The Association of Women for the Protection of Environment and Sustainable Development, in partnership with the Forestry Agency “Moldsilva”, is launching the eco-tourist expedition “Natural reserves – workshops for giving open-air ecological lessons” with the following itinerary: Balanesti, Nisporeni – Valcinet, Calarasi –Veverita, Ungheni – Radenii Vechi, Ungheni. The expedition will last from June 30 until July 13.
Contacted by IPN, the Association’s executive director Xenia Cechina said the expedition is staged with the aim of promoting the natural areas as open-air classrooms as an alternative to traditional ecological education lessons. The expedition involves over 50 students from education institutions of settlements bordering the reserve “The Land of Beech Fagus”, namely Bahmut, Sipoteni, Temeleuti, Valcinet of Calarasi district; Cornesti, Radenii Vechi and Bumbata of Ungheni district, and Milesti of Nisporeni district.
“During a year, students from the mentioned settlements took part in an ecological contest. Of the 260 participants, we chose by three students from each school. In order to stimulate other students, we selected by another five students to take part in communication sessions in their native villages,” said Xenia Cechina
The eco-tourist expedition includes four camping places. The students will stop in natural reserves and will study in detail eco-system problems. “We will speak to the students about the protection areas that should be protected more and will address sensitive issues, such as the Red Book plants on the verge of extinction, so that the students are informed and are able to promote ecological education in their settlements,” stated Xenia Cechina.
The event is supported by the Estonian public association “Peipsi Center for Transboundary Cooperation” and is financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia and the Ministry of the Environment of Moldova, through the National Ecological Fund, Gas Natural Fenosa, the natural reserve “The Land of Beech Fagus”, and the education divisions of Calarasi, Ungheni, and Nisporeni districts.
