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His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales' letter to the conference.

The conference booklet.

The conference programme.

Summaries of the talks.

Workshop reports.

Conference pictures.

List of participants.

Mountain hay meadows – hotspots of biodiversity and traditional culture.

 

The aims of the conference were:
- to bring together farmers, biologists, sociologists, economists, policy makers and NGOs for discussions about hay meadow conservation and sustainable management;
- to raise awareness about the conservation and social value of mountain hay meadows;
- to celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity.

 

The themes of the conference included: Creation of the agricultural landscapes of Gyimes and Csik; Hay meadows and their biodiversity;  Hay meadow management in practice; Hill farming in a protected landscape, the Convention on Biological Diversity, Local attitudes to meadows: results from social surveys; Putting a value on traditional farming; Local perspective on sustainable rural development; Quality milk production; Adding value to meadow products through food and tourism.

 

Invited speakers presented their results, opinions and recommendations in their field. For other participants there was an opportunity to present research results as posters as well as participate in the workshops and field trips. The conference included a VIP reception (7 June), two mornings of talks (8-9 June), six workshops (Meadow management plans; Education opportunities from biodiversity; Ecotourism opportunities from biodiversity; Options for rural development in the region; Subsidies and grants for meadow management; Creating a business from quality milk products) and two field trips to the study areas of the project.

 

 

Speakers and Workshop Leaders:

Biró Róbert, Pogány-havas Association, RO

Cristian Gherghiceanu, ADEPT Foundation, Saschiz, RO

Csergő Anna-Mária, Sapientia University, Marosvásárhely, RO

Demeter László, Sapientia University, Csíkszereda, RO

Fraser Hugill, farmer and former head of conservation management, North Yorkshire National Park Authority, UK

Hartel Tibor, Mircea Eliade College, Sighișoara, RO

Herczeg Ágnes, Transpagony Landscape and Garden Architecture Office, RO

Jeremy Staniforth, Carpathian Secretariat, Bucharest, RO

Márton István, Harghita County Council, RO

Mátéffy Mária, Pogány-havas Association, RO

Molnár Zsolt, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Hungarian Academy of Sciences

Nagy Benedek, Sapientia University, Csíkszereda, RO

Nate Page, ADEPT Foundation, Saschiz, RO

Owen Mountford, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK

Péter Pál, AGORA – Working Group for Sustainable Development, RO

Răzvan Popa, ADEPT Foundation, Saschiz, RO

Rodics Gergely, Pogány-havas Association, RO

Rodics Katalin, Hungarian Ministry of Environment and Water Management, Budapest

Sally Huband, European Forum for Nature Conservation and Pastoralism

Sándor Attila, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj, RO

Sárig Attila, Farmer and young entrepreneur, Gyimesbükk RO

Sólyom Andrea, Sapientia University, Csíkszereda, RO

Szőcs József, Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture, RO

 

 

Venue: Boros Guesthouses

 

Map of the microregion / Map of Gyimes

 

The conference was organised by the Pogány-havas (Pagan Snow Cap) Association, with Dr Barbara Knowles, Sheila Anderson and Demeter László.

 

Professional partners: Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, Fundatia ADEPT, European Forum on Nature Conservation and Pastoralism,  Hargita Environmental Protection Agency.

 

The sponsors of the conference were the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme, the Szülőföld (Homeland) Fund, the European Forum on Nature Conservation and Pastoralism with funding from the European Commission (DG Environment), Harghita County Council and the Barbara Knowles Fund.