1. Cahul 10 th June 2013
ACTION PLAN FOR
CAHUL REGION

2. • VIVA EASTPART project has an integrated approach of Cahul District’s development in
order to achieve spatial and socio-economic cohesion, based on the existing cultural values
(tangible, intangible and environmental heritage), by creating a network system (cultural,
tourism, communication), which will be adapt and will sustain medium and long-lasting
changes.
• Changing attitudes towards urban centers or small rural areas with historic values and
landscapes of local importance that need to be preserved is one of the main goals of this
project.

3. THE OBJECTIVES OF CULTURAL TERRITORY SYSTEMS OF CAHUL DISTRICT
• PRESERVEING the local values of tangible heritage in the small historic centers
• MAINTAINING the natural ecosystems
• MAINTAINING the natural and antropic landscapes – landscapes formed by humans and their
cultural traditions
• TOURISM DEVELOPMENT adapted to the particularities of the place
• DEVELOPING and PROMOTING the traditional crafts of the region
• CREATING jobs related to cultural heritage in order to increase the competitiveness of the
district
• INFORMING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND VISITORS about the unique values of the
region/district
• AWARENESS AND PROMOTION of natural values (tangible, intangible and environmental
heritage) of the territory at local, national and international level.

4. THE VISON ON A TERRITORY is based on a SYSTEM OF TARGETS.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE, SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE, MEASURES, ACTIONS AND PROJECTS.
VISION for the CAHUL REGION - a territory with a human scale, benefitting from its nature and
respecting the environment, whose economic growth will be based on cultural values (natural​​
and built), on traditions and customs that give the "spirit of the place", understood and
enhanced for a better quality of life of its inhabitants.

5. ACTION PLAN for CULTURAL TERRITORIAL SYSTEM
It addresses the identified strategic priorities in the participatory working approach with local
champions team, conducted in two local seminars.
The priority fields identified were:
1. AGRICULTURE – TRADITIONAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
2. COMMUNITY – INCREASE THE LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION INVOLVEMENT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS
3. TANGIBLE, INTANGIBLE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HERITAGE – VALORISATION, PROPER MANAGEMENT AND
PROMOTION OF THE HERITAGE
4. INFRASTRUCTURE AND LEVEL OF LAND EQUIPMENT / SERVICIES
5. TOURIS – ADAPTED TO THE TERRITORIAL CONTEXT (NATURAL AND CULTURAL)

9. In order to solve these priorities and to develop a Regional Action Plan, two general objectives were
determined, followed by the measures and actions further materialized in pilot projects.
GENERAL OBJECTIVE 1. Developing local capacity for integrated territorial approaches
Measure 1 - Transfer of international knowhow in sustainable territorial development through culture;
Measure 2 – Establishment of a system of communication and information to increase awareness of the
cultural values of the territory among the population / local communities and the visitors.​​
Measure 3 - Develop a scheme /pipeline of priority pilot projects to implement the Action Plan of cultural
territorial system;
Measure 4 - Develop strategic partnerships in the allocation of financial resources needed to implement
the pilot projects.
GENERAL OBJECTIVE 2. Local economic development through territorial cultural systems
Measure 5 – Enhancement of territorial cultural systems: territorial development through innovative
tourism: geotourism;
Measure 6 – Enhancement of territorial cultural systems based on the balance between traditional
economic activities, local infrastructure development and the valorization of the natural and built
heritage of the territory

10. Measure 1 - Transfer of international knowhow in sustainable
territorial development through culture;
Context analysis
Action for the implementation of the measure:
1. Developing the local capacity for integrated territorial
planning 2013-2014;
2. Training in order to include the European
Development Systems in the rehabilitation, revitalization
and sustainable development of small historic centers,
2014.

11. Measure 2 – Establishment of a system of communication and
information to increase awareness of the cultural values of​​
the territory among the population / local communities and
the visitors.
Action for the implementation of the measure:
•Training in order to increase awareness among inhabitats
about their tangible, intangible and environmental heritage
values, 2013;
•Tradition and sport for the rural communities, 2013-2014;
•Meetings between generations – tradition and new
technology, 2013-2014;
•An integrated system for promoting the cultural site –
environmental, tangible and intangible heritage.

12. Measure 3 - Develop a scheme/pipeline of priority pilot projects to implement the Action Plan of cultural
territorial system
Action for the implementation of the measure:
•Establishing of the list of heritage values - tangible and intangible (monuments, archaeological​​
sites and historic, protected areas natural and anthropic);
•Establishing the potential for development of rural areas through culture;
•Setting up and operationalize of a network of cultural events, sites and rehabilitated heritage
buildings 2013-2017;
•Revitalization of local museums – implementation of new technologies in the museums in
order to add value to traditional crafts 2013-2015;
•Designing an infrastructure to strengthen and to enhancement of intangible heritage;
•Supporting traditional handicraft activities by facilitating the access to tourist markets.

13. Measure 4 - Develop strategic partnerships in the allocation of financial resources needed to implement
the pilot projects.
Action for the implementation of the measure:
•Training for achieving the public-private partnership schemes for desiging cultural and cultural tourism
projects, 2014;
•Establishing a network to promote and connect the natural and landscape values of the territory in
relation to the international tourism networks 2013-2014

14. Measure 5 – Enhancement of territorial cultural systems: territorial development through innovative
tourism: geotourism
Action for the implementation of the measure:
• IMPLEMENTATION OF EUROPE COUNCIL’S METHODOLOGY for ACHIEVING CULTURAL ROUTES –
itinerary concepts for Cahul
• Conceptualizations of a network for rural tourism, as part of a national and cross border
developed program Cahul 2013-2016;
• Village for both residents and tourists – nature, culture, traditions (natural attraction, specific
accommodation, promoting local products) on eco-house/ethno-village model (see toolkit),
2013-2017;

15. Creative/innovative ideas for tourism in Cahul – implementation of the concept: touristic passport,
2013-2014;
Connectiong to the international travel network of Lower Danube (from the point of view of the
foreign visitors, the area Prutul de Jos situated in the south of the district can be defined as «The
end of Danube» - assuring the contact with Central Europe – and could also represent the logo of
the area – the main idea which could be the basis for the development strategy of the territory, a
common ground which will integrate specific actions);
Development of community’s abilities in order to perform specialized trainings activities.

