Abstract ID: 3.10892 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

The Carpathian Peace Park Initiative is a pioneering effort to establish a cross-border nature park between Romania and Ukraine, promoting environmental protection, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development in the Carpathian Mountains. This initiative responds to the ongoing war in Ukraine and the region’s climate challenges. The proposed park will encompass diverse ecosystems and vital biodiversity, particularly forests essential for carbon sequestration. Aligned with the UNESCO World Network of Mountain Biosphere Reserves, the project fosters peace, reconciliation, and sustainability through environmental cooperation. It serves as a model for cross-border environmental diplomacy, promoting stability in a historically and geopolitically complex region. The park will integrate Vyzhnytskyi and Cheremoskyi National Nature Parks in Ukraine with new protected areas in Romania. Historically, this region – known as Bucovina – has undergone shifting national borders and multi-ethnic cohabitation. Its post-World War II division separated communities and vital natural sites between Romania and Ukraine. The Peace Park seeks to overcome these legacies by fostering cross-border cooperation and environmental diplomacy. The initiative aims to strengthen bilateral relations, ensure sustainable resource management, and curb illegal activities while preserving the region’s natural and cultural heritage. It also supports local communities through economic, social, and cultural development, addressing depopulation in remote mountain villages and tackling challenges such as smuggling and human trafficking. Initial efforts focus on action plans and pilot projects for community sustainability, creating a database of local producers and service providers, and promoting cross-border economic activities. Plans include transboundary trails and joint promotional events. In the long term, the project envisions expanding the park network by integrating additional protected areas, engaging stakeholders, and ensuring science-based, politically independent governance. Collaboration agreements have been signed with park administrations and academic institutions, and the initiative is supported by the Carpathian Convention Secretariat under the UN through a memorandum of cooperation. The Carpathian Peace Park represents a valuable step toward environmental diplomacy, sustainable development, and regional peace.