·       The OMV Petrom Foundation is investing €2,400,000 in the development of Vânători Neamț Nature Park and Putna-Vrancea Nature Park

·       The program aims to create national models for biodiversity conservation and ecotourism development

Bucharest, April 2025 – The Foundation for the Development of Civil Society (FDSC), Propark – Foundation for Protected Areas, and the OMV Petrom Foundation are continuing their collaboration under the “Green for the Future” program, dedicated to conserving biodiversity and fostering sustainable development in Romania’s protected areas. The second phase of the program (2025–2027) is backed by a €2.4 million grant, fully funded by the OMV Petrom Foundation, and focuses on projects in Vânători Neamț and Putna-Vrancea Nature Parks. Since its launch in 2023, total investment in the two parks has reached €3.2 million.

 

Ținutul Zimbrului: Conservation, Education, and Tourism in Vânători Neamț Nature Park

The project began with the renovation and modernization of the Visitor Centre in 2023–2024. In the 2025–2027 phase, the centre will be further enhanced with interactive installations and the creation of a multi-functional area integrating educational activities and ecotourism experiences. The indoor exhibition space will be expanded to include museum elements on local culture—encouraging community involvement in cultural heritage preservation—and a retail areapromoting local producers and products. The outdoor area will undergo landscape design improvements using natural materials and native plant species.

The project will also introduce a first for Romania: Vânători Neamț Nature Park becomes the first natural park to initiate the reintroduction of the moose (Alces alces), a major step in restoring natural fauna processes and ecological balance. As a large herbivore and an umbrella species, the moose plays a vital role in shaping the landscape and supporting biodiversity. Symbolically, the park is one of the last places in the region where moose were historically recorded before their local extinction.

Additionally, four wetland areas will be created to serve as drinking sources for mammals and birds, and as habitats for amphibians, reptiles, and insects—a crucial measure in the context of increasingly frequent droughts in Romania. The park's monitoring network will be expanded with sensor cameras and audio devices to improve wildlife management and continuous evaluation of species conservation status.

A new educational trail will also be developed, featuring interactive installations that offer visitors an engaging learning experience about biodiversity and conservation. This trail will be part of the “Forest School” educational zone, connecting the Visitor Centre, the acclimatization enclosure, and the “Dragoș Vodă” Zoological Garden.

 

Putna-Vrancea Nature Park – A Wild and Welcoming Park for the Future

In Putna-Vrancea Nature Park, a mobile virtual observatory will be installed, offering visitors with limited mobilitythe chance to experience the park’s fauna through interactive video content and short wildlife films.

A dedicated educational space will be created, providing activities for children and youth to learn about the importance of protecting the environment. To support biodiversity, high-nature-value grassland habitats will be restored through traditional land management, and invasive plant species will be removed to safeguard rare butterfly and insect species. Additionally, local rivers will be restocked with native trout, an important step in aquatic ecosystem restoration.

A fauna monitoring network will also be established in Putna-Vrancea Park, using sensor cameras to support biodiversity protection and anti-poaching efforts.

The project will include awareness campaigns, educational events, traveling photo exhibitions, and documentary film screenings in local schools to involve communities in biodiversity protection and ecotourism promotion. These activities will help raise public awareness and attract more nature- and conservation-focused visitors.

A photographic album dedicated to the Vrancea Mountains will also be published, highlighting the natural and cultural values of the park and increasing its visibility locally, nationally, and internationally.

 

About the “Green for the Future” Program

The “Green for the Future” program promotes a sustainable development model in protected natural areas, with a strong focus on the integration of local communities in environmental protection and the responsible use of natural resources. The program supports biodiversity conservation, environmental education, and the development of ecotourism in Romania’s protected areas.

 

About the OMV Petrom Foundation

Launched in 2022, the OMV Petrom Foundation designs and supports long-term programs in Romania for disadvantaged communities in three key areas: education, environment, and health.
More information: www.fundatiaomvpetrom.ro

 

About the Foundation for the Development of Civil Society (FDSC)

Established in 1994 as a not-for-profit legal entity at the initiative of the European Commission, FDSC is an independent NGO that promotes a democratic society based on European values, where every person is respected and represented.
More at: www.fdsc.ro

 

About Propark – Foundation for Protected Areas

Founded in 2008, Propark – Foundation for Protected Areas was created to address the challenges facing Romania’s protected area system through professionalization programs. Propark is the leading training provider for protected areas and conservation in Romania, playing an active role in European and global networks working to build professional and organizational capacity in conservation, through projects, consulting, and mentoring.