Propark – Foundation for Protected Areas, in partnership with Carpaterra Association and the Romanian Society for Wilderness, officially launches the project “Clean Olt – Roots for the Future”—a wide-reaching initiative aimed at tackling plastic pollution in critical areas of the Olt River, through clean-up campaigns, environmental education, and active community engagement.

The project will be implemented between May 2025 and January 2026 in the counties of Brașov and Covasna, targeting the communities of Hărman, Ilieni, Prejmer, and Chichiș. These areas were selected due to the high levels of plastic pollution along the Olt’s riverbanks and their ecological importance—being close to Natura 2000 site ROSCI0329 and the Hărman Marshes Protected Area.

This initiative brings together communities, students, local authorities, and environmental experts in a joint effort to promote ecological education, clean-up action, and environmental responsibility.

“We developed this project because upstream sections of the Olt River, especially in Brașov and Covasna counties, face critical plastic pollution—impacting not just the landscape, but also the health of ecosystems and communities. We believe real change starts with real involvement: students learning about nature, teachers becoming environmental educators, authorities cooperating in concrete ways. Through this project, we aim not only to clean the riverbanks but to plant the roots of a more responsible and sustainable future.”
— Andra Hăgătiș, Project Manager, Propark – Foundation for Protected Areas

 

Why This Project Is Needed

The targeted stretch of the Olt River crosses Natura 2000 site ROSCI0329 and the Hărman Marshes Protected Area, both of which are ecologically significant. In the absence of effective waste management systems and amid low public awareness, plastic waste has accumulated in large volumes, threatening both biodiversity and the quality of life in nearby communities.

This project offers an integrated solution, tailored to the real needs of riverine communities and local ecosystems. The proposed interventions aim for immediate impact, while also laying the foundation for a sustainable model of action.

 

Key Components of the Project (May 2025 – January 2026)

·       Clean-up of at least 10 km of riverbank, in collaboration with local authorities and supported by community volunteers. The focus will be on critical pollution points where waste accumulation poses a serious threat to biodiversity and water quality.

·       Environmental education for 150 students from 4 schools in Ilieni, Chichiș, Hărman, and Prejmer. Each student group will “adopt” a kilometer of the river to monitor and protect. Through outdoor learning, workshops, and creative recycling activities, students will explore pollution, aquatic ecosystems, and environmental responsibility.

·       Training of 20 teachers as “nature educators”, through a specialized course providing modern educational tools and methods. These teachers will become key resources for their schools, integrating environmental education into long-term programs like Green Week and School Otherwise.

·       Creation of an educational nature trail along the Olt River, with interpretive panels highlighting biodiversity, the river’s ecological importance, and the challenges of plastic pollution. The trail will serve as a lasting educational resource for students, locals, and tourists alike.

·       Deployment of modern monitoring technologies, including camera traps and sensors, to observe local fauna and assess water quality. These tools will be integrated into educational activities, bridging science, conservation, and experiential learning.

·       “Clean Waters Week” event, bringing together hundreds of participants for eco-educational and recreational activities: local green fairs, workshops, multimedia screenings, themed sports competitions, creative recycling projects, and robotics workshops focused on environmental solutions.

 

More Than a Clean-Up: Inspiring a Community

The project aims not only to clean part of the Olt River but to inspire an entire community to become part of the solution—for nature, for people, and for the future.

 

A Replicable Model

Beyond its immediate local impact, the project seeks to create a replicable model of action that combines clean-up, education, and local engagement. The educational infrastructure will remain with the schools, and the trained teachers will continue to deliver environmental education even after the project ends.

 

Partnership and Funding

Project partners:

·       Propark – Foundation for Protected Areas – Coordinator and educational content developer

·       Carpaterra Association – Expertise in waste management and local engagement

·       Romanian Society for Wilderness – Environmental education and wildlife expertise

“Clean Olt – Roots for the Future” is part of the Clean Waters (Cu Apele Curate) program, implemented with the support of Lidl Romania, in partnership with MaiMultVerde Association and the Association for Community Relations (ARC).

 

About the Program – Clean Waters (Cu Apele Curate)

The Clean Waters program is a call to action addressed to local communities and authorities to actively engage in preventing and combatting plastic pollution in the Danube River and its tributaries.

This grant program is part of the “Clean Waters” initiative, supported by Lidl Romania, and contributes to the goals of the Schwarz Group’s REset Plastic strategy, of which Lidl is a member. The strategy aims to eliminate plastic use where possible and sustainable, design products for recyclability, and promote closed-loop systems through better collection, sorting, recycling, and raising awareness about plastic pollution.

By thinking globally and acting locally, Lidl Romania continues to respond to the challenges of plastic pollution. All environmental protection and plastic reduction efforts are available in Lidl’s sustainability reports at: www.corporate.lidl.ro