Moldova has roadmap for protection of species and habitats in line with EU standards

The Republic of Moldova is taking another step towards European standards for biodiversity conservation. Today, during a conference in Chișinău, the final results of LIFE RENATA project were presented, the first initiative financed through the European Union’s LIFE programme implemented in our country. The event was marked by the launch of a strategic Roadmap for the transition of the Emerald Network to the European ecological network Natura 2000.

The project, carried out over a period of 28 months, provides environmental authorities with a comprehensive set of technical and legal tools. These include a modern GIS database, a “Knowledge Repository” platform, and a detailed analysis of the 61 existing Emerald sites in Moldova, which cover over 2,744 km² and protect 161 species.

The analysis carried out by experts highlighted the need for an urgent update, as the database has not been reviewed since 2017. At present, the sufficiency index of the network is only 24.1%, which means that more than 130 assessed habitats and species still do not benefit from sufficient coverage within protected areas.

State Secretary of the Ministry of Environment Aliona Rusnac emphasized that nature protection is now a cross-cutting priority, integrated into forestry, infrastructure, and spatial planning.


“The Roadmap developed through LIFE RENATA shows us where Moldova stands in relation to Natura 2000 standards and provides a phased framework of actions at legal, institutional, and management levels. This is the necessary tool to advance the process of preparing and designating the Natura 2000 network in the Republic of Moldova,” said Aliona Rusnac.


Project coordinator Artemis Margaritidou highlighted the importance of international cooperation in this endeavor.


“LIFE RENATA marks the beginning of a shared journey towards more effective nature protection. We have not only developed tools and technical guidelines, but we have also built trust and created a solid foundation that can support future actions to align with European standards,” noted Artemis Margaritidou.


The implementation of the recommendations in the Roadmap is essential in the context of the EU accession negotiations. For 2026, the authorities plan to adopt a new Nature Protection Law, which will fully transpose the European “Birds” and “Habitats” Directives. In addition, a Natura 2000 Coordination Unit is to be established within the Ministry of Environment.

The LIFE RENATA project brought together experts from six organizations in Moldova and Greece, demonstrating the capacity of national institutions to access and manage funds from the European Union’s most important environmental programme. The results and tools developed will remain under the management of the Institute for Forestry Research and Management (ICAS), ensuring the continuity of conservation efforts.