorate, through its regional divisions, has been carrying out the "Tree Plantation Month" for many years, providing saplings, expertise and labour in many areas (4, p. 3 & 4). Universities and libraries have organised educational seminars (6). The youth led religious association Asociația Tineretul Ortodox Român Iași (ATOR Iași), in partnership with Asociația Studenților Creștini-Ortodocși (ASCOR) Iași, Liga Studenților (LS) Iași, Pro-Vita Iași, Doxologia Media și Departamentul Misiune pentru Tineret al Arhipiscopiei Iașilor have participated in plantation actions and gathered volunteers (1 & 2). The municipality of Iasi has provided the land when it has been part of its land and citizens had the possibility to volunteer in the actions (1 & 2 & 4). Funds are provided by the Municipality of Iasi.
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(Law from the forestry code n. 46/2008 (4, p.3 & 8). )
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of goods
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
- Other
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Enhanced carbon sequestration
- Expected enhanced carbon sequestration
- Improved resilience against landslides
- Expected improved resilience against landslides
- Prevent the frequency and/or intensity of heatwaves
- Expected prevent the frequency and/or intensity of heatwaves
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Expected improved air quality
- Improved protection against strong wind
- Expected improved protection against strong wind
- Water management and blue areas
- Increased protection against flooding
- Expected increased protection against flooding
- Green space and habitat
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Achieved increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
- Achieved generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved liveability
- Expected improved liveability
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Expected improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Education
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
- Achieved increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1.
Nistor, O. (2019). Acţiuni de împădurire în toată ţara. Ziarul Lumina , Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
2.
Arhiepiscopia Iaşilor (2019 ). 1000 de puieți vor fi plantați sâmbăta aceasta de voluntarii ATOR Iași _ Doxologia. Doxologia , Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
3.
Directia Silvia Ialomita (n.d.). Program impaduriri 2019 ROSILVA. Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
4.
Directia Silvia Iasi (2024). Luna plantarii arborilor 2024. Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
5.
Ursulean, A. (2024). Luna pentru viață_ Tinerii ortodocși din Iași organizează o acțiune de împădurire - Basilica.ro. Basilica Ro , Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
6.
Directia Silvica Iasi (2018 ). Invitatie - luna plantarii arborilor 2018. Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
7.
Oculul Silvic Harlau (2024). Lucrare prevazute in amenajament Sivica Ro 2024. Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
8.
Ministerul Justiției (2017 ). CODUL SILVIC din 19 martie 2008 (Legea nr. 46/2008). Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
9.
Ministerului Mediului, Apelor si Padurilor (2023). 15 martie, startul Lunii Plantării arborilor _ Ministerul Mediului. Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
10.
Ministerului Mediului, Apelor si Padurilor (n.d.). PNRR – MMAP. Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
11.
Prima Impadurire (2022). Luna plantării arborilor la Romsilva. Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
12.
Andrei, A. (2017 ). Limitele cartierului Moara de Vânt_ Podul de Fier, Aroneanu, Veneția (III) ». APIX, Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
13.
STORIA (n.d.). STORIA trai Moara de Vant. Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
14.
STORIA (n.d.). Trai Vocea Cartierelor Moara de Vant. Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
Recently planted tree saplings
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3397907157096160&set=pcb.3397907237096152
Poster announcing the initiative
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1959290111132949&set=pcb.1959290351132925