[Table of Contents][Order copies of this Report][Index of documents]
1.EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2.BACKGROUND
2.1 Brief Country Profile
2.2 Environmental issues and environmental decision-making
3.STATUS OF ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION NETWORK
3.1 National-level network
3.2 Sub-national environmental information network
3.3 International networking
3.4 Analysis of legal framework
3.5 Economic considerations regarding the implementation of environmental information systems and the dissemination of environmental information
3.6 Status in environmental data management
3.7 Telecommunication in the Republic of Moldova
3.8 Information use in decision-making, education
and the media
4.GENERAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT
4.1 Priority needs of information for decision-making
4.2 Legislation regarding the management and accessibility
of environmental information
4.3 Financing of environmental information management
4.4 Improving institutional framework
4.5 Co-operation with international (global and
regional) environmental programs
4.6 Priority information technology needs
4.7 Priority needs for database and meta-database
development
4.8 Training needs
4.9 Conclusions
5.PROPOSED ACTIONS
5.1 Proposed action for quick improvement
5.2 Proposed pilot activities
5.3 Perceived constraints for improvements
6.APPENDICES
A-1 Relevant Contact Addresses
A-2 Environmental Legislation. Draft Environmental Legislation
A-3 List of International Conventions signed by Republic of Moldova, Date of Signature and Status
A-4 State of the Environment Reports
A-5 Organisational of the Department
A-6 Relevant ongoing or planned related projects or programs
A-7 References
Agenda 21 (adopted in Rio), Chapter 40, on information
for decision-making, outlines two program areas for Bridging the
data gap and Improving information availability to ensure sustainable
development. According to this guiding document, "relevant
international organisations should develop practical recommendations
for co-ordinated, harmonised collection and assessment of data
on the national and international levels".
The main tasks in the field of environmental information,
according Agenda 21, i.e. closing the information gap between
the developed and developing nations and ensuring access to data
and information already available, fully apply to Republic of
Moldova.
The UNEP Division of Environment Information and
Assessment (DEIA) mandate includes:
- providing the world community with data and information;
enhancing the governments ability to use environmental - information
in taking justifiable decisions;
- planning activities to ensure sustainable development
of humanity.
To support the achievement of these objectives,
the UNEP/DEIA has been providing assistance to developing countries
and economies in transition to increase their potential in environmental
information and data management. Work in this area should be aimed
at using the experience the developed nations have gained over
the past 10-15 years, as well as the experience of other international
organisations. The UNEP/GRID programme of co-operation with economies
in transition may include three main elements:
-integration of environmental issues;
-institutional capacity building;
-environmental information.
The aim of this report is to assess the current status
and general needs of the environmental information network in
the Republic of Moldova. Guiding assistance by UNEP/GRID in preparing
the report is acknowledged. The objective of the Assessment Report
is to help "set up continuous and accurate data-collection
systems and make use of ecological and geographic information
systems, expert systems, models and a variety of other techniques
for the assessment and analysis of data".
Republic of Moldova - presidential, parliamentary republic.
Area - 33740 sq.km
Population - 1994 (millions) - 4.348
Average growth rate p.a., 1985 - 92 (%) - 0.6
Population density, 1994 (persons/sq.km.) - 129
Population distribution, (1994): Urban - 47 ; Rural - 53.
GNP total, 1994 (US $ billions) - 1.43
GNP per capita, 1994 (US $) - 329
Capital city - Chišinãu - 676,000 people
Official language - Romanian
Dominant Religion - Orthodox
Geography
Republic Moldova is situated between 48o
29' and 45o29' northern latitude and between 26o30'
and 30o05' eastern longitude. The total area is 33740
sq.km. The Republic Moldova is situated is the South-East part
of the European continent and has a convenient geographical position,
completed by direct exit to lower Danube and proximity of Black
Sea. In the West, Republic Moldova is bordered by the Romania
and in the other parts by the Ukraine (North, East and South).
Republic Moldova's territory includes three natural
zones: forest, forest-steppe and steppe. It represents a component
part of the Eastern European plain and it is situated in the proportion
of 90% between the rivers Dniester and Prut. 59% of the country
territory is situated in the Dniester basin, 23% in the Prut basin,
11% in the basins of small tributary rivers of Danube and 7% in
the basins of small rivers which flow into the Black Sea. Spatial
distribution of the different relief forms is very heterogeneous
leading to the nine geomorfological districts located along North-South.
Mountains and plateaus are totally missing, the physical
aspect is flat with only hills and plains of a height mean of
147 m above sea level. The maximum height (429,5m) is in the central
part of the Republic Moldova Plain or Bãløi's
Steppe and South Moldova Plain or Budjeag's Steppe and fluvial
terraces practically free of erosion and with the most fertile
soil. Here are located the largest republic's orchards.
The alternation of the non-forest and forest steppe
heights with the surfaces of plan and steppe gives the geographical
configuration of the territory a rich mosaic spectrum.
The river terraces with 2 slope constitute 35% from
the territory, those with 2-6% slope - 37% and those with above
6% slope - 20%. The territory of Moldova is exposed to some intensive
exogenous processes - soil erosion, landslide, Karst phenomena,
and suffusions. In the last decades the frequency of erosion and
landslides increased as a result of the impact human activities:
deforestation, the ploughing of hills and slopes, the extraction
of mineral resources, construction works, etc.
The territory of Republic Moldova is situated in
the seismic Carpathian zone and it is subject to earthquakes.
Their epicentre is focused in Vrancea on the territory of Romania.
The maximum intensity of the earthquakes on Moldova's territory
ranges between 6-8 on the Richter scale.
The total length of all rivers is 16000 km, the density
of the river network is 0,25 km/sq km. There are about 3500 of
artificial reservoirs, 80 of them with the efficient volume more
than 1 mill cu m. Main rivers of Republic Moldova are Danube (little
sector in the downstream of the confluence of tributary river
Prut) Dniester, Prut and Reut. The area occupied by the forest
are about 332500 ha, that made up only 9,8% of totality of land
cover of the territory.
The area occupied by the agricultural and agro-industrial
collective and state enterprises are about 86% of totality of
land cover.
The climate is moderate continental with short mild
winter and a long hot summer. Average temperature is: January
- 3 to 50C, July + 19 to + 220C. Warmly
resources which are determined by totality of positives temperatures
(higher than 00C) changed from the North: 32000C
to the South 38000C, namely about 6000C.
The longevity of the warm period is 146 to 180 dais per year.
Solar radiation coming to the territory is 100-120 kcal/sq km
per year, 75% of which is due to warm period (April - September).
The average annual precipitation level is moderate, with 37 cm
in the south and 56 cm in the north of the country.
History and Demographic Characteristics
Moldova's unique locality, at the perimeter of eastern
and western cultures, has contributed to a long and difficult
struggle against other countries and to the very difficult task
for the indigenous Moldovan people to maintain their cultural
and political sovereignty. During the Middle Ages, as well as
in modern times, Moldova, like other principalities, carried out
a policy oriented towards the maintenance and recognition of its
independence, the defence of its territory, and the preservation
of its frontiers. Being strategically positioned, Moldova was
fought over and fragmented by the great imperial powers of Austria,
Russia and Turkey for much of its history. This territory was
the component part of country - Principate of Moldova from the
beginning of the existence of Romanian states. One of the most
glorious eras in the history of Moldova occurred the reign of
the government of Stefan cel Mare (Stefan the Great) between 1457
and 1504. During these years, Moldovans won brilliant victories
over Turks, Tatars, Hungarians, Poles and other invaders. This
temporary success, however, was no guarantee of the nation's future
stability.
Under permanent threat of invasion, the principalities
of this region experienced periods when their unification was
the only the means for them to resist aggression. Thus, in light
of historical circumstances, the first unification of three principalities
of the region, namely Transylvania, Moldova and Muntenia, took
place during the rule of Mihai Viteazul (1593 to 1601). In 1600,
Mihai Viteazu combined the countries of Muntenia (Valachia), Transylvania
and Moldova to form a united Romania. Although short lived, this
historical event served as a precedent for the union of the two
principalities - Tara Romaneasca and Moldova - which formed a
new country in 1859, namely Romania. After the Russo-Turkish War
(1806-1812), Russia annexed 44,500 km2 of Romania east of the
Prut River and called this part of Moldova - Bessarabia. Following
the Crimean War, in 1856, and Paris treaty of 1859, Russia lost
the southern region of Bessarabia to Moldova, only to gain it
back from Romania in 1878 at the Congress of Berlin.
In January 1918, following the collapse of tsarist
Russian Empire, this region, comprised of part of the present
territory of the Republic of Moldova and part of Ukraine, Bessarabia
declared its independence from Russia when it was named the Democratic
Republic of Moldova and reunited with Romania in March of 1918.
The newly formed Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in
the end of 1922 refused to recognise this reunification, however,
and in 1924 created the Moldovian Autonomous Soviet Socialist
Republic (MASSR) in the territories to the east of the Dnestr
River. By creating a new republic and concentrating the industrial
centres in the Russian-speaking, former Ukrainian territory of
(trans-)Dnestr, Stalin was able to gain greater control over the
Moldovans by reducing their population majority, increasing their
dependence on the Ukrainian dominated areas for power and industrial
produce, and undermining future territorial claims by Romania.
In June 1940, according the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (1939), the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic was created by Stalin. It includes the remainder of the present-day Bassarabia and Bukovina (the former Romania provinces) which was annexed by the USSR and part of it was combined with the MASSR, to form the MSSR. In the early 1940s, as the Second World War raged through Europe, Romania again claimed the territory of the MSSR. Following the war, the region was annexed again, for a final time, by the Soviet Union. Subsequent to the 1944 annexation of the MSSR, the leadership of the USSR, in an attempt to create a uniform, patriotic and Soviet-cultured empire, began a period of intense russification. This process included the official introduction of the Cyrillic alphabet and the Russian language into everyday life, replacing the traditional Latin alphabet and Romanian language, and the cultural re-education of the population into the Soviet/ communist tradition. (The "Moldovian" language - Romanian transcribed into Cyrillic - was also created at this time. In August 1989, the Moldovan Government adopted a law reinstalling national language, Romanian, with its natural Latin alphabet, as the official language.)
Stalin further strengthened his hold on Moldova by
making Russian the official language, thereby favouring ethnic
Russians for government positions. Stalin is also blamed for allowing
a series of families, with the result that close to one million
Romanians were displaced between 1940 and 1964. Many of these
people were replaced with immigrants from Ukraine and Kazakhstan.
The tone of Soviet leadership changed in 1986 with the introduction of the radical policy of "glasnost" (openness) by USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev. This new policy permitted the pursuit of traditional culture by the Moldovan population and leadership, and set the stage for the Republic's independence. On August 27, 1991, following the former USSR people' struggle for independence and after a failed coup in Moscow that resulted in the ousting of Gorbachev from power and the political collapse of the USSR, the Moldovan Parliament and the Republic's General Assembly declared Moldova's independence.
The population of Moldova reflects its turbulent
past, with its mixed ethnic composition of nearly 4,4 million.
Included in this number are about 3 million Romanian-Moldovans
(64%), over 1 million Russians (13%) and Ukrainians (13,8%), over
150,000 Gãgãuz
(3,5%; these are Turkish Christians), with the remainder being
Jews, Bulgarians, and others (see Table). The country experienced
a 10% population growth rate between 1979 and 1989 with Chišinãu,
the capital, accounting for 655,000 people (15,4% of the total
population) at the beginning of 1989. According to the 1989 census,
there were 2.06 million males and 2.27 million females; of the
total population 46,5% were classified as urban. Moldova is divided
into 40 administrative districts and four major urban centres:
Chišinãu,
Tiraspol (182,000 population in 1989), Bãløi
(Beltsy, 159,000), and Tighina (Bendery, 130,000).
Characteristics of Moldovan Population, 1989
| Nationality Background | 1000 People | % of Country | Urban % of Ethnic Group |
| Romanians | 2794,7 | 64,5 | 33,5 |
| Ukrainians | 600,4 | :13,8 | 63,1 |
| Russians | 562 | 13,0 | 86,1 |
| Gãgãuz | 153,3 | 3,5 | 41,2 |
| Bulgarians | 88,4 | 2,0 | 45,5 |
| Jews | 65,8 | 1,5 | 99,2 |
| Others | 70,8 | 1,7 | 68,0 |
| T o t a l | 4335,4 | 100,0 |
Economy
External Ties and Economic Potential Moldova is still dependent
on the former states the USSR as markets for its goods, although
there is considerable potential to develop links with Romania
and, through better management programs, become a major European
source of agricultural produce. Commodities such as Moldovan wine
could potentially become major export items. Furthermore, Romania
may be able to provide Moldova with the energy and other material
supplies are required for future growth. Energy production will
be further restricted if international environmental legislation
imposes penalties on severely polluting countries, like Moldova,
that still really on inefficient factories and power generating
plants. Opportunities for the development of Moldova's tourism
potential may be restricted due to its relative lack of beaches
and outstanding scenery.
