Community & Education
Support from local communities living in the areas around the plantations is key to the success of the reforestation project.
A local workforce is always employed for the tree nurseries, the planting itself and the subsequent care of the growing saplings. As part of our commitment to the local community, during Covid-19, Forests Without Frontiers raised funds to provide food boxes to support 51 vulnerable elders over a month in Nucsoara village, the village closest to our plantation in Romania.
Our plan is to make our plantations available as a resource for local schools, universities and community groups to visit and learn about ecology, with scope to get involved in the planting as well - and we have started this already in Sussex. In 2022 we helped 60 school children from Hailsham Primary experience time in the wild at Springham Farm, planting their own trees, working with the Children’s Forest.
Alongside the preservation of the area’s ecological heritage, we are also committed to raising awareness of the local cultural heritage through our music and arts projects, including local and international cultural events and music featuring traditional songs and instruments. We do this through creative forest-themed fundraising projects and events, which also help to engage people across the generations and to promote the importance of protecting ancient forests and reforestation. We aim to help preserve indigenous practices of land management, rituals and artistry which are all under threat.
Future
Our immediate aim is to consolidate our initial achievements by continuing to raise funds for rewilding and conservation projects in Romania. The potential to really make a difference is huge – important for Romania itself, and for Europe and the world beyond. Over the longer term, we aim to form new community-based partnerships in and adjacent to other threatened forest habitats, including within the UK.
We are actively working to expand our network of supporters and ambassadors and to develop our international music and arts events, a key part of our engagement and fundraising. We hope thatwe can continue to organise and participate in music and cultural events in Romania, the UK and internationally.
Protecting Forests
We also plan to collaborate on a project to protect remaining tracts of ancient forest in Romania by providing landowners with a financial alternative to logging.
Image: Part of our community action in Romania involved working with our Forest Ranger partners to deliver essential food boxes to mountain elders in the village of Nucsoara during COVID-19 lockdown.
Image: Local people working in the nurseries growing native mixed species saplings for our plantations.