Cahul 10 th June 2013ACTION PLAN FOR CAHUL REGION

• VIVA EASTPART project has an integrated approach of Cahul District’s development in order to achieve spatial and socio-economic cohesion, based on the existing cultural values (tangible, intangible and environmental heritage), by creating a network system (cultural, tourism, communication), which will be adapt and will sustain medium and long-lasting changes.

• Changing attitudes towards urban centers or small rural areas with historic values and landscapes of local importance that need to be preserved is one of the main goals of this project.

THE OBJECTIVES OF CULTURAL TERRITORY SYSTEMS OF CAHUL DISTRICT

• PRESERVEING the local values of tangible heritage in the small historic centers• MAINTAINING the natural ecosystems• MAINTAINING the natural and antropic landscapes – landscapes formed by humans and their cultural traditions• TOURISM DEVELOPMENT adapted to the particularities of the place • DEVELOPING and PROMOTING the traditional crafts of the region• CREATING jobs related to cultural heritage in order to increase the competitiveness of the district• INFORMING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND VISITORS about the unique values of the region/district• AWARENESS AND PROMOTION of natural values (tangible, intangible and environmental heritage) of the territory at local, national and international level.

THE VISON ON A TERRITORY is based on a SYSTEM OF TARGETS.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE, SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE, MEASURES, ACTIONS AND PROJECTS.

VISION for the CAHUL REGION - a territory with a human scale, benefitting from its nature and respecting the environment, whose economic growth will be based on cultural values (natural and built), on traditions and customs that give the "spirit of the place", understood and enhanced for a better quality of life of its inhabitants.

ACTION PLAN for CULTURAL TERRITORIAL SYSTEM

It addresses the identified strategic priorities in the participatory working approach with local champions team, conducted in two local seminars.

The priority fields identified were:

1. AGRICULTURE – TRADITIONAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES2. COMMUNITY – INCREASE THE LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION INVOLVEMENT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS3. TANGIBLE, INTANGIBLE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HERITAGE – VALORISATION, PROPER MANAGEMENT AND

PROMOTION OF THE HERITAGE4. INFRASTRUCTURE AND LEVEL OF LAND EQUIPMENT / SERVICIES5. TOURIS – ADAPTED TO THE TERRITORIAL CONTEXT (NATURAL AND CULTURAL)

In order to solve these priorities and to develop a Regional Action Plan, two general objectives were determined, followed by the measures and actions further materialized in pilot projects.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE 1. Developing local capacity for integrated territorial approachesMeasure 1 - Transfer of international knowhow in sustainable territorial development through culture;Measure 2 – Establishment of a system of communication and information to increase awareness of the cultural values of the territory among the population / local communities and the visitors.Measure 3 - Develop a scheme /pipeline of priority pilot projects to implement the Action Plan of cultural territorial system;Measure 4 - Develop strategic partnerships in the allocation of financial resources needed to implement the pilot projects. GENERAL OBJECTIVE 2. Local economic development through territorial cultural systemsMeasure 5 – Enhancement of territorial cultural systems: territorial development through innovative tourism: geotourism;Measure 6 – Enhancement of territorial cultural systems based on the balance between traditional economic activities, local infrastructure development and the valorization of the natural and built heritage of the territory

Measure 1 - Transfer of international knowhow in sustainable territorial development through culture;

Context analysis

Action for the implementation of the measure:

1. Developing the local capacity for integrated territorial planning 2013-2014;

2. Training in order to include the European Development Systems in the rehabilitation, revitalization and sustainable development of small historic centers, 2014.

Measure 2 – Establishment of a system of communication and information to increase awareness of the cultural values of the territory among the population / local communities and the visitors.

Action for the implementation of the measure:

•Training in order to increase awareness among inhabitats about their tangible, intangible and environmental heritage values, 2013;

•Tradition and sport for the rural communities, 2013-2014;

•Meetings between generations – tradition and new technology, 2013-2014;

•An integrated system for promoting the cultural site – environmental, tangible and intangible heritage.

Measure 3 - Develop a scheme/pipeline of priority pilot projects to implement the Action Plan of cultural territorial systemAction for the implementation of the measure:

•Establishing of the list of heritage values - tangible and intangible (monuments, archaeological sites and historic, protected areas natural and anthropic);

•Establishing the potential for development of rural areas through culture;

•Setting up and operationalize of a network of cultural events, sites and rehabilitated heritage buildings 2013-2017;

•Revitalization of local museums – implementation of new technologies in the museums in order to add value to traditional crafts 2013-2015; •Designing an infrastructure to strengthen and to enhancement of intangible heritage;

•Supporting traditional handicraft activities by facilitating the access to tourist markets.

Measure 4 - Develop strategic partnerships in the allocation of financial resources needed to implement the pilot projects.Action for the implementation of the measure:

•Training for achieving the public-private partnership schemes for desiging cultural and cultural tourism projects, 2014;

•Establishing a network to promote and connect the natural and landscape values of the territory in relation to the international tourism networks 2013-2014

Measure 5 – Enhancement of territorial cultural systems: territorial development through innovative tourism: geotourism

Action for the implementation of the measure:• IMPLEMENTATION OF EUROPE COUNCIL’S METHODOLOGY for ACHIEVING CULTURAL ROUTES –

itinerary concepts for Cahul

• Conceptualizations of a network for rural tourism, as part of a national and cross border developed program Cahul 2013-2016;

• Village for both residents and tourists – nature, culture, traditions (natural attraction, specific accommodation, promoting local products) on eco-house/ethno-village model (see toolkit), 2013-2017;

Creative/innovative ideas for tourism in Cahul – implementation of the concept: touristic passport, 2013-2014;

Connectiong to the international travel network of Lower Danube (from the point of view of the foreign visitors, the area Prutul de Jos situated in the south of the district can be defined as «The end of Danube» - assuring the contact with Central Europe – and could also represent the logo of the area – the main idea which could be the basis for the development strategy of the territory, a common ground which will integrate specific actions);

Development of community’s abilities in order to perform specialized trainings activities.