However, its pleasant climate, historic thirteenth and fourteenth
century towns, and abundance of vineyards could be the basis for
establishing and developing a potentially thriving tourist industry,
assuming a peaceful resolution to current ethnic disagreements.
However, at present Moldova is still highly dependent on Dnestr
Province. Dnestr Province holds considerable advantages when negotiating
terms and conditions for future trade and transport agreements
with the rest of Moldova as it controls most of Moldova's power
and transport capacity. As has been mentioned, Moldova's industrial
development will also be limited by the availability of energy
resources even if Dnestr officials do not impose sanctions, as
their current energy budget runs at a deficit. Due to deep reorganisation
during the last five years, the social-economic situation in the
Republic of Moldova has changed greatly. It is mentioned the subsequent
decline of economic activities in country. The motives were a
number of internal and external factors: former economic relations
dissolving, inefficient coordination of producing system of CIS,
disintegration of the republic's economic system, armed conflict
in the Eastern part of the republic, natural calamities and other.
In the period of independence of the Republic of Moldova the financial
sector has also experienced heavy fluctuations. The Republic of
Moldova was practically forced to introduce its own currency,
the Leu (end of 1993), after the monetary reform was carried out
in Russia (March, 1993). In short period it was obtained good
results in reducing of the inflation, of the quote per cent for
credits, and currency reform of the national currency ( Leu of
the Republic of Moldova). At the end of 1995 medium exchange reference
value (per month) of the national currency (Leu) was at 4.53 Lei
in comparison with USA $, the nominal lose of its value from the
beginning of year was 0.2 points. Nevertheless, recently achieved
political stability has generally had a positive impact on the
economic situation as well. Though it is too early to speak about
a recovery, a stop in the decline of the Leu exchange rate, rapid
pace of economic reforms and privatisation, and a strict monetary
policy are creating a positive background for the restoration
of industrial production. A moderate influx of foreign investments
clearly indicates the increasing confidence in the steady economic
development of the country. This trend has had a psychological
effect, but has yet to be reflected in actual economic statistics.
Some basic economic indicators (source: Ministry of Economy) are
presented below. Starting with 1990, the main macroeconomic figures
continue to decrease and in the end of 1994 and beginning with
1995 there observed the stabilisation and the increasing of this
parameters ( Table).
Macroeconomic evolution (per cent face with precedent year)
| 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | |
| Gross intern product | 82. 5 | 70.9 | 98.8 | 68.8 | 97 |
| Net material product | 82 | 71.2 | 97.4 | 69.6 | 96 |
| Industrial production | 88.9 | 73 | 100.3 | 72.3 | 94 |
| Agricultural production | 89.9 | 83.6 | 109.9 | 75 | 104 |
| Capital investments | 91 | 67 | 56 | 49 | 76 |
| Transportation of goods | 80 | 44 | 47 | 69 | 85 |
| Sale of goods by retail | 82 | 53 | 75 | 58 | 96 |
| Performance of service for population | 81 | 55 | 67 | 52 | 100.7 |
| Inflation, medium per month | 7.9 | 27 | 32 | 6.2 | 1.8 |
Energy production of the republic has also decreased, therefore it stimulated the increasing of the import of these one ( Table).
The import of the energetic resources in the Republic of Moldova.
| Denomination | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 |
| Natural gas, mill. m3 | 4004 | 3873 | 3435 | 3093 | 3024 | 3005 |
| Liquid gas, thousand tons | 144 | 128 | 132 | 40* | 40* | 39* |
| Coal, thousand tons | 4576 | 4195 | 2532 | 1938 | 2445 | 1026 |
| Fuel oil, thousand tons | 2633 | 1902 | 1926 | 1045 | 493 | 680 |
| Petrol, thousand tons | 793 | 725 | 223* | 339* | 214* | 260* |
| Diesel oil, thousand tons | 1121 | 990 | 639* | 495* | 373* | 312* |
| Aircraft oil, thousand tons | 92 | 75 | 33* | 47* | 12* | 13* |
| Oils, thousand tons | 41 | 40 | 22* | 9* | 25* | 8* |
| Electric power, mill. Wh | - | - | 83* | 83* | 615* | 1997* |
*- without districts of Transdnestria, part of Moldova.
Concomitantly, with the reduction of fuel imports, the structure of consumed energetic resources changed essentially. The share of natural gas has increased and the consumption of coal and fuel oil decreased. More than a half of the consumed energetic resources were utilised for producing thermal energy. Industry is one of the main consumers of electricity (40%); agriculture (19%); communal husbandry (19%). During the December 1995 year, the prices on coal and fuel oil were at the international level, on gas - less with 27%, but on petrol - with 25-95%, on diesel oil - with 9-10% and on liquid gas with 1.8-2.5 time higher than the international ones.
The weight of private sector increased with 50% of overall volume.
The situation in the livestock production to aggravate. Cattle
and poultry production was reduced with 75% in contrast with 1989,
milk production - with 60% (in respect with 1990), eggs - with
81%. At the same time livestock is being reduced as well as the
average productivity (horned cattle with 43%, swine - 60%, sheep
- 47%).
The crisis in economy affected the living standards of people.
By the beginning of 1994, the number of employers consists 1 mill.
734 thousand people from the total number of 4 mill. 353 thousand
of population. The total number of pensioners is 916 thousand
people (co-reportable 1:2 with employers). In 1995 the registered
official rate of unemployment constitutes 1.2%.
During last year the population growth rate became negative. During
only the 1994 year the number of population decreased with 9 thousand
people.
The share of food expenditures in the amount of all the expenditures
is very symbolic in the meaning of living standards. Within a
developed market economy this share is about 15% - 25%. In the
Republic of Moldova it is as following: 1990 - 38,3%; 1991 - 42,2%;
1992 - 50,5%; 1993 - 58,6%; 1994 - 61,4%.
2.2 Environmental issues and environmental decision-making
The main environmental problem facing Republic of Moldova originate
from a variety agricultural, industrial activities. The state
of the natural resources is affected by a wide spectrum of human
activities, such as:
The environmental hot spots are concentrated in the big cities, degraded land-fields, small river basins, etc. In cities: Chišinãu, Bãløi, Tiraspol, Bender and Cahul with their industrial sectors and high number of inhabitants and the Rîbniøa metallurgical factory and cement production plant, the Rezina cement production plant, the Dnestrovsk hydroelectric power plant, the Ungheni biochemical factory, mining sites in different zones of country.
In land-fields:
In small river basins:
The war in Eastern part of the country which was
hold in 1992, imposed a tremendous load on the environmentally
vulnerable region. Military activities using modern conventional
armaments, thousands of refugees, escaping military activities
through ecologically delicate forestry and aquatique regions,
and many other factors undoubtedly have affected the state of
the environment
This and other types of activities lead to heavy
pollution of the environment. Many of these processes are quite
common also for other countries. At the same time the disintegration
of the former Soviet Union was accompanied in Republic of Moldova
by a number of difficult political problems. Political uncertainty
and a kind of power vacuum in the country has severely affected
the environmental situation. Although the dramatic fall in industrial
production has had a positive influence on the state of the environment
(almost no pollution from industrial sources), a major energy
crisis has initiated an uncontrollable process of tree cutting
in 1992 - 1995, not only in the forests, but even in the reservations,
floodplain forests, parks and streets of the large cities, etc.
The relative political stability achieved during 1994 - 1996 may
in the near future lead to the restoration of industrial production
at some level and, consequently, apart from deforestation, other
environmental problems may also contribute to the degradation
of land resources and the pollution of air and water basins.
Due to transitional processes taking place in Republic
of Moldova, it is not possible to characterise the environmental
situation reliably. The existing mechanism of environmental monitoring
suffers greatly from the general economic stagnation. A lack of
financial and technical resources makes it extremely difficult
to perform all the necessary measures to draw a picture of the
current environmental situation in realistic terms. It is more
appropriate to use maybe old, but more or less reliable statistical
data to discuss the pollution problems of different media. A gradual
future increase of industrial production may create a similar
pattern of pollution.
Air pollution
The major sources of air pollution used to be electric power production enterprises, building materials plants and transportation. The emission of the pollutant substances from 17932 air pollution sources has decreased from 96400 tons in 1990 to 72952 tons in 1993. Traffic contributed by the 311491 motor transport units and tractor functioned, which contributed 235.7 ktons year hazardous substances. In comparison with the preceding/year the pollution levels have decreased.
One of the main factor contributing to the heating
of the atmosphere is the growth of the carbon oxide (IV) concentration.
In 1994 the fuels combustion has emitted 5391 ktons of carbon
as carbon oxide (IV) which comes from power production industry
in the amount of 2750 ktons, transportation - 820 ktons, agroindustrial
complex 1442 ktons, other sources - 72 ktons.
The Republic of Moldova is subjected to the influences
of a flux of pollutant substances produced on the territory of
other countries: Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Czech and Slovak republics,
Germany (in order of influence) and other. The depositions from
local pollution sources are 4-5 times smaller than the imported
ones. From the period of 1987-1991 the maximal registered depositions
have been for sulphur in the Southern districts under 100 ECV/ha/year,
for the centre of Moldova it increased for 2-5 times and for the
north - for 5 - 10 times. The impact of 1000 - 2000 ECV/ha/year
for sulphur is considered critical for our country.
Water pollution
Like in other countries, the rivers and reservoirs
serves as a recipient for evacuation and disposal of water from
different branches of the national economy. In 1994 about 350
mill m3 used and residual waters have been flown into
the hydrographic network, including 182 mill m3 of
insufficiently purified water and 8 mill m3 not subjected
to purification and containing a high level of pollutants.
The major pollutants with liquid waste are:
- cattle breading complex - ambulant 10 mill m3
(1994) with increased contents of salts, organic substances,
pathogenic micro-organisms, etc.;
- residuals household and industrial water - annually
is pumped into the hydrographical network over 520 mill m3,
which includes 7 mill m3 of non-purified residual water
and 120 mill m3 of insufficiently purified water.
Solid wastes
In urban localities there are enormous quantities of solid household wastes. All household wastes are disposed of through landfills. There are no incinerator plants for urban runoff in the Republic of Moldova, a fact that makes using agricultural lots for wastes disposal imperatives - about 1815 ha in 1993 for 1563 thousand m3. In 1993 the industrial and agricultural sector disposed of large quantities of toxic wastes (Table).
Some solid wastes accumulated by industrial and agricultural
units in 1994
| Wastes | Quantity |
| Combustion cinders at power plants and boiler station, mill tons | 13 |
| Muds at the residual domestic and industrial water purification plants, mill tons | 5,2 |
| Building and demolishment wastes, mill tons | 11 |
| Industrial wastes, mill tons | 11 |
| Agricultural wastes, mill tons (including animal wastes, mill tons - 7,9) | 9 |
Among toxic residuals with diverse compounds and origin the following
could be mentioned:
- hydroxides (1000 tons);
- heavy metals in:
used solvents - (60 tons),
forbidden and unusable pesticides (1100 tons),
Berlin blue (150 thousand items),
used luminescent tubes (1000 tons),
oil products residuals.
Storage of chemical wastes is still a pressing problem in Moldova.
Biodiversity
The problem of conservation of biodiversity concern mostly in
the forest area, comprising 9.4% of total territory of country
and, especially, in protected areas - natural reservation, parks,
monuments of nature and other, covering only 1.42% of all land
area. 2283 plant species are met there. Nowadays Moldavian forest
are severely endangered by timber-cutting, over-grazing of livestock,
soil erosion, contamination , sickness, deleterious, drought etc.
The last Red Book of the country includes a significant number
of species: 131 of vegetal species and 110 of animal species.
Radiation impact
As consequence of the Chernobyl NPP accident the territory of
Moldova was exposed to radioactive contamination. In the first
half of May 1986 places with local contamination of 200-400 microR/hour
were discovered. Increased radiation was registered in the northern
part and the lowest level of contamination - in the localities
of central part of the country. On the territory of the neighbouring
countries of Moldova 6 atomic power stations (APS) are situated.
