The Metropolitan Agency for Sustainable Development Braşov together with ProPark Foundation for Protected Areas and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests organised the "Protected Areas Gala in Romania" at Aro Hotel, Braşov, between 16-18 December 2015.

The event focused on Natura 2000 and Romania's sustainable development and reunited  protected area administrations and custodians, as well as business representatives, natural resource managers and media representatives.

During the event 5 workshops were organised:

* How we communicate the importance of protected areas

* Preventing significant impacts upon nature

* Unitary and efficient management system for protected areas

* The role of protected areas in environmental education

* Natura 2000 sites and sustainable development

The Gala was also an opportunity for professionals working in protected areas to interact with other stakeholders, to initiate potential partnerships and to visit 4 protected areas around Brasov county.  At the same time it was also an occasion to celebrate the recognition of positive examples and successes in the field of protected areas. The administrators who proved capable to obtain successful results in administering a protected area by adopting innovative solutions, notwithstanding administrative and financial obstacles, were awarded during the event.

Protected areas gala resolution

The event is part of the project "Efficient Managers for an Efficient Natura 2000 Network - EME Natura 2000", which aims to strengthen the administration capacity of Natura 2000 sites in Romania by developing communication abilities of Natura 2000 site administrators and by supporting the integration of certain biodiversity conservation elements in the land planning process, both within the sites and in surrounding areas.

The project is funded by the European Commission through the Programme Life+ Information and Communication.