Measure 6 – Enhancement of territorial cultural systems based on the balance between traditional economic activities, local infrastructure development and the valorization of the natural and built heritage of the territory

Action for the implementation of the measure:•Development of a national register of vine and wine (for Cahul District) 2013-2014;

•Evaluation of local agricultural products, compatibility study with the inclusion of national network trails of wine 2014-2015;

•Creating an infrastructure for protected rural areas;

•Determination of the typology of green infrastructure, adapted to the natural environment and local context (roads, parking, public spaces, signage) 2013-2014;

• Project 1: The creation of the implementation framework for the transfer of knowledge / knowhow in the Cahul district

• Creating a web portal with specialized data on integrated territorial planning issues and information on other similar experiences in the small historical centers in the Europaportal;

• Type of date: statistical, territorial and urban planning, maps and analysis plans and boundary, legal and ecomonic framework for similar urban operations;

• The structure of the web portal: modular, in order to facilitate the access to various field of information;

• Content: a database that will include both technical specification and the partners involved (authorities, NGOs in the field, specialists).

• Project 2: Integrated system for the support and promotion of a cultural site - Văleni-Slobozia Mare- small-scale infrastructure for developing cultural events related to intangible heritage and exhibitions of locally-produced handicrafts, gastronomy and art.

• Developing of modules for display/presentation and support elements that will contain specific data regarding the selected cultural values of the area and connecting them at the district level;

• Type of intervention: local infrastructure, mobile elements which can be use in exhibitions with local heritage (mobil, tangible, intangible and natural) and information about it;

• Structure: modular in order to facilitate the implementation and adaption to the existing natural context, made from local materials and benefiting from modern technologies.

• Creation of promotional materials related to the area: a map with the schedule of future events and presentation of local heritage values of the district.

• Complete and inaugurate the site along with a workshop for promoting best practices related to vernacular architectural heritage.

• Project 3. Creating an integrated database for the Cahul district on the development potential in culture (natural, movable and immovable cultural heritage, natural and cultural) with intervention priorities.

• Transfering the database in the informatic system – both specialists and the general public would have the possibility to access the intormation;

• Special attention sould be paid to vernacular achitectural heritage (rustic traditional architecture), to valuable heritage, as a source for both tourism and local development, but also as part of the local brand, currently threatened with extinction.

• Project 4. Promote public-private partnerships for the preservation and enhancement of the heritage: pilot project of connecting in innovative forms with the scientific reserve "Lower Prut" on the Lower Danube and Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (RO).

• Linking the scientific reserve to the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve system can give greater coherence of the specific trails in the area (nature, bird-watching, architecture lacustrine, etc.), including the obeservation of similar intangible heritage elements (traditions, songs, dances).

• Experienced partners in this type of tourism development, which can integrate tangible, intangible and environmental heritage, can add value to both territory and local communities.

• Project 5. Conceptualization of a network of rural tourism by embracing innovative forms but European territorial context - geotourism.

• The project will introduce the geotourism concept and also best practices through the workshops and together with the network of local stakeholders, which will be formed, in complementary domains (accommodation, food, agriculture, handicraft products, transport related activities)

• Project 6: Evaluation of local agricultural products and inclusion in the wine trails network from 2014 to 2015, based on the creation of an infrastructure of rural protected areas.

• Traditional agriculture is part of the landscape heritage and traditions of the Republic, including the southern area and Cahul. The quality of these products can help promote ecological tourism in the area through specific routes (networks of wine) that can develop in conjunction with developing this type of agriculture.

• Landscape and nature remain as basic elements, tissue that articulates these activities, therefore being necessary to evaluate the structures of rural landscape and to protect the natural and anthropic rural zones.

TOOLKITECO-HOUSE, ETHNO-VILLAGE- EXAMPLE FROM SERBIACahul region can choose to either capitalize the existing facilities such as La Vadut and La Izvor, or develop the potential points such as Mihaies or Burlacu Village Museum, or support the development of new initiatives throughout the area.A combination of these strategies is also possible. The scale can vary from eco-house initiatives / ethno-house at assemblies or even entire villages (such as ethno-villages in Bulgaria, and Melnik, Kovacevitsa or Koprivishtitsa). What is important is that these facilities must be linked and integrated into the local tourism streams either as part of tourism packages or, for independent travelers, by appropriate territorial marketing such as brochures and tourist maps on the territory.

Household sxample (eco-house) in ethno-village "Terzi avlija“ (photo: www.zlakusa.com)

Examples of marketing the eco-houses and ethno-villages in Serbia:

“The Serbian village is also the most trusted guardian of tradition. Folk crafts have been preserved through local handicraft, folk embroidery and crafts like loom and wood carving almost forgotten. Besides old folk traditions, authentic folk music and polyphonic songs were also preserved. "

(National Tourism Organisation of Serbia) http://www.serbia.travel/destinations/villages/ethnic-villages/

Thank you!