The distances from those APS and Moldova's borders are between
125 - 400 km. The other sources of local ionised irradiation are
the 342 enterprises and institutions, but only some of them use
significant sources of radioactivity with gamma sources in the
range of 1.103 - 1.105.
The dose of gamma ionising radiation in the clean zone of the
said Centre is in the range of 7-8 microR/hour, while in the dirty
zone - 10-15 microR/hour and 30-40 microR/hour in the area close
to the deposition reservoirs. For comparison we note that the
natural radioactivity background in the Republic of Moldova is
about 15-17 microR/hour.
Human settlements
Moldova's territory has a high degree of human utilisation of
natural space. About 10% percent of the total territory is occupied
by localities (human settlements): 4 municipalities, 60 towns
(urban space), 1600 villages administratively organised in 925
communes and separate villages (rural space).
Use of environmental information
At present, users of environmental information in the Republic
of Moldova may be defined as follows:
3. STATUS OF ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION NETWORKS
There are several governmental bodies involved in environmental
information collection, management and analysis in the Republic
of Moldova, as well as a number of research and scientific institutions,
private companies and NGOs. At the national level, decisions related
to environmental protection, and to environmentally sound use
of natural resources are made by the Parliament; particularly
by its Commission on Health, Social Protection and Ecology, Government,
Department of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Health,
the Ministry of Agriculture and Alimentation, Association "Geologia
Moldovei"(AGeoM) - Moldavian Geology, State Department for
Privatisation and other.
Department of Environmental Protection
The Moldova's Department of Environmental Protection is the main
authority responsible for governing decisions on policy and management
of all environmental issues. Its current structure and a list
of all subordinated governing bodies and institutions were defined
in decision # 351, issued by the Government of the Republic of
Moldova on May 27, 1994. The Department of Environmental Protection
(hereafter - DEP or Department) has been mandated to deal with
broad environmental protection issues, end it is therefore the
primary responsible party for supervision of environmental programs
and decrees in the Republic of Moldova.
The main function of the DEP are:
- elaboration and implementation of the state policy in domains
of environmental protection, rational use of natural resources,
protection of the population and the environment from negative
influence of technogenic factors;
- elaboration of the projects of laws and acts, organisation
and control of environmental activities;
- to effect exclusively of environmental expertise and state
control in all domain of natural resources use and environmental
protection;
- to organise of environmental monitoring and state environmental
information system;
- to control of activities of the natural reservations and state
protection areas;
- to approve of limits of use of the natural resources;
- to effect the observations, elaboration of synoptic, agrometeo-
and hydrological prognoses;
- coordination of scientifically studies in domain of the environment;
- administration of the republican ecological fund, assurance
of efficient utilisation of the local ecological funds;
- to coordinate the preparation of the annual SoE reports;
- to inform the Parliament, the President, the Government and
the public about the state of the environment, including radioecological
safety;
- to promote environmental education of a wide public;
- to coordinate international co-operation in the fields of environmental
protection, international agreements, conventions, co-operation
with IAEA and participation in UNEP, and in the UN Commission
on Sustainable Development;
The DEP has the following rights:
- to inspect observation of the environmental legislation by
industrial, agricultural and transport enterprises, institutions
and organisations, and restrict or suspend their activities in
case of violations;
- to impose financial sanctions on the institutions violating
environmental regulations;
- to convey to the Criminal Justice bodies the documents regarding
the facts of criminal violations of the environmental laws.
According to governmental decision, the central apparatus of the
DEP has the following structure (see also in Appendix A):
Leadership. General Director and 2 Vice-Director General.
One of the vice- is at the same time the Director of the Service
of Hydrometeorology. Important decisions are taken after consultations
with the Departmental Board, consisting of 7 members (general
director, vice-director general and heads of major structural
departments and institutions, as determined by the general director).
Division of the Ecological Cadastres and Licences. Ecological
passportisation of the industrial and agricultural enterprises,
coordination of the elaboration of regulations, State cadastres
of the natural resources, issues of licences for the exploitation
of natural resources, regulation of environmentally sound land
use practices, administration of the Red Book.
Division of Ecological (Environmental) Expertise. To effect
state ecological expertise on:
- projects and programmes of the economical activities of the
private and state interposes;
- projects and documents of the directives, regulations, instructions
and guidelines.
Division of Economy of the Natural Resources. Analyse and
control of the achievement of essential indices of the Complex
Programme of the Environmental Protection; Consideration, processing
and approval of regulations on hazardous casualness and flux flowed;
elaboration of the economic mechanisms of environmental administration;
implementation of the national and international mechanisms of
the environmental protection.
Division of Natural Reservation and Genetic Fund Protection.
Coordination of scientific studies in state natural reservation;
control over the environmental management of protected territories
(nature reserves, national parks, etc.); coordination of the elaboration
and promotion of the strategy on conservation of biodiversity
at the ecosystem level.
Division of International and Public Relations. Coordination of collaboration activities of the Department with international organisations and official institutions of the foreign states; control under ongoing of the international environmental laws; evidence of the achievement of international conventions and agreements; of collaboration with non-governmental organisation and mass-media (TV, radio, press).
Administrative Section. Control under ongoing of decrees,
resolutions and decisions of the governmental bodies, as well
as of the Department leadership; control on ongoing of the labour
legislation and other acts in the Department; Staff policy of
the Department.
Section of Book-Keeping and Finance. Financial management
and planning.
The following governing bodies and institutions are directly subordinated
to the Department:
Project Management Office (PMO)
PMO was established in the end of June 1996 within the DEP and
the assistance of the World Bank. The main functions:
- to identify and prepare initial description of projects to be considered by donors and investors;
- to manage the implementation of projects funded by Government
of the Republic of Moldova.
State Ecological Inspectorate
Government body, responsible for the State control and industrial
pollution levels and supervision over the rational exploitation
of water, air, land and natural resources on the Republic of Moldova
territory to ensure the fulfilment of the requirements of environmental
laws and regulations, control of the respect and ongoing of the
activities on improving of environmental state in the country.
The main environmental concern sections of the Inspectorate are:
Water Section, Soil and Mineral Resources Section, Atmospheric
Air Section, Chemical Substances, Wastes and Radiology Section,
Standards and Analytical Control Section, Operative and Information
Service, Flora-Fauna Section, Fisheries Service and Zonal Ecological
Agencies.
National Institute of Ecology
Scientific research in fields of ecology and environmental protection.
The main directions of activities of this institute are studies
of the ecology of natural systems, biodiversity, environment of
habitats, estimations of the impact of man economical activities
upon environment, to point out of the most important problems
in domains of social ecology, environmental legislation, nature
disaster processes (landslides, floods, erosion, etc.), standards
and regulations, and to organise an efficient system of ecological
monitoring. Under auspices of the National Institute of Ecology
it was elaborate the report "The state and the protection
of the environment in the Republic of Moldova"(every year),
the National Strategic Actions Plan in domain of the protection
of the environment in the Republic of Moldova (1995).
The important Division of the National Institute of Ecology in
domain of international relations is the UNEP INFOTERRA National
Focal Point of the Republic of Moldova. Established under
auspices of the National Institute of Ecology on the decisions
of the Presidium of the Parliament of the Republic (July 14, 1993).
The main divisions of the institute are:
Division I - Ecology:
Section 1 - General Ecology: a) Laboratory of Biocenology
b) Group of Ecobiophysics,
Section 2 - Land Ecology: a) Laboratory of Ecopedology
a (1) Group of Teledetection
b) Laboratory of Ecoclimatology
c) Laboratory of Forest Ecology
d) Laboratory of Agrocenology
e) Laboratory of Ecogeology and Speology
Section 3 - Water Ecology a) Laboratory Ecological Chemistry of Water
b) Laboratory Ecology of Water Basins
Division II - Environment (Ambientalistics):
1. National Centre of Radioecology a) Laboratory of Radioecology
2. Centre of Ecological Monitoring
3. Laboratory of Ecourbanistics
4 Laboratory of Environment (Ambientalistics)
Division III - Ecodevelopment:
1. Laboratory of Ecological Economics
2. Centre of Sociohuman Ecology
3. Group of Environmental Right
UNEP - INFOTERRA National Focal Point of the Republic of Moldova.
Service of Hydrometeorology
The main functions: control of the parameters of atmospheric air
quality, surface water quality and soil quality; climatological
and state of main environmental components prognosis and evaluation.
Responsible for the coordination of activities in the fields of
hydrometeorology, protection from hydrometeorological disasters
and environmental calamities. For performing their function of
the environmental observations Service of Hydrometheorology has
the network of analytical laboratories (Chišinãu,
Bãløi,
Tiraspol, Cahul, Dubãsari
etc.), meteorological stations (13) and posts (51), hydrological
posts (40), water quality posts (48), agrometeorological posts
(37)
The main structural parts are the Hydrometeorological
Centre, the Informational Centre, the Meteorological Data Automation
Centre, the Methods for Measurement Centre, the Environmental
Pollution Supervision Centre, and the network of meteorological,
hydrological, aerological, agrometeorological, water balance,
river source observation and avalanche stations. Data processing
facilities produce a wide spectrum of information, like remote
sensing images (NOAA and Meteor satellites), weather diagnostics
and prognosis, archiving of atmospheric and water pollution data,
plotting of pressure fields and geopotential, etc.
Apart from the Department, other governing institutions
also contribute to the improvement of the state of the environment.
According to the Law of Environmental Protection and the decision
of Government, mentioned above, all the decisions of the Department
dealing with environmental issues are obligatory for all other
Ministries, Departments, Government bodies, local authorities,
enterprises, organisations, institutions, etc., with their activities
on the entire territory of the Republic of Moldova.
Ministries and Government Bodies with environmental
concerns:
Ministry of Health
One of the main domain of activities are the activities in fields of sanitation, epidemiology and toxicology, virology, labour and industrial hygiene, communal waste monitoring, habitat environmental hygiene, child and adult health problem.
The main division with environmental concerns are
the National Research and Practical Centre for Hygiene and Epidemiology
The Ministry of Health carries out sampling assessments
of:
- atmospheric air pollution levels;
- status of surface waters in populated areas;
- chemical and biological contamination of soils in populated areas;
- intensity of physical factors (noise, electromagnetic fields, ionising radiation);
- status of public health and the influence of environmental
pollution;
Ministry of Agriculture and Alimentation
The main divisions with environmental concerns:
a) Scientific Production Association "Fertilitatea";
b) Institute for Research and Technology Design in Pedology, Agrochemistry and Soil Amelioration "N.Dimo";
c) State Concern "ACVA";
d) Association " Moldsilva " (Moldavian Forestry);
e) Association of Fisheries "Prut";
f) State Centre for Certificate of Chemical and Biological Means of Plant Protection and Growth Regulators;
g) The Republic's Station for Plants Protection;
h) Others.
Main responsibilities:
- radiological, agrochemical and toxicological pollution of agricultural soils and vegetation;
- status of the cattle-breeding and of the liquid wastes of the zootechnical complexes;
- status of soils used in agriculture;
- status of forests, soils and fauna in forests;
- status water reservoirs and irrigation fields;
- status of fish in artificial ponds and rivers;
- status of chemicals used in agriculture;
- status of agricultural production;
- status of activities pertinent to the restoration, protection and amelioration of agricultural land-fields;
- prognosis of nature disaster processes (landslides,
floods, erosion, etc.).
Association "Geologia Moldovei" (AGeoM)
Carries out sampling assessment of:
- ground water monitoring;
- geologic exo- and endogenic processes monitoring.
Responsible for the coordination of geological surveys
of the entire territory of the Republic of Moldova. Regularly
prepares reports for the Government and for local authorities.
The main of its units - Central Analytical Laboratory, performs
the task of ground and underground water control and evaluation.
National Agency for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre
Responsible for the supervision of activities in
the fields of geodesy, gravimetry, topography, remote sensing,
cartography (analogue and digital), mapping, land cadastre and
for the provision of state institutions with topographic maps
and other specific materials.
Ministry on Communal Service and Dwellings Fund
Exploration
Carries out sampling assessment of:
- state of water in public water supply systems and domestic wastewater sewage systems;
- concentration of pollution components in wastewater from interposes;
- concentration of pollution substances in wastewater
after cleaning at the purification stations (parasites, catching
disease);
Ministry of Internal Affairs
Carries out sampling assessment of: state of the
noxious substances emission of motor transport.
Ministry of Industry
Carries out sampling assessment of:
- state of the impact of industrial and energetic objects upon the environment;
- state of the environment in the subordinated territories;
- evacuation of waste and offal.
