PHOTO // EU supports Moldova’s preparations for accession through research, expertise in nature conservation

Moldova will benefit from expertise and field research, in order to prepare the Natura 2000 protected areas network in line with European Union standards. A project funded by the EU with two million euros was launched in Chisinau today and will be implemented over a two-year period.

The project, Natura 2000 Moldova: Promoting the European Approach to Nature Conservation, will support the Environment Ministry in developing the scientific and technical foundations needed to establish the network. Activities will include the development of methodologies and field research to identify and map areas where rare plant and animal species are found.

Based on the results, the Environment Ministry will subsequently be able to identify the most valuable areas for nature conservation, with a view to including them in the European Natura 2000 network. The creation of the network is one of the requirements of Moldova’s accession process to the European Union and is part of the alignment with EU legislation in the environment field.

The project is implemented by the BIOTICA Ecological Society and the EcoContact Public Association, in partnership with the Czech organization Arnika. It will also contribute to strengthening the knowledge of experts and public authorities of Moldova regarding the European approach to nature conservation.

Representatives of the Environment Ministry, the Delegation of the European Union to Moldova and EU member states, as well as representatives of environmental authorities, research institutions, academia and civil society organizations attended the launch event.

Victoria Gratii, Secretary of State at the Environment Ministry, said that the protection of natural habitats and species was a national priority.

“The conservation of natural habitats and species in Moldova is a national priority and an investment in the well-being of our communities. Healthy ecosystems support the conservation of valuable habitats and species and also contribute to protecting water resources, maintaining soil fertility and enhancing resilience to climate change,” the official said.

According to her, the project will support the development of the scientific and technical foundation needed to prepare the future Natura 2000 network and align with the European Union’s environmental standards.

For his part, Bruno Declercq, programme manager at the Delegation of the European Union to Moldova, noted that nature protection was an important component of the accession process.

“Through this project, the EU is supporting Moldova in preparing the scientific and technical foundation needed to establish the Natura 2000 network, an important component of alignment with EU legislation under Chapter 27, Environment and Climate Change,” Bruno Declercq said.

The project’s chief technical expert, Petr Roth, a biodiversity expert and former Deputy Minister of the Environment of the Czech Republic, presented his country’s experience in preparing the Natura 2000 network. According to him, before joining the EU, the Czech Republic mapped its entire territory over a period of five years and prepared the proposal to establish the network.

“The common principles for establishing and managing the Natura 2000 network throughout the EU enable much more effective conservation of rare biodiversity, regardless of national borders. At the same time, no EU requirement replaces nature conservation at the national level. However, these requirements can significantly increase its effectiveness,” Petr Roth said.

The project is being implemented starting from August 2026 till August 2028 and has a budget of two million euros.

Natura 2000 is the European Union’s nature conservation network, established on the basis of the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive.