52 Florin Stoican Kogayon Association & Vacarești Natural Park Association Mission Kogayon Association is a citizen-driven organization that creates a functional conservation system for environmentally protected areas in Romania. The organization is concerned with the management of protected natural areas as well as the conservation of bio- and geodiversity. Additionally, Asociatia Kogayon addresses the importance of ecotourism and public awareness as well as ecological education, research, and information. The objective of Văcărești Natural Park Association is to generate more demand for nature in the cities while also activating sensitized citizens and investors’ communities. Its intention goes beyond advocacy campaigns and the protection of a specific natural area. Instead, it is oriented towards a national demand for both nature conservation from Impact & 4 returns Inspiration Reconnecting the local communities with nature by creating opportunities and prosperity based on sustainable usage of natural resources. Social Capital Creation of hundreds of job opportunities in the area and multiplying 100 times the investment in conservation as a return of investment for local communities. Natural Capital Financial Capital • 185 ha of abandoned communist regime space in Bucharest will be turned into a nature reserve, resulting in the protection of more than 1200 flora & fauna species • 15 additional urban protected areas realised in Bucharest and in 10 other big cities of Romania • 4.500 ha of wilderness including 2.000 ha of virgin forests in the South Carpathians is transformed into a National Park • 1 UNESCO geopark created and managed • Investment of 300.000 euros for green infrastructure with a return for the local communities in Buila of over 30 million euros. • An increase in eco-tourism in the Buila area from a few hundred to 25.000 visits per year.
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