Ministry of Defence:
Is responsible for:
- state and pollution of administrate territories;
- impact of military objects upon environment;
- evacuation of waste and offal;
Department of Civil Defence and Exceptional Situations
Responsible for warning and management in case of
natural and technogenic disasters, emergency situations and combat
of their consequences. Civil Defence has special troops for this
purpose.
Department of Standards, Metrology and Technical
Supervision
Carries out sampling assessment of:
- state of the quality of production;
- technical and metrological state of the laboratories;
- respect of the standards pertinent to the use of
natural resources.
Department of Statistics
Collects and analyses statistical information from
different sectors (health, geology, forests, agriculture and food
industry, environment, economy, recycling and other). Information
is gathered from corresponding Ministries and presented periodically
to the legislative branch of the State in the form of statistical
reports.
Universities in
major cities of the Republic of Moldova (Chišinãu,
Bãløi
and Tiraspol) have departments pertinent to environment and are
usually the focal points for education in fields related to the
environment.
Moldavian State University has
many departments with environmental concern:
Faculty of Biology and Pedology has the following
departments:
- Department of Ecology;
- Department of Botany;
- Department of Genetics;
- Department of Physiology;
- Department of Zoology;
- Laboratory of Algology;
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry;
- Interdepartmental Laboratory of Photomicrobiology.
Faculty of Chemistry - Department of Industrial and
Ecological Chemistry.
Other Departments and Laboratories.
Academy of Sciences:
Institute of Genetics
Laboratories:
Recombinogenetic variability
Genetic resources
Molecular genetics
Cell and gamete selection
Institute of Chemistry
Sector for Inorganic Chemistry
Laboratories: Bio-inorganic chemistry
Sector for Analytical Chemistry and Physical Chemistry
Laboratories: Analytical chemistry - Ecological chemistry
Institute of Physiology
Laboratories:
Ecophysiology of man
Cryobiology
Biological-technological systems
Biochemistry of adaptation and functional disorders
Seroculture
Institute of Zoology
Laboratories:
Ecology of mammals
Entomology
Population genetics
Hydrobiology
Hydrochemistry
Ichthyology
Ornithology
Palaeozoology
Parasitology
Pedozoology
Institute of Plant Physiology
Laboratories:
Bioenergetics
Biochemistry of ontogeny
Ecology of photosynthesis
Physiology and biochemistry of formogenesis
Physiology of growth and development
Ecological physiology
Physiology of fruit maturing
Microelements
Physiology of drought-resistance and water-exchange
Pathophysiology
Physiological process regulators
Structure and ultrastructure
Institute of Biological Protection of Plants
Laboratories:
Virology, bacteriology, protozoic diseases
Chemistry of biologically active compounds
Analytic chemistry
Technical entomology
Biochemistry and physiology of insects and micro-organisms
Experimental mycology
Insects studies
Complex vegetable protection
Complex field crop protection
Complex fruit and grape protection
Production and extension of biological means for
plant protection
Teams:
Pollinators
Mathematical modelling and economy
Institute of Botany
Laboratories:
Flora and wild-growing plants
Structural botany
Forestry
Dendrology
Phytopathology
Biotechnology
Medicinal plants
Institute of Microbiology
Laboratories:
Interrelations between rhizosphere
Micro-organisms and plants
Soil microbiology
Cellular microorganisms
Microbiological transformation of organic substances
Photomicrobiology
Institute of Geography
Laboratories:
Geography and evolution of soil
Geomorphology
Climatology
Palaeogeography
Landscape studies
Studies of geosystems
Studies of the regional geoecological issues
Institute of Mathematics
Laboratories:
Economic systems modelling
Numerical methods
Programming systems
Automation of programming
Systems of artificial intelligence/ Groups: Discrete mathematics
Operation research
Modelling languages
Institute of Applied Physics
Centre of Optoelectronics
Centre for Study of Semiconductor Materials
Centre of Electrophysical Problems
Section of physico-chemical methods for anticorrosion protection
International Laboratory of Superconductivity at
High Critical Temperature and of Solid-State Body Electronics
Physical methods for studying solid -state bodies,
Laser research
Section of Statistic and Nuclear physics
Institute of Geophysics and Geology
Laboratories:
Seismic effects research
Research and prognostication for engineering geology
Complex research of the earth crust
Technogenesis geochemistry
Hydrogeodynamics
Institute of Power Engineering
Laboratories:
Power systems conditions
Technical facilities for controlling power
systems conditions
Centre for Automation of scientific and metrological
research. Main Research Directions: Methodological,
analytical and information support of research.
Computer Centre
Sectors:
Local computer networks
Software
Applied systems
Hardware
Departmental fund of algorithms and programmes.
Other institutions
Scientific Research Institute of Water Supply
and Amelioration
Research activities focus on protection against soil
erosion, reliability of water melioration systems, melioration,
hydrotechnology, hydraulics, geological and geotechnical research,
mechanisation of melioration, economics of melioration, reclamation.
Cooperates closely with the State Concern "ACVA" on
issues concerning the water reservoirs, irrigation land-fields
and technologies.
Research and Technology Institute for Agrochemical
Service of Agriculture
Activities focus on protection against soil fertility, erosion, melioration, hydrotechnology, reclamation, radiological, agrochemical and toxicological pollution of agricultural soils and vegetation. Cooperates closely with Scientific Production Association "Fertilitatea" on issues of field technologies.
Appendix A contains contact
addresses of major environmental institutions mentioned in this
and other sections of the Assessment Report.
NGOs
Before 1990 the NGOs on
a national scale were:
- Ecological Movement of Moldova, several dozen branches;
- National animal protection society of Moldova;
Since 1990 the environmental NGOs movement in the Republic of Moldova is quite widespread. A majority of the organisations were created on a local and regional scale. Bellow follows a list of NGOs with major topics of activities:
ACADEMY OF ECOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Field of interest: ecological management; ecological
examination (EIA); eco-law; public awareness; environmental protection;
social ecology; biodiversity
ACME NATIONAL PUBLIC ASSOCIATION
Field of interest: environmental education; info
networking; environmental health hazards; ecological examination
(EIA); eco-philosophy; public awareness; eco-law; human ecology;
social ecology
AGROECO
Field of interest: environmental education; monitoring;
nature conservation; NGOs & mass media; environmental technology;
lectures and seminars
ALTAIR INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY
Field of interest: environmental education; NGO development;
environmental health hazards; monitoring; NGOs & mass media
ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISTS OF MOLDOVA
Field of interest: eco-journalism
ASSOCIATION OF GEOLOGISTS OF MOLDOVA
Field of interest: environmental education; nature
conservation; protection of mineral resources; NGO & mass
media; EIA
ASSOCIATION OF MYCOLOGISTS OF MOLDOVA
Field of interest: environmental education; nature
conservation; mycology (study of fungi)
AVE - ECOLOGICAL STUDIO
Field of interest: NGOs & mass media; public
awareness
AVE NATURA ENVIRONMENT AND ART SOCIETY
Field of interest: environmental education; sustainable
development; eco-journalism; public awareness; energy conservation;
preventative medicine
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
Field of interest: environmental education; environmentally
sound agriculture; clean technologies
BIOS
Field of interest: environmental education; EIA; sustainable development; protection of soils
BIOTICA ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIETY OF MOLDOVA
Field of interest: NGO development; biodiversity;
eco-management; eco-law
BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF MOLDOVA
Field of interest: nature reserves; biodiversity
BENDERY CITY ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB
Field on interest: environmental education; monitoring;
nature conservation; eco-journalism; eco-tourism
CAMPUL ECOLOGIC YOUNG ECOLOGISTS ASSOCIATION
Field of interest: environmental education; biodiversity;
alternative energy; eco-tourism; public awareness; summer camps
"CERES" - FOUNDATION FOR SUPPORT OF FARMERS
Field of interest: environmental education; NGOs
& mass media; environmentally sound agriculture
CHIME
Field of interest: environmental education; nature
conservation; eco-journalism; co-tourism; public awareness.
D.CANTEMIR- INTER-UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB
Field of interest: nature conservation; public awareness;
environmental enlightenment
DROPIA
Field of interest: environmental education; nature
conservation; eco-tourism; environmental expeditions
DENDRARIUM PARK
Field of interest: environmental education; nature
reserves; biodiversity
ECO-LABORATORY
Field of interest: monitoring; EIA; laboratory research;
developing environmental safety levels
ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT OF MOLDOVA
Field of interest: nature conservation; public awareness;
environmental education; info networking; eco-journalism; green
publishing; NGO development; NGOs & mass media; eco-law; stimulation
of free activity and initiatives in territorial organisations.
ETHNOGRAPHICAL MUSEUM OF THE SHTEPHAN VODA REGION
Field of interest: monitoring; public awareness
FAUNA INDEPENDENT RESEARCH AND PUBLIC AWARENESS PROMOTION
GROUP
Field of interest: environmental education; biodiversity;
public awareness
FLORICICA - FUND FOR DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN'S ANIMATION CREATIONS
Field of interest: environmental education; educating
children through film-making
INQUA - MOLDOVA
Field of interest: environmental education; monitoring;
nature conservation; green publishing; climate change
MOLDAGROECO
Field of interest: environmental education; NGOs
& mass media; eco-journalism; environmentally sound agricultural
systems (land management)
MOLDOVA-ECO
Field of interest: environmental education; interaction
w/public authorities; info networking; environmentally sound agriculture;
biodiversity; alternative energy; eco-management; eco-tourism;
eco-law
NATIONAL ANIMAL PROTECTION SOCIETY OF MOLDOVA
Field of interest: environmental education; NGO development;
environmentally sound agriculture; nature conservation; biodiversity;
public awareness
NATIONAL ENERGY COUNCIL OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA
Field of interest: alternative energy
PRO NATURA
Field of interest: environmental education; nature
conservation; nature reserves; biodiversity; ecotourism; providing
assistance during natural disasters
PRONATURA FOUNDATION
Field of interest: environmental education; monitoring;
nature conservation; sustainable natural resource management;
NGOs & mass media; public awareness; eco-law; EIA; biodiversity
PROVITA - ASSOCIATION OF YOUNG ECOLOGISTS
Field of interest: environmental education; recycling
& wastes; nature conservation; ecotourism
RAINBOW - MOLDOVA
Field of interest: environmental education; NGOs
& mass media; eco-tourism
TABIEKOM
Field of interest: nature conservation; biodiversity; preservation of cultural and natural heritage
TERRA NOSTRA ASSOCIATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND INFORMATION
Field of interest: environmental education; NGO development;
environmental games; nature conservation; NGOs & mass media;
public awareness; eco-law
XXI CENTURY YOUTH FUND
Field of interest: environmental education; NGOs
& mass media; eco-journalism; youth issues
YOUNG ECOLOGIST (Chišinãu)
Field of interest: environmental education; nature
conservation; public awareness
3.2 Sub-national environmental information network
According to the Decree #7 of the General Director,
issued on march 27, 1996 "Partial Reorganisation of Authorities,
Subordinated to the Department of Environmental Protection",
following scheme of sub-national environmental network is in power
(see Appendix E). The investigations on current state of the network
for environment state evaluation have shown the following: in
comparison with the initial situation (before 1988) the ecological
monitoring system, namely, environment quality supervision system
through laboratories at the sub-national level is performed currently
by the following state bodies and enterprises of the Republic
of Moldova.
The Department for Environmental Protection (DEP).
The current system for environmental supervision
acts the framework of the following subdivisions: the State Ecologic
Inspectorate with its zonal Agencies (11), the "Hidrometeo"
Service and the National Institute of Ecology.
The State Ecologic Inspectorate
has a control department in Chišinãu
and 5 analytical laboratories (Tiraspol, Bãløi,
Cahul, Cãuseni
and Ungheni), which have the responsibility to evaluate the state
of the environment (air, water, soil) in the whole country according
to the control plan, as well as all extraordinary circumstances,
deliberate pollution, other cases not foreseen in the plan.
The "Hidrometeo" Service,
with a network of laboratories (Chišinãu,
Bãløi,
Tiraspol, Cahul, Dubasari, etc.), 13 meteo stations, 13 meteo
post, 48 post for water samples collection, 37 agrometeorologic
posts, 40 hydrologic posts, etc. The main functions of these state
institutions are divided in two important parts:
- hydrometeorology - climate supervision, measurements
heliologic, aerologic, hydrologic and agrologic;
- the control of environmental pollution: atmospheric air (since 1975), soil water quality (since 1975), soil (since 1980); however, the capacities of measurements extension are exhausted.
