We need to help people to improve their lives while holding onto – indeed, profiting from – their natural heritage. Interview with Yanka Kazakova, head of WWF-DCPO's Nature & Prosperity programme.
Nature and Prosperity Programme
The ultimate goal for WWF in the Danube-Carpathian region is to create a prosperous region built on and supporting its rich natural heritage. This programme is focused on that linkage and demonstrates win-win solutions that promote prosperity while conserving the ecological and sociological diversity of the region.
A long-time focus for our work has been on agriculture and rural development policy, particularly within the new EU member states of Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria, where we have been closely involved in the programming for future use of EU funds – seeking to ensure that the funds are used to enhance rather than destroy the rich natural heritage of these countries.
As the programming for the 2007-13 financial period for EU funds nears completion, our focus is increasingly on the actual implementation of these funds – ensuring that the committed funds in fact go toward the purposes intended.
At the same time, we are working to identify and promote awareness of the agricultural areas across our region that are especially rich in natural values -- so-called High Nature Value Farmlands.
We are also increasingly looking for ways to harness the private sector to promote and finance nature conservation and sustainable development, for example by developing payments for ecosystem services or other sustainable financing mechanisms.
We have targetted a number of areas around the region, such as Maramures in northern Romania, where we seek to bring these different approaches to bear on the ground and with local farmers and other stakeholders.
Contact: Yanka Kazakova, WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme