Communication comes naturally – or does it? ProPark N2000 LIFE project: Efficient Managers for Efficient Natura 2000 Network

Training Needs Assesment Natura 2000 custodians and administrators in

Case study - “For nature and local communities - the basis for a Natura 2000 integrated management in Hartibaciu -Tarnava Mare area”

Topics

Efficient Managers for Efficient Natura2000 Network

2012-2015 513.114 euro 254.129 euro EU contribution LIFE+Information and Communication

Increase management capacity and support for Natura 2000 sites in Romania by developing the communication skills of site managers and by supporting the integration of biodiversity concerns in territorial planning processes in and around Natura 2000 sites.

Aim Objective 1

Develop and disseminate best practice guidance and improve skills and capacity of site managers on communicating Natura 2000 by providing high quality communications training programme and producing a communications toolkit for Natura2000 managers in Europe.

Support improved territorial planning in Romania that incorporates biodiversity concerns by providing guidance to the most important economic sectors that are using land and natural resources on how to contribute actively to the development of regional territorial plans that reflect biodiversity concerns, including objectives of the Natura 2000 network.

Objective 2

- training needs assessment custodians/administrators Natura 2000 sites - 6 communications trainings events in Romania /90 participants - 2 communications trainings events in Europe /30 participants - Natura 2000 Communication Training Programme for Natura 2000 managers

Romania Natura 2000 Communication Competence Assessment

122 personnel from 24 organizations responsible for Natura 2000 sites in Romania April 2013 The analysis was conducted by Mike Appleton A set of competence statements aimed at staff at 3 levels as shown below:

Level Description Level 4 Senior Management, Higher Technician Project, departmental management and/or high level technical responsibilities

Level 3 Middle Management/Supervisor/Technician Supervisory/mid-level technical responsibilities

Level 2 Craft, skilled worker Technical task based responsibilities with some team leadership CODE COMPETENCE

LEVEL 2 : 2.1 Offer and request for feed-back or feed-forward,

constructively and effectively 2.2 Demonstrate an assertive attitude and listen actively 2.3 Writing formal or informal e-mail, fax, letter 2.4 Writing formal or informal e-mail, fax, letter in other languages (at least English) - please specify in the last column the language

2.5 Understands very well the importance of the Natura 2000 site and its benefits for local communities CODE COMPETENCE

LEVEL 2

2.6: Explains in a simple way the benefits of the Natura 2000 sites to

locals and other stakeholders 2.7 Explains in a simple way the management measures needed for the efficient management of the Natura 2000 site 2.8 Explains in a simple way why specific regulations are needed for the management of land and natural resources in the Natura 2000 sites using support materials prepared by the site staff 2.9 Prepares and delivers simple presentations about the Natura 2000 site for educational purposes for schools, initiates interactive and attractive educational programmes CODE COMPETENCE LEVEL 3 3.1 Provide site specific technical/conservation information to the communication department, head of the PA and rangers in a way that helps them use the information when communicating with locals, children and other stakeholders 3.2 Prepares information on specific regulations needed for the management of land and natural resources in the Natura 2000 sites and how these help sustainable development in the region 3.3 Prepares information on the benefits of the Natura 2000 sites to locals and other stakeholders 3.4 Prepares materials / information for presentations about the Natura 2000 site for educational purposes for schools CODE COMPETENCE LEVEL 3 3.5 Work with mass media, on line and social media (press releases, press conferences, press trips, etc.) 3.6 Manage website, Facebook account, newsletters Develop the Natura 2000 communication plan involving the 3.7 management team, plans and coordinates the communication activities Collect/prepare and present to colleagues examples of 3.8 benefits in Natura 2000 sites to colleagues, locals and other stakeholders Prepare and deliver brief internal training events on how to 3.9 prepare presentations about the Natura 2000 sites and prepares and distributes to the team standard presentations as needed CODE COMPETENCE

LEVEL 4

4.1 Coordinate and/or conduct communication activities with key stakeholders and high-level decision makers and entities, solving conflicts and seeking support. Having answered the personal questions, each respondent then assessed his or her competence for each statement as follows:

1 1 = I have little or no competence in this skill: I require extensive training and development 2 2 = I have some competence in this job. I require advanced training and development 3 3 = I have good competence in this job and only require periodic updating. 4 4 = I have high competence in this job and could train others to do it. 0 0 = This category of skills is not relevant to staff at this level The majority of respondents are in the middle management/technic al level. Very few respondents are field staff. This may be because most of the N2K sites do not employ site wardens or rangers.

A high proportion of N2K personnel sites have quite limited experience of protected area management N2K site personnel have a generally high educational level with more than 80% having a university education. Staff at all levels have only received only average only about 1-1.5 days’ training in the past three years. This is inadequate considering their lack of experience and the complexity of managing N2K sites SELF ASSESSMENT RESULTS

At all levels over 80% of the competence statements were considered by respondents to be relevant to their work. Overall, the competences reflect the requirements of the work. Despite the lack of experience and training, respondents at Level 4 are reasonably confident overall in the competence. However in this type of self-assessment Level 4 personnel tend to rate their competence more highly than other groups. At Level 3 confidence is much weaker, with nearly half of self-assessment at the weakest two levels. The table shows the proportions of self- assessments for each competence. This provides an indication of the strongest and weakest aspects CAPACITY CODE SELF ASSESSMENTS BY COMPETENCECOMPETENCE The table below shows the proportions of self-assessments for each competence.NEED INDEX N2KThis 3.9 providesPrepare anand indicationdeliver brief internal of the training strongest events onand how weakest to prepare aspectspresentations about the Natura 2000 sites and prepares and distributes to the team standard presentations as needed 49.0% N2K 3.7 Develop the Natura 2000 communication plan involving the management team, plans and coordinates the communication activities 48.0% N2K 3.8 Collect/prepare and present to colleagues examples of benefits in Natura 2000 sites to colleagues, locals and other stakeholders 44.9% N2K 2.7 Explains in a simple way the management measures needed for the efficient management of the Natura 2000 site 44.8% N2K 2.6 Explains in a simple way the benefits of the Natura 2000 sites to locals and other stakeholders 41.9% N2K 3.2 Prepares information on specific regulations needed for the management of land and natural resources in the Natura 2000 sites and how these help sustainable development in the region 41.8% N2K 2.4 Writing formal or informal e-mail, fax, letter in other languages (at least English) - please specify in the last column the language 41.0% N2K 2.8 Explains in a simple way why specific regulations are needed for the management of land and natural resources in the Natura 2000 sites using support materials prepared by the site staff 41.0% N2K 2.9 Prepares and delivers simple presentations about the Natura 2000 site for SELF ASSESSMENTS BY COMPETENCE The tableeducational below purposes shows for the schools, proportions initiates interactive of self- andassessments attractive educational for each competence. This providesprogrammes an indication of the strongest and weakest aspects 41.0% N2K 3.3 Prepares information on the benefits of the Natura 2000 sites to locals and other stakeholders 40.8% N2K 2.1 Offer and request for feed-back or feed-forward, constructively and effectively 40.0% N2K 3.5 Work with mass media, on line and social media (press releases, press conferences, press trips, etc.) 37.8% N2K 4.1 Coordinate and/or conduct communication activities with key stakeholders and high-level decision makers and entities, solving conflicts and seeking support. 36.5% N2K 2.5 Understands very well the importance of the Natura 2000 site and its benefits for local communities 36.2% N2K 3.4 Prepares materials / information for presentations about the Natura 2000 site for educational purposes for schools 33.7% N2K 3.6 Manage website, Facebook account, newsletters 32.7% N2K 3.1 Provide site specific technical/conservation information to the communication department, head of the PA and rangers in a way that helps them use the

information when communicating with locals, children and other stakeholders 27.6% N2K 2.2 Demonstrate an assertive attitude and listen actively 24.8% N2K 2.3 Writing formal or informal e-mail, fax, letter 22.9%

Three competences stand clear of the rest in terms of importance. and are related to internal communication processes within the management team. This suggests a need for teams to build their own capacity and competence for communication before working with stakeholders. The highest-ranking competence relates to development and delivery internal training of N2K site personnel to communicate N2K concepts to outsiders.

LEVELS 3 AND 4 The second ranking competence highlights the need to develop internally a full communication plan for N2K sites The third ranking competence relates to internal communication of N2K values. The middle ranking competences tend to relate to activities to prepare materials, regulations etc. for communication. The lowest ranking competences relate to communication technical aspects of management (as opposed to persuading people of the values of N2K sites)

LEVELS 3 AND 4 The highest-ranking level 2 competences relate to explaining N2K sites to stakeholders, both in terms of the values of the sites and their practical management. English language skills rank also rank highly. The lowest ranking competences are generic work based skills.

LEVEL 2 “For nature and local communities - the bases for a Natura 2000 integrated management in Hartibaciu -Tarnava Mare - area”

WWF- DCP Romania Funds: EC Operational Environmental Program Project location: Natura 2000 sites: Podişul Hârtibaciului ROSPA0099, Sighişoara Târnava Mare ROSCI0227, Pădurea de stejar şi gorun de la Dosul Fanatului ROSCI0144, Pădurea de stejar şi gorun de pe Dealu Purcăretul ROSCI0143, Oltul Mijlociu-Cibin-Hârtibaciu ROSCI0132 Overlapping with a national protected area “Stejarii seculari Breite, Sighisoara” Natural Reserve.

By 2020, the favorable status of conservation is maintained in the SPA and SCIs from the Hartibaciu -Tarnava Mare - Olt area for species and habitats of community interest through the participative management of the sites and by developing the framework for the sustainable use of natural resources, providing the basis for the development of local communities.

General objectives Hârtibaciu Highland

The Hartibaciu area is located in the center of the Romania, has a lot of natural resources, is identified through multiculturalism, fortified churches, ecologic agriculture, tourism (churches, narrow gauge, possibilities, thermal spa). The Hârtibaciu Highland (Romanian: Podişul Hârtibaciului) is a Southern area, covering approximately 267,000 ha, with a population of about 90,000 scatered in 44 townhalls, set up mainly by small villages and settlements. It lies in the triangle between the historic cities of , Sighişoara and Braşov 88% of the people living in the area did’t know anything about Natura 2000 network

58% are not interested in environmental issues

42% considers that the environment has an important influence on quality of life

- deer, rabbit and bear are considered positive species. - wolf, fox, and wild boar are cinsidered negative species

Communications

Inform and raise awarness of local communities in order to increase their involment in Natura 2000 sites and to promote the area Communication materials (newsletters, brochures, reports, posters) One itinerant photo exhibition Educational packages for schools Educational activities Educational guide on Natura 2000 Trainings for teachers Seminars for stakeholders and authorities representatives Regular media coverage 200 public authorities’ representatives informed.

Untill 2015 at least 40% of local communities will have basic information about Natura 2000

Communications objective Public

Local communities Landowners Administrators Informal leaders Local authorities Children, teachers Local NGO s

Regional, national authorities Investors Museums, universities, research institutes

Principal public

Secondary Public Local communities

The value ( nature and traditions) of the area is given by the local communities Message: “You are Natura 2000/ Be Natural”

Communication tools Direct communication: meetings, events with local personalities, Natura 2000 Cup competitions , farm work together ( traditional products in the context of Natura 2000) / brunches ( preparations are made by people in the community ) Publications: newspapers , agenda, posters ​​

www.propark.ro www.emenatura2000.ro www.photolife.ro http://www.natura2000transilvania.ro

Laura Istrate Thank you! [email protected] www.rosiamontana.org