The National Institute of Ecology, which has:
- Centre for Ecological Monitoring at nationwide,
performing the task of developing and implementation the international
system of integrate ecological monitoring national wide (since
September 1991);
- Interdepartmental Centre for Radioecology with
complex functions in the field, including the radiologic monitoring
(since August 1993); - Interdepartmental Centre for Social Ecology
having the responsibility to develop and implement the population
health monitoring (since end of 1993);
- Institute's laboratories performing research on
the environment and its components management, as well as the
control of the national economy branches impact on environment.
Each year National Institute of Ecology present to
the Government bodies National Report on the state of the environment
in the country.
Ministry of Health.
The main subdivision are:
- The National Research and Practical Centre for
Hygiene and Epidemiology, which has specialised laboratories (Chišinãu),
district laboratories in Bãløi,
Bender, Orhei, and Cahul, 45 local laboratories with limited regime.
The main function: environment quality analysis: water, soil,
air; quality of foodstuffs and territory radiology; prevention
of epidemics, extremely dangerous diseases and the liquidation
of infection sources.
Ministry of Agriculture and Alimentation.
Has the following monitoring institutions in its
subordination:
- Scientific Production Association :Fertilitatea"
(Fertility) with subdivisions: a) Institute for Agrochemical Services
for the population with 3 chemisation stations (Chišinãu,
Bãløi,
Cahul) and with 6 district production quality stations. The latter
have the responsibility for grounding and control of nutrients
and pesticides utilisation, the radiologic control of the soil
and agricultural production; b) Service for fighting agricultural
pests and diseases with the National Station and district stations.
- The Institute for Research and Technology Design
in Pedology, Agrochemistry and Soil Amelioration (IRTDPASA) "N.Dimo";
- The Principal Direction for Land Property Regulation
and Land Reform, which has a pedology section in the framework
of the Institute for Design of Territory Planning, with a section
of control and accounting in each administrative district.
- State Concern "ACVA" with subdivisions:
a) Moldovan Institute for Water and Land Improvement Research;
b) the Association of Danube-Dnestr water management; c) Hydrogeologic
Centre for soil amelioration. The main tasks of the latter organisations
is shown in their names.
- "Moldsilva" Association has a forest
guard and protection section, a station for forests protection
and supervision posts in forests management. The main responsibility
of the sections is the forests guarding, flora and fauna protection,
diseases and pests invasions prevention, as well as fighting their
sources.
- National Veterinary Diagnosis Control having the tasks of animal diseases and epizootic diseases prevention, forage and animal produces control for radionuclides contents.
Association "Geologia Moldovei" (AGeoM)
The main subdivision with environmental concern are:
the Central Analytical Laboratory, performing the task of underground
and underground water control and evaluation. AGeoM is doing the
underground water monitoring and the monitoring of geologic exo-
and endogenic processes in the entire territory of the country.
In 1985 thirty six state sanitary-industrial laboratories
have been created locally at different enterprises in order to
control (self control) the observance of the maximally admitted
norms for noxious substances emission, or the temporary norms
observation.
The results of in site investigations were formerly
presented for internal use in the departments, separately for
the components and object of the environment in the following
forms:
- daily weekly, biweekly, monthly, quarterly, etc., informative reports;
- monthly, quarterly, half-yearly etc., bulletins;
- annual or longer term analyses;
- detailed half-yearly, and longer-term reports;
- other.
It should be noted that the mentioned range of forms
was not unified for all the departments and analytical laboratories.
For example, the Department and its subdivisions, directions and
analytical laboratories were presenting annual reports on environmental
protection activity. The "Hidrometeo" Service was also
presenting agrometeorologic (annual) bulletins, annual reports
on water quality according to hydrobiologic indices, state cadastre
of waters (annual data on surface water quality), daily, weekly
information reports, biweekly prognoses on probable weather etc.
This environment information and supervision system
had both advantages and drawbacks, among which:
- dubbing, trebling, etc., of supervision investigation
of the same natural objects by different institutions;
- the equipment of the monitoring systems is insufficient,
the devices being frequently outdated, inadequate, the calibration
being done in different ways for different institutions; - excessive
financial expenses;
- inefficient use of intellectual resources;
- lack of unified methodology and technology of works;
- impossibility to generalise and analyse the information
stocks on the same object, coming from different institutional
sources;
- lack of free access to information in different
state institutions.
Current work of ecological monitoring
The environmental quality supervision and the development
of management principles in the areas of environmental protection
and restoration in the Republic of Moldova is done according to
new principles. However, the functional supervision tools (investigation
and environmental quality control) is dispersed among consumers
(ministries, departments, commissions with various interests),
generally preserving the monopoly of the complex. Currently, the
environment quality supervision and the decision-making in the
area on its utilisation, restoration and protection is done at
the following levels:
- a system of posts and stations, in which observations
and evaluations are performed on the environment components and
object state according to standard methodologies;
- organisations and institutions, which receive
information for prognoses processing, analyses and preparation;
- state bodies and institutions, which develop and
implement actions for environment restoration and protection,
population health protection on the basis of the wide range data
on environment quality and national economy branches impact.
The Moldavian Department of Environmental Protection
participates in a number of international multilateral and bilateral
environmental programs. Negotiations on bilateral agreements in
the field of the environment are going on with Belarus, Ukraine
and Romania.
Republic of Moldova joined the Intergovernmental
Environmental Council (IEC) of the Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS) to co-ordinate activities in the field of the environment
with other CIS countries. The agreement relating to the establishment
of the IEC was signed on February 8, 1992 in Moscow. IEC activities
are to be financed by the Inter-governmental Environmental Fund,
and Republic of Moldova also supported its establishment.
The IEC and UNEP signed a co-operative agreement
on August 15, 1994, which includes the support from the UNEP side
in creating environmental information systems, mutual exchange
of information and user informational support in member countries
of the IEC. Since July 1993 Republic of Moldova has been a member
of the UNEP information network INFOTERRA. The function of the
national centre of this network are performed by the National
Institute of Ecology
Since June 1996 it was established the Project Management
Office (PMO) within the DEP and the assistance of the World Bank.
The activity programme of the PMO concern the implementation of
the recommendation from the National Action Plan, particularly
through investment in environmental remediation projects.
At present, the following international projects
are ongoing:
The Ministry of Health cooperates with WHO.
Moldavian NGOs actively participate in international
programs, for instance, the Ecological Movement of Moldova is
a member of IUCN and his territorial organisations (Ungheni and
Ave - Ecological Studio from Chišinãu)
together with other NGOs (Academy of Ecological sciences, Moldova-Eco
etc.) are involved in projects linking to program "Environment
protection of the Danube Basin", 1992, CEC, WB, EBRD.
3.4 Analysis of legal framework
Environmental legislative initiative originates in
the Parliamentary Commission, at the Departmental (Ministerial)
level or at the Research Institutional level. The Department of
Environmental Protection presents draft laws and regulations to
the ministries and departments. After preliminary consideration,
the materials presents at the Cabinet of Ministers. After preliminary
consideration, the Parliamentary Commission on Health, Social
Protection and Ecology transfers Government proposals to the Parliament
for final approval. When legislative initiative in the field of
the environment comes from the Parliamentary Commission, they
co-ordinate their activities with the following governing bodies:
the Department of Environmental Protection, the Association of
Geology, the Department of Land Resources and Land Cadastre, the
Association "Moldsilva", the Central Board of Reserves
and Hunting Management and other interesting governmental bodies.
The Constitution in force provides for ideas and general principles
for environmental protection. The Constitution guarantees the
right of people to an environment favourable for life and stipulate
the responsibility of concerned bodies to inform the public option
on the environment state (Art. 34, 37). In the respect, the State
also guaranties the free access of each citizen to information
on the state of the environment, life and labour conditions, and
to distribution of such information. The article 126, p.1f states:
- rational use of plots, as well as other natural
resources in conformity with the national interests;
- the environment restoration and protection and
the conservation of ecological equilibrium.
The Constitution also stipulates that environmental
protection is the responsibility of all the citizens of the country.
Currently, a complex system of laws and normative acts function in the Republic of Moldova on environmental protection. Among them there are a number of acts adopted recently in the conditions of transition to market economy and movement towards a law-abiding state which co-exist along with many laws adopted in the past, when they had functioned in the period of the centralised economic system.
Over the last years a number of normative acts (Decisions
of the Government, Regulations) have been approved which create
the necessary conditions for the above-mentioned laws implementation,
especially in the land, water and mineral resources areas.
A number of other laws should also be mentioned,
which have direct connection with environmental protection and
which have been adopted over the last two years; Some contradictions,
doubling, confusion of functions, rights and responsibilities
are remarked in the ecological laws, regulations of activity of
different ministries and departments, dealing with the administration
of natural resources and environment. Moreover, along with the
transfer of the Department for Environmental Protection into the
subordination of the Government, a revision is necessary in this
respect of the Law on Environmental Protection. Finally, the rights
and responsibilities of central and local public administration
authorities are not precisely defined. Thus, some drafts are necessary
for amendments of laws and regulations.
The legal framework should harmoniously combine the
economic needs with ecological restrictions, the right of man
to a favourable environment for life with ecological equilibrium
conservation. It is also necessary to implement new non-traditional
economic methods, characteristic for market economy, like the
actions for natural resources utilisation, ecological certification
of products, differentiation of prices, the creation of sales
markets for the right to pollution, the ecological insurance and
the creation of compensation ecological funds, etc. All these
new directions of activity demand the elaboration of new laws,
regulations.
In the conditions of the integration of the Republic
of Moldova in the European Community the legislation should be
aligned to the international ecological standards. This is even
more necessary when national laws contradict the international
ones. Practically this work can be done in two ways, through the
international expert evaluation of the new legislative acts by
the respective international organisations and by including the
basic principles of the ecological legislation of the Western
countries worked out on the basis of the European Community and
Council of Europe directions into our legislation.
It is also necessary to re-evaluate the ecological
standards. In this respect, the following should be done:
- the revaluation of the former USSR standards,
which are still valid in order to modify them taking into account
the specific natural conditions of the country;
- the comparison of the national standards with
the ones of the European Community and the gradual transition
to the European ones in case the latter are more strict than the
national standards;
- the elaboration of new standards bearing in mind
the integrity of the environmental and its systemic character.
It is obvious that the set of laws, which constitutes
the Ecologic Code of the Republic is not sufficient. There are
a number of areas, in which no regulation exist, or the respective
act is outdated. In the nearest future other law drafts will be
ready:
- on the Regime of Toxic Substances;
- on the Fund of State Protected Areas;
- on the Compensation to the Population for the Damage Caused by Environmental Pollution;
- on Potable Water;
- on Reusable Materials;
- on Energy Conservation;
- on Protection of Population from the Ionising
Radiation Sources.
There are still some areas, not covered by the necessary
legal support, in which has to be done in the following years.
Here we can mention: the methodology of ecological impact evaluation;
hunting and hunting organisation; utilisation and protection of
pisciculture etc; The legal framework of environmental protection
comprises the set of Decrees and Laws regulating environmental
activities and international conventions signed, or signed and
ratified, by the Republic of Moldova are listed in Appendix B.
3.5. Economic considerations regarding the implementation
of environmental information systems and the dissemination of
environmental information
Funding of the state institutions engaged in the environmental information management is performed from the state budget. The DEP can also finance some activities form the state non-budget fund (Ecological fund) if fines from violation of environmental regulations are accumulated. However, this fund is used mainly for the liquidation of consequences of environmental accidents or urgently local environmental problem, and not for information management.
Beginning with the 90-s the process of the allocations
in the sphere of environmental protection has stopped. There are
an evident tendency towards absolute decrease of investments for
environmental protection, their share in the national economy
during the 1991-95 years is kept at the level of 1.5 - 2.0 percent.
For example, the total amount spent on environmental protection
in 1993 constituted 12.538 thousand lei.
However, it is necessary to mentioned the financial
contribution of different sources:
- limited budgetary allocations (In the GNP the
share of funds spent for environmental protection in 1993 represent
less than 1% and in 1994 - 0.8%),
- slowly increased ecological funds (199.2 thousand
lei in 1993, 304.7 - 1994, and 460.6 in 1995),
- local support by enterprises (16% of capital investments in 1993 and 35% in 1994-95), and
- only limited foreign assistance in environmental
protection in Moldova (Technical assistance in 1995-96 from US
Agency for International Development - the main project at 2,5
mill. US$ - Grant for Environmental Management;
- Small UNDP implemented technical assistance concerning
Agenda 21 and small projects for NGOs concerning Danube Program
has been disbursed in 1995-96; Training courses in 1995 in the
field of environmental management ;
- harmonisation of ecological legislation of EU
and Moldova, elaboration of environmental projects - Organiser
- European Union through the "TACIS" program;
- Small grants on ecological projects for NGOs from
different International Foundations - SOROS, ISAR, COUNTERPART
- (beginning in 1993.).
