The Institute of Ecology and Geography (IEG) was established according to the Government Decision of the Republic of Moldova “On measures aimed at optimising the Infrastructure of the science and innovation sector” Nr. 1326 of December 14, 2005, through the merger of two pre-existing scientific entities within the Academy of Sciences of Moldova: the National Institute of Ecology of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and the Institute of Geography of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova.
Main activity areas
IEG focuses on studying the dynamics of geo- and ecosystems and on the monitoring of environmental factors:
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The project was implemented by the team of the “Natural and Anthropogenic Ecosystems” Laboratory.
Project leader – Head of Laboratory: Anatol Tărîţă, Dr. of biology, associate research professor (ecopedology, ecotoxicology, soil protection)
Coordinating researchers
Senior researchers
Scientific researchers
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In line with the Republic of Moldova’s policy of European integration, the National Environmental Strategy, 2014–2023 (NES), stipulated that protecting and improving quality of environment should become a national priority, and that the area of state-protected natural areas (SPNAs) should be expanded to 8%. Similarly, according to the National Development Strategy “European Moldova 2030” (hereinafter referred to as the NDS), the target for expanding the network of protected areas is set at 8.0% by 2025 and 10.0% of the country’s territory by 2030.
As part of the applied project 15.817.02.21A: “Integrated Assessment of Anthropogenic Impacts on Representative Ecosystems for the Purpose of Conserving and Expanding State-Protected Natural Areas in the Context of EU Directive Requirements” (2015–2018), (project extended for 2019, pursuant to MECC Order No. 1857 of December 17, 2018) and the institutional research topic for 2020 “Setup and Maintenance of the Database for the Automated Information System of the Natural Protected Areas", the databank of tje the FANPS Cadastre was developed. This databank developed by the Institute of Ecology and Geography, also compiles the results of the following applied research projects: 48.25.04: “The State of Representative Natural Ecosystems: Scientific Justification for Their Protection Regime and the Expansion of Protected Natural Areas,” 2004–2008; 11.817.08.05A: “The Impact of Natural and Anthropogenic Factors on Geosystems and Ecosystems in the Republic of Moldova for the Purpose of Improving Natural Resource Management and the Conservation of Representative Areas,” 2011–2014.
All the information gathered through these projects enabled the development of the CFANPS database in Word format; however, this research — accumulated over 20 years in a printed format — needed to be made accessible to the general public nationwide.
Therefore, to increase visibility and to host all the information from the databank, so that interested parties and relevant environmental institutions can access up-to-date information on the ecological status and quality of environmental components within the ANPS territory, thereby promoting biodiversity conservation and fulfilling the commitments set forth in the Association Agreement and in the conventions ratified by the Republic of Moldova regarding biodiversity, the best approach was development of a dedicated webpage, presented as a project submitted to the call for proposals launched by the National Office for the Implementation of Environmental Projects (ONIPM).
Accordingly, based on the decision of the Supervisory Committee of the IP ONIPM, recorded in Minutes No. 04/2024 of the meeting held on July 25, 2024, Funding Contract No. 01-23p-063/03-108-2024 dated July 26, 2024, was approved for the implementation of the project “Creation of an Electronic Database of the Cadastre of State-Protected Natural Areas.”
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The FANPS (Fund of State-Protected Natural Areas) Cadastre Database consists of 312 ecological profiles, published in four volumes, both in print and electronic formats on the canps.md website.
The research results were obtained in the framework of Applied Project 15.817.02.21A: “Integrated Assessment of Anthropogenic Impact on Representative Ecosystems for the Purpose of Conserving and Expanding State-Protected Natural Areas in the Context of EU Directive Requirements” (2015–2018), (project extended for 2019, pursuant to MECC Order No. 1857 of December 17, 2018) and the institutional research topic for 2020, “Creation and Maintenance of the Databank for the Registry of the Automated Information System of the State Protected Natural Areas.”
The FANPS Cadastre database, developed by the Institute of Ecology and Geography, also includes the results of the following applied research projects: 48.25.04: “The State of Representative Natural Ecosystems: Scientific Justification for Their Protection Regime and the Expansion of Protected Natural Areas,” 2004–2008; 11.817.08.05A: “The Impact of Natural and Anthropogenic Factors on Geosystems and Ecosystems in the Republic of Moldova with a View to Improving Natural Resource Management and the Conservation of Representative Areas,” 2011–2014.
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According to Government Decision No. 114 of May 2, 2000 (amended by Government Decision No. 1143 of November 21, 2018, effective as of January 18, 2019), the database of the Cadastre of Natural Objects and Complexes in the ANPS fund is created and maintained within the National Institute of Ecology (INECO, currently succeeded by the Institute of Ecology and Geography (IEG) of Moldova State University). At present, the FANPS Cadastre Database, developed by the staff of the Institute of Ecology and Geography (the “Natural and Anthropogenic Ecosystems” Laboratory) in four printed volumes, includes the ecological profiles of 312 re-evaluated ANPS sites, which were subsequently submitted, in accordance with Government Decision No. 114 of May 2, 2000, to the Environmental Agency.
Environmental protection, biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration have become issues of global importance. In line with the Republic of Moldova’s policy of European integration, the National Environmental Strategy 2024–2030 (NES) stipulates that protecting and improving environment quality should become a national priority and that the area of state-protected natural areas (ANPS) should be expanded to 8%. Similarly, according to the National Development Strategy “European Moldova 2030” (hereinafter – NDS), the target for expanding the network of protected areas is set at 8.0% by 2025 and 10.0% of the country’s territory by 2030.
The “Environment” chapter of the Association Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union (July 2014) sets out commitments and activities to be carried out at the national level, to align with at least 25 EU environmental directives, including “Natura 2000” – Directive 92/43 on Habitats; Directive 79/409 on Birds, etc. The Action Plan for the implementation of the National Nature Strategy (SNM), Action Lines 2 and 3, includes specific activities aimed at optimizing the management within the National Nature Protection Agency (ANPS), the core areas of the National Ecological Network and the EMERALD Network.