Panel 9: Mountain Economy – Sustainable Development and Valorization of Local Resources

Identifying opportunities for sustainable economic development in the mountainous areas of the Moldova Region, focusing on agriculture, tourism, forestry and local industries, in the context of environmental protection and efficient use of natural resources.

Day 1 – Wednesday, July 9, 2025

• Location: CE-MONT, Vatra Dornei
• Timeframe: 14:00 – 17:00
• Moderator and Coordinator: Adrian-Radu Rey – President of the Mountain Forum of Romania

14:00 – 14:15 – Adrian-Radu Rey – President, Mountain Forum of Romania

The role of the mountain economy in the development of the Moldova Region
– Introduction to the theme and strategic stakes
– Presentation of the three-day Panel 9 program:
• Day 1 – introductory session and strategic debate
• Day 2 – extended thematic works, sectoral interventions, best practices
• Day 3 – field visits by bus to key sites for the mountain economy, with on-site discussions with local hosts

14:15 – 14:35 – Radu Rey – President, Honorary Member of the Romanian Academy, CE-MONT Director

14:35 – 14:40 | Message from Ion Ștefanovici – President CAPDR

TOPIC: The mountain area – essential for the identity and economic future of the Moldova Region – The importance of the “Taste of Moldova” Fair

14:40 – 14:55 | Prof. Dr. Eng. Ion Surdu – Interim Director CE-MONT

TOPIC: Applied research in support of mountain communities – CE-MONT’s vision

14:55 – 15:10 | Gheorghe Hârlav – General Director, ANZM

TOPIC: Institutional policies for mountain area development: from concept to action

15:10 – 15:25 | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Liviu Nichiforel – Vice Dean, Faculty of Forestry, USV Suceava

TOPIC: Forest between conservation, exploitation, and sustainable rural development

15:25 – 15:40 | Eng. Ionuț Abutnăriței, Forestry Directorate Suceava

TOPIC: Responsible forest fund management models in the mountain area

15:40 – 15:55 | PhD Student Carmen Boiciuc – Faculty of Tourism and Geography, USV Suceava

TOPIC: Information on organizing the evening Infotrips (July 10–11) – Details on registration and trail logistics

15:55 – 16:10 | Ioan Agapi, Executive Director of the Mountain Farmers’ Federation “Dorna”

TOPIC: Mountain product – from grass to plate.

16:10 – 16:25 | Dan Grădinaru – Founder, Ideea Fertil – Grădinaru Rareș SRL

TOPIC: Smart solutions for soil revitalization in mountain microfarms
– Presentation of the product “Ideea Fertil”

16:25 – 16:40 | Gheorghe Baciu – National Association of Balneary and Balneoclimatic Resorts of Romania

TOPIC: Natural therapeutic resources – national heritage and pillar for mountain resort development

16:40 – 17:00 | Open Debate

TOPIC: How can we integrate and capitalize on mountain and agricultural area resources?
– Contributions from LAGs, farmers, local authorities, NGOs, entrepreneurs, academia

17:00 – 17:10 – Adrian-Radu Rey – President, Mountain Forum of Romania

Preliminary conclusions
– Recap of key ideas
– Directions for Day 2
– Invitation for participants to register for Day 3 – field visits

Day 2 – Thursday, July 10, 2025

• Location: Mountain Economy Center – CE-MONT, Vatra Dornei
• Coordinator and general moderator: Radu Rey – President, Romanian Mountain Forum
• Main theme: Mountain economy and agriculture – real opportunities and challenges
• Time frame: 09:00 – 17:00

09:00 – 10:40 | Session I – Mountain agriculture, local products and functional associations

09:00 – 09:10 | Adrian-Radu Rey – President, Romanian Mountain Forum

09:10 – 09:25 | Bogdan Țifui – President, FM Neamț

TOPIC: Economic situation of the mountain area in Neamț County

09:25 – 09:40 | Dan Grădinaru – Founder, Ideea Fertil

TOPIC: Innovation and ecological fertilization – presentation of the product Ideea Fertil

09:40 – 09:55 | Claudiu Cotfaș – FRM Bacău

TOPIC: The mountain economy in Bacău County

09:55 – 10:10 | Iulian Mătase – Mayor of Bicaz City Hall

TOPIC: Development perspectives for the town of Bicaz

10:10 – 10:25 | Mitrofan Lupșan – FMR Bistrița

TOPIC: Community models of agriculture and cooperation between mountain counties

10:25 – 10:40 | Debate and open floor interventions

10:40 – 12:30 | Session II – Forestry, forest resources and local development

10:40 – 10:55 | Dr. Eng. Cătălin Burlui, Suceava Forestry Directorate

Topic: Fish farming and fishery funds in the mountain area

10:55 – 11:20 | Eng. Ionuț Abutnăriței, Suceava Forestry Directorate

Topic: Wood – a resource for mountain areas
Topic: Modernized forest nurseries through the NRRP – seedling sources for the mountain area

11:20 – 11:35 | Eng. Felicia Raia, Suceava Forestry Directorate

Topic: Forest fruits – bio resource for the mountain area

11:35 – 11:50 | Dr. Eng. Cătălin Burlui, Suceava Forestry Directorate

Topic: Hunting tourism – sustainable management and exclusive attraction

11:50 – 12:30 | Discussions, additional interventions, conclusions

12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch break

13:30 – 15:00 | Session III – Human resources, material resources, tourism and regional branding

13:30 – 13:50 | Bogdan Ghirmacea – EGGER Romania

Challenges in attracting and retaining the workforce – the EGGER Rădăuți example

13:50 – 14:10 | Ana Maria Ardeleanu – Grădinile Romane Guesthouse

Bicaz area: lack of workforce, lack of events and tourism strategy; need for road infrastructure modernization

14:10 – 14:30 | PhD student Carmen Boiciuc – Doctoral School USV, GeA Center

Assessment of outdoor and balneoclimatic tourism resources in Vatra Dornei resort

14:30 – 14:45 | Cristian Sauciuc – Deputy Mayor, Piatra Neamț Municipality

Local administration involvement in developing the Piatra Neamț tourist destination

14:45 – 15:00 | Q&A session

15:00 – 16:00 | Special session – Republic of Moldova and Ukraine

15:00 – 15:20 | Viorel Scutaru – CR Ungheni (Republic of Moldova)

Agriculture in Ungheni district: challenges and opportunities for local producers

15:20 – 15:40 | Edvard Bulgac – Cidonia SRL / Darurile Daciei (Republic of Moldova)

A successful model for expanding access to the international market

15:40 – 16:00 | Palariev Alexandr – Frumushica Nova Winery (Ukraine)

The story of a successful business with regional and international impact

16:00 – 16:30 | Final conclusions – Day 2

The second day of Panel 9 within FERM 2025 offered a clearly defined image of the main real challenges and opportunities in the mountain economy of the Moldova Region. Through the contributions of specialists in agriculture, forestry, tourism, public administration and the private sector, clear directions of action were identified for consolidating a common vision of sustainable development.

These conclusions will be integrated into the Multiannual Programmatic Document of the Moldova Region 2025–2030, which functions as a strategic tool for regional governance, aimed at guiding investments, public-private partnerships and national policies towards mountain areas, with a focus on:

• infrastructure for local resource development;
• support for associative forms and short production chains;
• human capital development and workforce stabilization in the region;
• protection and sustainable use of forest resources;
• promotion of mountain and balneoclimatic tourism as a complementary economic pillar.
• The session dedicated to cooperation with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine also opened the international dimension of the mountain economy, as a space for convergence of good practices, investments and trade within the Extended Moldova Region.

Day 3 – Field Visits

• Friday, July 11, 2025
• Dorna Region
• A day dedicated to on-site exploration of local projects in the fields of agriculture, mountain economy, and natural resource development. Participants will visit farms, processing units, tourism and forestry initiatives relevant to the sustainable development of the mountain area.

July 11 Route

Nr.	TIME	LOCATION	LENGHT OF STAY
1	9:00	Mountain Economy Center 49 Petreni Street, Vatra Dornei, 725700	departure
2	9:25 – 10:15	Tinovul Mare Poiana Stampei, Poiana Stampei Commune, Suceava County	40 minutes
3	10:25 – 11:05	Doralnic, Houses from logs Coșna Comunne, 727191	30 minutes
4	11:10 – 11:50	Balneoclimateric Resort Dorna Candrenilor 6 DN17, Dorna Candrenilor Commune, 727190	40 minutes
5	12:00 – 13:00	Dorna Eco House 44 Oborului Street, Vatra Dornei, 725700	60 minutes
6	13:25 – 14:05	Gura Haitii Fishery Main Street, Gura Haitii Șaru Dornei Commune, 727516	40 minutes
7	14:10 – 14:40	Adrian Cruceanu – Cheeses Neagra Șarului Șaru Dornei, Suceava County, 727517	30 minutes
8	14:55 – 15:25	Călimani National Park 54C nr, Șaru Dornei, 727515	30 minutes
9	15:35 – 16:35	Floarea Dornei Guesthouse Șaru Dornei Commune, 727515	60 minutes
10	17:00	(Return) Mountain Economy Center 49 Petreni Street, Vatra Dornei	ending