Moreover, no special budget line is foreseen for
environmental information management. As a result, salaries in
the environmental sector are several times lower than in commercial
sectors, and it is quite difficult to attract new and to keep
present qualified specialists. In 1996 according to decision of
the Department of Environmental Protection the salaries of the
staff specialists of the main divisions (except National Institute
of Ecology) was increased approximately in double way.
Articles 34, 37 of the Constitution, articles 9,
15 of the law on Environmental Protection, decree of the Government
of the Republic of Moldova of 5 December 1995, N 871 "On
the State Department of the Environmental Protection" states
that information the state of the environment should be exchanged
free of charge between state agencies, institutions and organisations
involved in environmental monitoring. According to these By-laws
"the Department has the right to obtain the information required
for fulfilment of its tasks" free of charge from the governmental
bodies, institutions and organisations.
The costs of environmental information activities
are shared by the central state budget and budgets of districts
administration. Because of economic instability and lack of mechanisms
for costs recovery, mainly state structures can operate in the
field of primary data generation and emergency alarm systems.
Most likely, National Institute of Ecology and some specialised
institutions can successfully work on the development of information
infrastructure, data aggregation, report generation and scientific
research.
3.6. Status in Environmental Data Management
Considering the current status in environmental information
management in the Republic of Moldova, one should remember that
information systems in the former Soviet Union were highly centralised
and most capital investments came to the Russian centres, where
data aggregation was performed and reports were prepared. As a
consequence, Moldovan institutions are still equipped with mainframe
computers of the 1970's and the number of environmental databases
tracked today on Russia is considerably higher than in Moldova.
Mass introduction of personal computers started approximately
in 1992. Of course, some environmental databases, like the State
Land Cadastre, Hydrometeo, are left from the old system. Nevertheless,
a number of databases needs to be created. Certain achievements
have been reached during the last four years. In the DEP, there
exist about 10 environmental datasets. A lot of relevant work
is being done in research institutions. Today we can only very
roughly estimate the number of datasets existing throughout the
country: for example, from the requests for funding. However,
a number of datasets may contain duplicated information, some
of the databases may not be updated regularly, some information
might be inadequate or incomplete. Therefore, field trips will
be required in order to make our estimates more precise.
At sub-national and local levels, huge amounts of
environmental data are stored in the form of paper documents of
very limited circulation (1-10 copies) and non-structured computer
files. Comparison of methods used throughout the whole world shows
that environmental data should, in order to be used most effectively
by decision-makers, be presented in spatially-referenced form
i.e. GIS and systems should be utilised.
GIS technology in the Republic Moldova has or may
has the following areas of current and potential application:
- land use cadastres
- environmental problems
- commercial applications (property inventories, street maps, etc.);
- scientific research
In our opinion, the best approach to create a modern
environmental information system at a national level in the Republic
of Moldova should be "bottom-to-top". This means that,
in view of a lot information at sub-national level existing in
different databases, spreadsheets and text files, some unified
database tools should be imposed in order to lessen data input
and conversion costs.
At the zonal level, a standard GIS tool should be
used (for example, Mapinfo 2.0 is a shareware, and can be duplicated
without any license restrictions): Time consuming data input may
be successfully done by local specialists. At the national level,
aggregation of data provided by zonal agencies and their representation
can be carried out by means of more powerful tools (MAPINFO, ARC/INFO,
SPANS, etc.)
3.7. Telecommunication in the Republic of Moldova
Rapid development in telecommunications began in
the Republic Moldova in 1991.
The Government of the Republic of Moldova has embarked
on a programme of restructuring the telecommunications sector.
The overall aim of this programme is to expand and modernise the
provision of services, bringing modern technology, operating expertise
and commercial management to the sector. To this end, postal and
telecommunications operations have already been separated from
the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (MCI), setting up
Moldtelecom, Posta Moldovei, the National Centre for Informatics
and Radiocom as state enterprises. As in most countries of western
Europe, it has been recognised that a natural corollary of these
changes is the privatisation of the national operator.
At present, Moldtelecom has direct international
links with other CIS countries, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece.
Links to other destinations are made via hubs in Copenhagen and
Montreal. The commercial arrangements with teleDanmark and teleglobe
to provide international satellite transmission links operate
under contracts with MCI (concluded in 1992, before Moldtelecom
was established as a separate entity), rather than licences. Romtelecom,
the Romanian telecommunications operator, also provides transit
facilities to Europe.
MCI is the policy making and regulatory body of the
Government in telecommunications. MCI has decided to privatise
the telecommunication sector and to select in 1996 a strategic
investor through an international competitive tender. With assistance
of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD),
advisors have been appointed to assist MCI with the elaboration
of sector policy. The objectives are based on a 10 year Development
Plan for the period 1993-2003, which has been developed by the
MCI and Moldtelecom. MCI also represents the Government's interest
in Moldtelecom as a state-owned enterprise. So far Moldtelecom's
activities have been supervised by MCI through a management contract
rather than a licence. MCI continues to have responsibility for
the investment programme in the sector.
Moldtelecom has a number of projects underway to
modernise and expand the network. For example, the North-South
500 km fibre optic transmission line is being built. The first
phase, connecting Chišinãu
with South border of Moldova, was completed in 1995. The new EWSD
(Siemens) international exchange was installed in 1995 too.
Taking into account the actual stage of the evolution
of society in the Republic of Moldova, it was elaborate the Directory
(Main) Project on Information Management System Development for
Society in the Republic of Moldova (Approved within decision of
Government of the Republic of Moldova of 6 March 1995, N 155.).
This document is one of the most important act, regarding the
provisions and strategic decisions in domain of the development
and implementation of informational systems in the all branches
of national economy.
At present in the Republic of Moldova there are accessible
for utilisation the nodes of following networks:
- TERENA (Transeuropean academic and research network);
- INTERNET (Global network);
- CRINET (National network for majority districts centres);
- IKS MIR and RELKOM (Commercial informational network of the CIS (Commonwealth of
Independent State).
The users benefices from the following possibilities:
- electronic mail;
- files transfer;
- direct connection between terminals;
- access to the public and specialised databases.
The first steps in implementation of the Data Transport
Public Network is to realise of the system "Electronic mail
of the State Administration". This program was approved within
decision of Government of the Republic of Moldova of 21 April
1995, N 252 and provide policy the development, technical and
informational assistance of the different nodules of local network
for administration use (Parliament, Government's Chancellery,
Ministries, Departments, Districts' Executive Committees, municipal
and other administrative bodies) and assurance of their connection
to the system "Electronic mail of the State Administration"
under coordination of MTI.
Today some segments of this system are functioning:
- Local computer network of the State Chancellery
are connected to the republican nodule of Data Transfer at National
Centre for Informatics;
- Local computer networks of Parliament's and President's
Secretariats are in ongoing.
Today, it has about 150 sub-domains, while each sub-domain
can be shared among a number of users. About 20 government ministries
and department have E-mail addresses. And approximately 50 governmental
institutions and authorities throughout the country are connected
to the electronic mail system of the Government.
The main obstacle for expansion of telecommunication
systems in Republic of Moldova are the high prices of on-line
services, if compared to income and to the budgets of institutions.
For this reason, a very limited number of users has access to
such powerful and convenient means of Internet as ftp, gopher,
www, etc.
3.8 Information use in decision-making, education and the media
The Department of Environmental Protection maintains
constant communication with the Moldovan population when it comes
to major decisions and the most important environmental issues
through its Division, and regularly organises press conferences
and invites influential journalists and mass media representatives.
Moldovan state TV and Radio Company is also engaged
in the environmental education process, several programs are offered
to the public in which a wide variety of environmental issues
are discussed. For instance, one times per week the first channel
of the Moldovan Radio broadcasts ecological program. It covers
issues like the state of environment, the state of natural reservations,
vulnerable and rare species, biodynamic agriculture, problems
of waters and drinking water supply, energy, dangers of pesticide
and chemical residuals, tree cutting, etc.
The state channel of the Moldovan TV every week are
running program called "Ave Natura" with large topics.
This program offer discussions on a broad spectrum of environmental
hot points, video materials, prepared by their own staff or reproduced
from materials distributed world-wide. The scope of these discussions
ranges from local to regional and global environmental problems.
In their coverage the authors also use official information from
the Parliamentary Commission, the Department of Environmental
Protection, the Moldovan NGOs, research institutions, etc.
There are some alternative channels of environmental
information dissemination. The channel TV "Catalan"
and the channel Radio "Unda Liberã"
have emissions with environmental topics.
The best-known national level printed mass-media,
include: the monthly newspaper "NATURA" published since
1989; "MOSHTENIRE" news bulletin published since 1991;
"GUTTA" (Children's environmental newspaper) - founded
in 1996. There are some ecological publication in the Republic
of Moldova (See Appendix F)
The NGO sector is also quite active in the field
of environmental education. A large number of NGO have a specially
designed Environmental Education Program, which includes TV programs,
publication of manuals and booklets, and in-service training for
environmental teachers of schools in close co-operation with the
Ministry of Education (See about NGOs).
Environmental information in the Republic of Moldova
is widely used in decision-making by different governmental organisations
(subjects "Energy and Environment", "Agriculture
and Environment", "Agriculture and Water", "Economy
and Forests", Human Habitats and Environment", "Calamities
and Environment", etc.)
Environmental information in the Republic of Moldova
is widely used by secondary schools (subjects "Biology and
Nature Protection", "Basics of Ecology", etc.),
colleges, high schools and universities (courses in Labour and
Nature Protection", "Ecology", "Biology",
"Geography", "Hydrobiology", "Soil and
their protection", "Agroecology", "Civil Construction",
etc.) and non-curriculum education institutions (e.g., the Environmental
Education Association, D.Kantemir-Inter-University Environmental
Club, PROVITA - Association of Young Ecologists, Terra Nostra
- Association for Environmental Education and Information, FLORICICA
- Fund for Development of Children's Animation Creations, Young
Ecologist (Chišinãu).
According to some estimates, there are about 50 non-governmental
organisations and public groups of environmental trends throughout
Moldova. These groups are engaged in various activities: from
protest actions to projects of environmental restoration and protection,
and ecological education and campaigns aimed at raising public
awareness. The type of information used by NGOs are mass-media
publications and presentations, replies on queries from governmental
bodies and local authorities, their own assessments and international
literature (for example, on environmental education).
4.1 Priority needs of information for decision-making
Since the 1960's the environmental policy in the
Republic of Moldova has been based on the concept of self-purification
of the biosphere, given that the emission of pollutants are below
maximal permissible concentrations (MPC's). However, under conditions
of a centrally and rigidly planned economy with large industrial
plants, it is impossible to observe the permissible levels of
pollution. Therefore, one should not be astonished by figures
of ten - and hundred-fold MPC's. In fact, not much has changed
in this field after the collapse of the USSR. Data in environmental
reports of some institutions are often given in MPC's, with no
specification of time and concrete geographic location of the
measurement-points.
Today, in view of environmental crisis in several
areas of the country, this technocratic approach does not work.
The question of priority information needs for decision-makers
is a difficult one. Perhaps, a special sociological research should
be performed to give a comprehensive answer.
Environmental information usually reaches decision-makers
with delays and is difficult to access, therefore a lot of decisions
in the environmental field are made more on intuition than on
reliable information.
Successful application of environmental policy and
management decisions largely depends on the support and existence
of a properly designed information technology infrastructure.
The ever increasing complexity of environmental problems requires
the exploitation of sophisticated tools for effective management
of environmental information. This fact seems to be realised more
and more by environmental decision-makers in the Republic of Moldova.
Simple printed reports, generated by government authorities and
research institutions, lack the necessary flexibility for data
manipulation; sometimes it is even difficult to identify needed
data sources and extract all the necessary information.
The question of prime importance is the media, through
which environmental information managers could deliver necessary
information to decision-makers. Typically, they need information
in the form of statistical reports, schemes, diagrams, thematic
maps for various purposes, like control and optimisation of environmental
management decisions, reporting to higher-level government authorities,
dissemination of environmental information to local authorities
and the public, and generation of State-of-the-Environment reports
and so on. Emerging co-operation with international environmental
institutions often requires rapid preparation of relevant reports,
questionnaires, and government directories. Certain on-going international
programs, like the EPDB, BSEP and NATO SfS, concentrate directly
on the development of complex environmental information technology
tools, like environmental databases and Geographical Information
Systems for the entire Danube Basin or Black Sea region.