16. Measure 6 – Enhancement of territorial cultural systems
based on the balance between traditional economic
activities, local infrastructure development and the
valorization of the natural and built heritage of the
territory
Action for the implementation of the measure:
•Development of a national register of vine and wine (for
Cahul District) 2013-2014;
•Evaluation of local agricultural products, compatibility
study with the inclusion of national network trails of wine
2014-2015;
•Creating an infrastructure for protected rural areas;
•Determination of the typology of green infrastructure,
adapted to the natural environment and local context
(roads, parking, public spaces, signage) 2013-2014;

17. • Project 1: The creation of the implementation framework for the transfer of knowledge /
knowhow in the Cahul district
• Creating a web portal with specialized data on integrated territorial planning issues and
information on other similar experiences in the small historical centers in the Europaportal;
• Type of date: statistical, territorial and urban planning, maps and analysis plans and
boundary, legal and ecomonic framework for similar urban operations;
• The structure of the web portal: modular, in order to facilitate the access to various field of
information;
• Content: a database that will include both technical specification and the partners involved
(authorities, NGOs in the field, specialists).

18. • Project 2: Integrated system for the support and promotion of a cultural site - Văleni-
Slobozia Mare- small-scale infrastructure for developing cultural events related to
intangible heritage and exhibitions of locally-produced handicrafts, gastronomy and art.
• Developing of modules for display/presentation and support elements that will contain
specific data regarding the selected cultural values of the area and connecting them at the
district level;
• Type of intervention: local infrastructure, mobile elements which can be use in exhibitions
with local heritage (mobil, tangible, intangible and natural) and information about it;
• Structure: modular in order to facilitate the implementation and adaption to the existing
natural context, made from local materials and benefiting from modern technologies.
• Creation of promotional materials related to the area: a map with the schedule of future
events and presentation of local heritage values of the district.
• Complete and inaugurate the site along with a workshop for promoting best practices
related to vernacular architectural heritage.

19. • Project 3. Creating an integrated database for the Cahul district on the development
potential in culture (natural, movable and immovable cultural heritage, natural and
cultural) with intervention priorities.
• Transfering the database in the informatic system – both specialists and the general public
would have the possibility to access the intormation;
• Special attention sould be paid to vernacular achitectural heritage (rustic traditional
architecture), to valuable heritage, as a source for both tourism and local development, but
also as part of the local brand, currently threatened with extinction.

20. • Project 4. Promote public-private partnerships for the preservation and enhancement of the
heritage: pilot project of connecting in innovative forms with the scientific reserve "Lower
Prut" on the Lower Danube and Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (RO).
• Linking the scientific reserve to the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve system can give greater
coherence of the specific trails in the area (nature, bird-watching, architecture lacustrine,
etc.), including the obeservation of similar intangible heritage elements (traditions, songs,
dances).
• Experienced partners in this type of tourism development, which can integrate tangible,
intangible and environmental heritage, can add value to both territory and local
communities.

21. • Project 5. Conceptualization of a network of rural tourism by embracing innovative forms
but European territorial context - geotourism.
• The project will introduce the geotourism concept and also best practices through the
workshops and together with the network of local stakeholders, which will be formed, in
complementary domains (accommodation, food, agriculture, handicraft products, transport
related activities)

22. • Project 6: Evaluation of local agricultural products and inclusion in the wine trails network
from 2014 to 2015, based on the creation of an infrastructure of rural protected areas.
• Traditional agriculture is part of the landscape heritage and traditions of the Republic,
including the southern area and Cahul. The quality of these products can help promote
ecological tourism in the area through specific routes (networks of wine) that can develop in
conjunction with developing this type of agriculture.
• Landscape and nature remain as basic elements, tissue that articulates these activities,
therefore being necessary to evaluate the structures of rural landscape and to protect the
natural and anthropic rural zones.

23. TOOLKIT
ECO-HOUSE, ETHNO-VILLAGE- EXAMPLE FROM SERBIA
Cahul region can choose to either capitalize the existing facilities such as La Vadut and La Izvor, or
develop the potential points such as Mihaies or Burlacu Village Museum, or support the development of
new initiatives throughout the area.
A combination of these strategies is also possible. The scale can vary from eco-house initiatives / ethno-
house at assemblies or even entire villages (such as ethno-villages in Bulgaria, and Melnik, Kovacevitsa or
Koprivishtitsa). What is important is that these facilities must be linked and integrated into the local
tourism streams either as part of tourism packages or, for independent travelers, by appropriate
territorial marketing such as brochures and tourist maps on the territory.
Household sxample (eco-
house) in ethno-village "Terzi
avlija“ (photo:
www.zlakusa.com)

24. Examples of marketing the eco-houses and ethno-villages in Serbia:
“The Serbian village is also the most trusted guardian of tradition. Folk crafts have been preserved
through local handicraft, folk embroidery and crafts like loom and wood carving almost forgotten.
Besides old folk traditions, authentic folk music and polyphonic songs were also preserved. "
(National Tourism Organisation of
Serbia)
http://www.serbia.travel/destination
s/villages/ethnic-villages/

25. Thank you!