In December 2023, the farmers, the commons manager and the mayor gathered to listen to Dr. Zoltán Hajdú, director of the Focus Eco Center NGO from Tirgu Mures, presenting good examples on how to retain more water in the landscape with nature-based solutions. Before the meeting, Mr Hajdú visited the surroundings of Daia and priority locations for intervention, especially the community pastures. Having not seen similar projects in the region, the farmers were curious, but sceptical. Nevertheless, the community leaders agreed that actions need to be taken. Cost-efficient, community and nature-based solutions could be the way to go forward, even if it takes a bit more time to show results. 

Considering it as a serious regional problem, the local LEADER action group included “Rehabilitation of the environment and the landscape by retaining water in the landscape ” as a priority in the local LEADER strategy for 2023-2027.  

In parallel, the European Commission announced its Communities for Climate initiative offering technical assistance in the form of expert advice to 50 local climate change adaptation projects in 11 Member States. We applied in the Water focus area, and we were selected together with 9 other water-related projects. The Daia pilot project is highlighted as the second water project in this article and you can find our flyer below: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/whats-new/newsroom/13-06-2024-50-local-projects-selected-for-support-under-the-communities-for-climate-initiative_en  

We are currently waiting for the international and national experts to be assigned and looking for an exciting cooperation to develop a complex water retention strategy for our community.  

The donation above for the tree/hedge planting part of the project remains open.  

You can find some photos about the first farmers’ meeting. 

Photo credit: Both Gábor