\nThe Transylvanian Highlights is a
\ntourist destination comprising seven national and Natura 2000 sites
\nand the second largest protected area in Romania after the Danube
\nDelta Biosphere Reserve. It neighbours Sibiu, Bra\u015fov,
\nF\u0103g\u0103ra\u015f, Rupea, Sighi\u015foara and Media\u015f, along the valleys of
\nH\u00e2rtibaciu, T\u00e2rnava Mare and Olt, covering over 267,000 hectares
\nand with a population of 90,000 inhabitants in its 44 villages in
\nthree different counties (Sibiu, Mure\u0219 and Bra\u0219ov). The
\nTransylvanian Highlands are associated with a mediaeval landscape,
\nwith high hills and valleys with terraces and meadows, multicultural
\nvillages and fortified citadels and churches, some of which are
\nUNESCO world heritage sites. Its centuries-old sessile oak forests
\nare iconic, and its meadows and grasslands have great natural value
\non account of the preservation of traditional methods for grazing and
\nhaymaking. The Transylvanian Highlands are an active destination,
\nwith a network of 500 km of hiking and cycling tracks, taking
\nvisitors to over 60 towns and villages. Visits to artisans’
\nworkshops and local producers, including of food, can also be
\norganised.
\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nThe Rhubarb Festival was held in these parts at the beginning of May.
\nBianca \u015etef\u0103nu\u0163, senior communications expert from WWF Romania,
\ntold us more:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nThe Rhubarb Festival, which was held in Saschiz, is in fact an
\nexample of good practice organised by the local community. It brings
\ntogether people and is an opportunity to promote cultural, natural
\nand gastronomic values. The rhubarb has a whole tradition in these
\nparts, it’s a plant that grows well and which is well taken care of
\nin the Transylvanian Highlands and used in many ways, from soups to
\nvarious drinks and some delicious pies.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nHow can people and the local
\nauthorities respond together to the needs of the community? How can
\nthey preserve traditional and natural values, while also making a
\nfinancial profit? These are all valid questions to which these
\ncommunities are trying to find an answer. Bianca \u015etef\u0103nu\u0163
\nagain:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nWWF Romania together with our local partners in the Transylvanian
\nHighlands, a total of 11 organisations, are trying to educate, inform
\nand bring together residents and communities from the Transylvanian
\nHighlands so as to live harmoniously with nature and at the same time
\nhave a say in the decision making process at the local level. So we
\nare trying, through a project called PACT2020, which is carried out
\nby WWF Romania in partnership with the Mioritics Association and the
\nMihai Eminescu Trust and with financial support from Active
\nCitizens Fund Romania funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway
\nthrough the SEE 2014-2021 grants to learn from the local communities
\nabout how they get organised, what their main needs are and to guide
\nthem through a process of education to become more active and more
\nsustainable.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nBianca \u015etef\u0103nu\u0163 tells us how the
\nSaschiz community has grown in recent years:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nSaschiz is a great example of
\ncivic action. I’m thinking of the Women’s Neighbourhood in
\nSaschiz, an association established in 2015 which has contributed
\ngreatly to the prosperity of the community, not just of the local
\nwomen and families, who were the main target, but the entire
\ncommunity. This Rhubarb Festival forms part of this, it’s a model
\nfor other communities in Romania and elsewhere.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nBefore tucking in to the rhubarb
\npies, the visitors to the Rhubarb Festival in Saschiz discussed about
\nan information and awareness raising project to be attended by 150
\npersons from 10 communities in the counties of Bra\u0219ov, Sibiu
\nand Mure\u0219. Bianca \u015etef\u0103nu\u0163
\ntells us how we can find out more about the development of the
\nproject:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nWWF Romania will provide updates
\non how the project unfolds, both on its social media and on the
\nproject’s website, at colinele-transilvaniei.ro\/pact 2020, where
\nyou can find information that can help you and your communities.
\nYou’ll find collections of good practice, useful information about
\nhow to speak to the local and regional authorities and how to better
\ndeal with the challenges that may appear in the community.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nSuch projects aim to develop in the
\nlong term the sustainability and ability of the civil society sector,
\nintensifying its role in promoting active citizenship and human
\nrights and consolidating at the same time the bilateral relations
\nwith the donor countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The
\ngeneral objective is to reduce economic and social disparities
\nbetween those living in these areas and to consolidate bilateral
\nrelations between the areas benefiting from the grants and the donor
\nstates.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Rhubarb Festival was held in the Transylvanian Highlands at the beginning of May.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":126,"featured_media":137196,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[42520],"tags":[43360],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-137195","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inside-romania","tag-saschiz"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n