The immediate environmental information needs in
Republic of Moldova can be formulated as follows:
- Decision-makers need to regularly obtain up-to-date
environmental information in relevant form (concentration of pollutants
at specific points, at specific times). To deal with such kind
of information, involvement of GIS is most desirable for geographic
referencing, analysis and production of thematic maps.
- Authorities, at national and regional levels, need
information on available natural and biological resources.
- Long-term changes in various environmental variables
(e.g. those related to deforestation, land degradation and climate
change) should be tracked on a regular basis, in order to enable
prognosis and planning.
- Human related indicators, such as population density,
state of public health and socio-economic date have much to do
with the environmental management issues (for instance, ecological
expertise of new industrial plants). Therefore relevant institutions
should gave access to these data.
4.2 Legislation regarding the management and accessibility of environmental information
The Constitution, Law on the Environmental Protection
in force guarantees the right of people to an environment favourable
for life and stipulate the responsibility of concerned bodies
to inform the public option on the environment state. In the respect,
the State also guarantees the free access of each citizen to information
on the state of the environment, life and labour conditions, and
to distribution of such information.
The legislation in force is insufficient for the
institution of tools for correct information of the population
on environment and production quality. There exist, however, differences
between law and practice. Still, juridical guarantees of the public
right on access to environmental information ("right to know")
are rather vague and should be strengthened.
In order to implement the provisions of the Constitution
(Art. 34, 37) and of the Law on the Environmental Protection (Art.
9) on the responsibility of concerned bodies to inform the public
option on the environment state, a number of organic laws are
necessary, including the law on ecological monitoring, as well
as the improvement of some laws in force (On Sanitary Epidemiological
Safety of the Population, 1993; On Veterinary activity, 1993;
Arbitrage production code, 1992; On Civil Protection, 1994; On
Secondary Resources, 1996; On the Amendments to the Criminal and
Administrative Code, 1993; etc.). Obviously, there should be regulations
developed specifying the level of detail of information and the
users which have the right to access it free of charge. Moreover,
the term "environmental information" needs to be clearly
determined, because if one's data are used for generation of some
product having market value, one will find a way to present this
data as non-environmental.
At the same time, the law on environmental protection,
being so important, needs a number of additional acts for its
implementation. In this respect, the task of working out regulations,
decisions and orders drafts of the Government, especially concerning
the performance of specific functions of the Department for Environmental
Protection and Ecologic Inspectorate, for instance, in biodiversity
protection, functioning of the ecological monitoring, information
of the public and the access of the latter to decision making,
etc., is primary. The mechanism for promoting the environmental
protection activity is not yet perfect. Issues like intellectual
property rights, generation and dissemination of information,
public access to information sources, etc. should comply with
internationally accepted standards and take into account current
developments in the country.
All these considerations apply also to environmental
information management. The real costs of information input, management,
storage, aggregation and dissemination, computer systems maintenance
and upgrading at governmental structures are covers only partially.
For this reason, governmental institutions are being forced to
find ways to make money with their information and are therefore
not willing to share it with other users.
4.3 Financing of environmental information management
Moldovan official statistics do not give an answer
on the question "How much is spent on environmental information
collection, management, and dissemination?" As usual, at
the national level, specialists in these fields are on state service,
and equipment, software, costs of telecommunication services required
are simply included into the operational budget of corresponding
governmental bodies. At the sub-national level, some expenses
may also covered from the environmental non-budget fund.
The authorities who are disposing the money do not
always remember that environmental information management does
not only include the setting-up of database programs or automated
systems, but also continuous update of databases, and development
of functional possibilities.
Transitional economic difficulties and political
fluctuations do not stimulate activities in the development of
instruments for advanced environmental information management.
The Moldovan Government currently lacks the capacity to finance
on its own the application of sophisticated and expensive high-technology
tools for the management of environmental information.
In the conditions of macro-economic stabilisation,
the government is able to cover system set-up costs only partially,
and it is not able to provide proper remuneration to qualified
computer specialists. It is absolutely clear, that it cannot pay
access to international data sources. Therefore, international
aid to the environmental information sector is crucially needed.
Assistance from the international environmental community,
different on-going multilateral programs are and will remain in
the near future the only significant source of funding for activities
in this field. At the same time, in the long run it is not desirable
to depend only on foreign assistance, and alternative resources
have to be identified for the financing of environmental information
management activities on the national level. Here we briefly discuss
some possibilities for fund raising: The willingness of the Department
of Environmental Protection to develop the structure of environmental
information network will be accompanied by in kind and logistic
assistance. The department could also provide help in identifying
potential donors. Besides, the Government should define more clearly
and gradually increase the financial resources allocated for the
development of environmental information technology tools and
networking.
It is expected that in the near future many private
enterprises will emerge with activities in the field of environmental
technology applications. Potentially, they could become important
consumers of sound environmental information products and would
provide much needed financial assistance. Some of them would concentrate
on the generation of information useful directly or indirectly
for environmental purposes, and contribute to the development
of the multidimensional environmental information network of the
country.
Private and non-private foreign investors are usually
interested in background country information, including environmental
conditions at certain places or districts of the Republic of Moldova.
Relations with interested investors could be built on a cost recovery
basis.
District Authorities could contribute to the financing
of environmental information management activities on the local
level. They could also assist in the generation of different kinds
of raw data and develop a close co-operation with the country-wide
environmental information network to get access to sound environmental
information, accommodated for use on the local level. More generally,
provision of processed information in exchange for raw data should
be practised widely, in order to keep the level of needed financial
resources as low as possible. This approach has to be exploited
with regard to horizontal (within a department or with other zonal
agencies, environmental research and monitoring institutions),
as well as vertical (main divisions of the Department, local authorities,
NGOs, the private sector, etc.) environmental data and information
exchange.
Otherwise, information system will steadily degrade,
and the situation concerning access to environmental information
will become worse. On the other hand, if Moldavian institution
are included into international programs, many gaps in international
environmental data sources regarding Republic Moldova could be
filled, and also and more and better organised environmental reports,
environmental maps and atlases, etc. could be produced.
4.4 Improving of the institutional framework
The Department of Environmental Protection should
increase its role as a central co-ordinating point for the management
of the country-wide environmental information network. Naturally,
the departmental unit, responsible for the co-ordination, gathering,
storage, analysis, processing and presentation of environmental
data has to be based on a more solid foundation and act as a catalyst
of environmental information management activities throughout
the country. For this purpose it would be desirable to develop
a well-equipped Environmental Information System at the Department.
The vertical structure of information exchange within
the Department has to be strengthened. The co-ordinating activities
of the Department with regard to its relations with zonal agencies
(and local Government bodies) should improve considerably the
periodicity of data provision from local sources. Much has to
be done in the field of harmonisation and standardisation of data
formats. Where possible, electronic information carriers should
be used instead of simple printed materials. This would require
the development of simple computational resources on the local
level. At the same time, vertical data and information flow should
be a two-way process: information in the form of the State of
the Environment Reports should be disseminated widely, and the
central authorities should assist the regions in conducting complex
analysis of local environmental problems.
On the horizontal level the Department should promote
a decentralised nature of environmental information management.
Compatible informational structures have to be established or
further developed at subordinated institutions (the Service "Hydrometeo",
State Ecological Inspectorate and the National Institute of Ecology).
Interaction with other zonal agencies has to be strengthened (universities,
research institutions, the Ministry of Agriculture and Alimentation,
the Ministry of Health, the Association "Geologia Moldovei",
National Agency for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastres, the Department
of Statistics, the Department of Civil Defence and others).
To enhance interaction, to harmonise approaches and
to concentrate activities of environmental data management, of
analysis and generation of different kinds of environmental reports,
it is reasonable to establish a joint national-level institution.
Now, the Ecological Monitoring Centre of the National Institute
of Ecology is supposed to be GRID-compatible and serve the information
needs of a wide of potential users.
All these institutions have to be equipped with their
own infrastructure for environmental information management. At
the same time, the Department itself has to be prepared to deal
with the intensive flow of diverse environmental data and information
between its partners. For improved co-ordination of environmental
information processing activities throughout the country and the
establishment of information exchange standards and final transformation
of data into information acceptable for environmental decision-making,
a special Network Co-ordination Unit (NCU) has to be created at
the departmental structure, responsible directly for co-ordination
of the development of the National Environmental Information Network.
Or, this responsibility may be attached to the National Institute
of Ecology (Ecological Monitoring Centre). One of the most important
aspect of the NCU functions should be liaison with global and
regional international organisations engaged in environmental
information management activities.
Given the lack of funds from the state budget for
the information management. However, this situation is typical
for the post- communist economy, where every state institution
is eager to create as many subsidiary companies (commercial or
semi-commercial) as possible.
This results in great loss of money on parallel program
development and data conversion; low efficiency, monopolistic
prices, and average quality of software and data.
4.5 Co-operation with international (global and
regional) environmental programs
International networking could provide powerful momentum
for the development of a national environmental information infrastructure.
There are, obviously, two main reasons for Moldovan
users to consult with international data sources:
- direct participation in international programs;
- application of the best world wide practices in
Ukraine, for instance, harmonisation of the national system of
environmental indicators.
For governmental users, the most relevant data are:
- International classifications of toxic substances,
chemical and agricultural products, environmental indicators;
- International legislation (i.e., EC regulators, UN documents
of general distribution);
- national SoE and other relevant reports of different
countries;
- digital maps.
Bilateral and multilateral information exchange,
active participation in regional (like the EPDB, BSEP and NATO
SfS Project) and global (UNEP GRID and INFOTERRA; UNESCO, GEMS,
the WHO, the WMO) programs could help in the development of a
national institutional framework compatible with international
standards for information processing. Expansion of co-operation
with such European or international institutions as OECD, EEA
and EUROSTAT and participation in the programs CORINE Air, CORINE
Land Cover and BALLERINA would be of great importance to the Republic
of Moldova.
Apart from financial support, international co-operation
could assist in assessing the priority needs for the development
of a national environmental information network, identifying state-of-the-art
software and hardware components for national systems, improve
access to high-quality environmental information, and help in
human resource development, etc.
Development of international networking requires
a balanced approach to match national needs and capacities with
the regional and global interests of the country. Co-operation
with Danube Basin neighbours has already taken place to a certain
extent in the past (in the field of hydro-meteorology and water
quality, for example), but these ties have to be strengthened
and updated to deal with transitional circumstances. Co-operation
with CIS countries within the framework of the IEC could improve
the traditional connections with former Soviet republics. At the
same time relations with traditional partners have to be matched
with newly established regional co-operative programs, like the
EPDB, BSEP, and regional activities should comply with global
trends as formulated by UNEP and other UN-wide programs.
Besides this, scientific, research and academic institutions
as well as NGOs are likely to use the following king of international
information sources in their activities:
- addresses of institutions;
- directories of scientific publications;
- lists of on going programs and upcoming events;
- directories of the possible sources of international
funding.
As the first step, it would be very useful to provide
Moldovan institutions with some meta-information on available
European and UNEP data sources. In view of the huge amounts of
the information mentioned, there are two feasible ways of access:
provision of Moldovan users with on-line service and distribution
of information on CD-ROM.
4.6 Priority information technology needs
Information management is carried out in most institutions
using old mainframe computers. It is technically difficult to
establish data exchange between this equipment and modern computer
platforms. Moreover, some of the computers have reached the end
of their lifetime. Feasibility studies should be conducted to
decide whether to upgrade existing systems or to replace them
with more up-to-date ones. Significant investments are needed
to provide major structural units for environmental decision-making
with high-quality desktop PC systems. The problem with insufficient
hardware resources is accompanied by the absence of networking
of existing systems.
Telecommunications infrastructure is limited only
to simple modem connections via telephone lines of poor quality.
There is an Internet e-mail service available at the Department
of Environmental Protection and some other institutions, but the
absence of a true Internet connection with advanced services,
like ftp, telnet or http browsers of the World Wide Web isolates
the Moldovan environmental community from access to regional and
global sources of environmental information.
4.7 Priority needs for database and metadatabase
development
Modern information technology products offer a broad
spectrum of possibilities for the extraction of information and
presentation to government officials of various levels. Ideally,
one could imagine a developed network of distributed environmental
database management systems with the capability of on-line query
from remote desktop computers. Realisation of this ideal picture
requires major efforts to be undertaken for the establishment
of the needed environmental information infrastructure. To our
understanding, the following steps should be taken to achieve
this objective:
- Development of a set of environmental database management systems, containing highly structured environmental information, ranging from a national government directory and various environmental registers to thoroughly documented environmental research and monitoring databases, allowing the extraction of information in the form of electronic tables. Several institutions already have some initial experience in database development (The National Institute of Ecology, Service of "Hydrometeo", some Institutions of the Academy of Sciences).
- Simultaneous development of meta-databases in order
to keep track of existing environmental information contained
in the distributed set of decentralised environmental databases.
An integral part of each database management system should be
menu-driven user navigation software, easy to use even for people
unfamiliar with sophisticated database query languages.
- Integration of environmental databases and remote
sensing data with GIS in order to facilitate sophisticated spatial
analysis for environmental impact assessment and planning purposes.
This would require development of end-user tools for semi-automatic
generation of all kinds of thematic maps, geographically referenced
data query, etc. When dealing with GIS technology one should also
design special routines for performing geographical coordinate
transformations between different projections, create a digital
topographic basis of the relevant scale and so on.
- Development of integrated registers of environmental
data at the national level. The present situation in environmental
information management is such that integrated meta-databases
which store information coming from several institutions practically
do not exist. Additionally, even inside one institution, it is
sometimes difficult to obtain a list of existing datasets. Therefore,
it is necessary to develop meta-databases combining information
existing within particular institutions, as well as information
stored at various institution involved at the national and sub-national
levels. This work is now under way at DEP and it's main division
- National Institute of Ecology.
- Harmonisation of sectoral databases Parallel to
the inventory of existing databases, a great need exists to impose
national level standards and regulations for the contents of environmental
databases and for the structure and period of updating in various
sectors, in order to avoid incompatibilities and duplications.
- Facilitating the access to existing sources of
information Even after lifting the secrecy on environmental statistics,
information reports presently exist mainly in a very limited number
of hard copies, and are hardly available even to decision-makers,
not to mention the general public. Therefore, it would be very
useful to provide such means of access to information as on-line
services and distributed client-server databases. A good solution
seems the distribution of some data, e.g. of digital maps, on
CD-ROM.
- Implementation of geographic information systems
GIS have shown world-wide their exclusive usefulness for applications
in the environmental sector. In the Republic of Moldova, geographically
referenced datasets are scarcely available; however, more and
more database developing institutions recognise their benefits.
- On-going international and national projects usually
result in the generation of new sets of environmental data. For
example, one of the activities under EPDB Routine Monitoring should
result in the evaluation of the Danube tributaries water quality
and tributary basins environment quality, an integral part of
which is to perform the complex data processing, including the
application of GIS.
Institutions responsible for the accomplishment of
these tasks lack necessary expertise. These difficulties could
be resolved through a more integrated and cross-sectoral approach.
Human resource development is essential for the establishment
of an effective mechanism of environmental information management.
As in other countries in transition, the Republic of Moldova generally
lacks human resources with managerial expertise capable of operating
in a co-ordinated and concerted manner with different government
and non-governmental institutions. This is particularly true of
the management of the national environmental information network,
since there is no experience of integration of multidimensional
and complex activities in this field. Implementation of a sustainable
operating environmental information infrastructure is unimaginable
without hands-on experience in information technology management
obtained in other countries with experience when it comes to overcoming
a similar scope of difficulties. The most appropriate solution
could be the detailed acquaintance of Moldovan specialists and
managers in environmental information with operational GRID-compatible
networks in other countries.
Training is also desirable in a wide variety of more
specialised fields:
- modern telecommunication systems and remote sensing,
enabling access to national land international sources of meta-information
and information;
- information management and networks;
- applications of geographic information systems;
- technical and managerial aspects of environmental
protection, especially opportunities to work with environmental
professionals from different countries;
- improved monitoring, analytical approach and equipment.
Educational facilities in Republic of Moldova can
provide only limited possibilities for personnel building in these
and other high-tech areas. Active participation in various international
courses, workshops, seminars, etc. could assist greatly in improving
the educational level of specialists. Training of Moldovan specialists
at successfully operating environmental information centres, such
as GRID-centres, would be of great importance.
1. Republic of Moldova is an integral part of the
global environmental system, and information about the state of
the environment in the Republic of Moldova is of importance for
decision-making on global level.
2. There is a great and urgent necessity for improvement
of existing environmental information systems in Republic of Moldova.
In Chapter 40 of Agenda 21 "Information for decision-makers",
two programs are specified: "Bridging the data gap"
and "Improving information availability". These two
fields can be directly applied to Republic of Moldova. In order
to overcome the gap between the level of information systems in
Republic of Moldova and in the outside world, we need to be involved
into more European and global programs, such as ENRIN, GEMS, GRID,
CORINE, BALLERINA etc. Co-operation among sectorial institutions
and DEP is weak, so is the interaction between national and regional
levels, To make information better available to decision-makers
and the general public, we need to create new mechanisms of interaction
between various institutions involved and to develop national
environmental information networks, using modern tools such as
electronic mail, on-line computer services and meta-databases.
3. Republic of Moldova has a scientific and engineering
potential, enabling it to conduct complicated environmental research
with involvement of modern techniques, such as GIS-based analysis
and modelling. At the same time, existing environmental information
systems are outdated, there is a lack of up-to-date computer hardware
and software as well as measurement equipment, and properly trained
personnel. Therefore, the following priorities should be set:
1). Development of the information infrastructure.
2). Raising awareness of the decision-makers and
of the general public of the importance of modern environmental
information systems.
3).Development of organisational and financial mechanisms
for public access to national and international resources of environmental
information.
4). Development of integrated ecological monitoring
system, creation of the Interdepartmental Ecological Monitoring
Centre.
5). Incorporation of the environmental monitoring
into a unified informational network with clearly defined responsibilities
and goals.
6). Rendering to the Department for Environmental
Protection the task of co-ordination and strategic management
of the environmental monitoring in order to secure investments
for monitoring on the basis of the environmental policies and
priorities.
7). Modification of the environmental monitoring
network and use of mathematical models for monitoring resources
release for other set priorities.
8). Development of criteria (indices and parameters)
of the integrated ecological monitoring according to the national
and international requirements and their implementation in monitoring
practice.
9). Reduction of monitored pollutants.
10). Obtaining of funds for monitoring equipment
modernisation, revaluation of laboratory test methods and adoption
of quality control programs.
11). Founding of a national laboratory equipped with
technical devices and trained specialists for qualitative control
and specialists training and recycling in the field.
12). Revaluation of emission factors and emissions
inventory programs. Adoption of special programs for major pollutants
monitoring and analytical capacities improvement of their programs.
13). Development of the national computer system
to include comprehensive plans for air, water, soil, waste monitoring
improvement, as well as data collection and distribution.
14). Revaluation of research methods and computer
needs.
15). Setting of uniform computer standards and monitoring
methodologies.
16). Establishment of the national information and
monitoring networks for networks integration.
17). Setting up computer registers and inventory
systems for natural resources and accidents. Development of facilities
for centralised data storage.
18). Creation and development of a new system of
environmental statistics, more oriented on GIS representation
of data; Development of number and type of statistical analyses;
Support of the respective subdivisions on the mandate and integration
capacity of environmental information.
19). Data processing, prognosis and integration from
the geographic data system and their use for environmental policy
development.
Based on the general needs assessment in the frame
of implementation of the ENRIN program in the Republic of Moldova,
it would be reasonable to propose the following activities:
1. Inter-ministerial workshop on environmental information
systems in Chišinãu
for Moldovan decision-makers;
2. Consultations in GRIND-ARENDAL;
3. Build-up of the DEP capacities for environmental
reporting, including:
- OECD Environmental performance review;
- EEA reporting;
- Reports on Conventions;
- Harmonisation of indicators and approaches for SoE 2002;
- National SoE reports (producing databases &
maps to SoE).
4. Communication infrastructure strengthening at
the DEP and its divisions:
- Connection of the Department to the Mercure satellite Internet system;
- UNIX - Mailserver for communication with national
and sub-national entities;
5. Realisation of a small-scale GIS project on the
basis of the Ecological Monitoring Centre of the National Institute
of Ecology.
6. Provision of the DEP and its divisions with tools
for meta-database generation.
At this stage, the most appropriate action would
be to pursue the process initiated by this Assessment Report and
to mobilise institutional resources to continue with the Feasibility
Study Report and the preparation of a detailed Implementation
Proposal for the development of the National Environmental Information
Network.
Network Co-ordination Unit (see Sec. 4.4) activities
connected with the generation of the Feasibility Study Report
should be accompanied by assistance to different ongoing projects
at different institutions, which could lead to the development
of environmental databases and registers - the backbone of the
national environmental information network. At the same time procedures
have to be developed for the verification of existing databases
at different institutions (data quality and consistency control)
and the transferring of these data from old-fashioned computers
to more acceptable platforms.
Installation of a Local Area Network at the Department
would considerably increase the effectiveness of available computational
facilities. Parallel efforts should be made to arrange a Wide
Area Network to improve communication with subordinated departments,
data providers and sectoral agencies. This would lead to noticeable
improvement of the institutional infrastructure.
Increased computational power of desktop PC systems
makes it possible to manage, at least at the initial stage, environmental
data sets of quite large volumes. It is desirable to develop at
the Department of Environmental Protection at least a PC-based
environmental database management system with integrated GIS software.
This system could serve for the demonstration to the Moldovan
environmental community of possibilities and advantages of high-tech
information management systems in improving the environmental
decision-making process. Similar systems have to be developed
at other co-operating institutions. This could form the basis
for further development into the full-scale integrated environmental
information management network of the country.
5.3 Perceived constraints for improvements
Limited use of information technology products by
decision-makers could pose some constraints to the incorporation
of advanced computerised systems in government institutions. Besides,
decision-makers are more interested in final results than in the
details of information system design. This could initially create
some difficulties in relations between information system managers
and decision-makers. Authorities may fail to understand that the
installation of complicated environmental information systems
is a labour-and time-consuming process, and that a systematic
approach is needed to reach the final objective.
Serious problems may be encountered with regard to
high-quality data generation and provision. The relatively underdeveloped
state of the national monitoring system, difficulties in acquiring
remote sensing data and other factors could contribute to this
problem.
A lack of necessary legislative infrastructure and
scarce financial resources do not contribute to the resolution
of the problems encountered.
Finally, an insufficient level of human resource
development and the absence of necessary educational facilities
could result in undesirable delays in the implementation of operational
environmental information management systems.
(For tel/fax communication international code number
for Republic of Moldova respectively Chišinãu
is 373-2)
Parliamentary Commission on Health, Social Protection and Ecology
Head of Commission Mr. V. Vartic
tel: 23-34-72 or 23-30-86
Government of the Republic of Moldova
2033, Chišinãu, Piaøa Marii Adunãri Nationale 1,
tel: 23-35-72, 23-77-95, 23-42-49, 22-12-96
Department of Environmental Protection
73 Stefan cel Mare Bd., 2001, Chišinãu
tel: 22 51 44, 22 61 61
fax: 23 38 06
General Director, Mr.S.Fandofan tel: 22 61 61
Deputy General Director, Mr.A.Capcelea tel: 22 74 23
Deputy General Director, Mr.V.Sofroni tel: 77 36
11
Division of Ecological Cadastre and Licences.
Head of Division Mr.P.Vladimir tel: 22-95-31
Division of Ecological (Environmental) Expertise
Head of Division Mr.M.Ivtodi tel: 22-27-55
Division of Economy of the Natural Resources
Head of Division Mr.A.Isac tel: 26 54 43
Division of Natural Reservation and Genetic Fund Protection
Head of Division Mr.I.Begenaru tel: 22 33 36
Division of International and Public Relations
Head of Division Ms.M.Petruševschi
tel: 26-51-39
Administrative Section
Head of Section Mr.M.Alexei tel: 21 35 96
Section of Book-Keeping and Finance
Head of Section Mr.T.Sauca tel: 26 52 19
Project Management Office
Manager Mr. C.Busuioc tel/fax 26 54 71
State Ecological Inspectorate
Head of State Ecological Inspectorate Mr.I.Bucinschi
tel: 22 72 48, 22 42 49
fax: 26 54 40
Deputy Head Mr.I.Stoleru tel: 22 30 32
Deputy Head Mr.M.Mustea tel: 26 54 47
Main Sections
Water Section
Head of Section Mr.D.Chiriac tel: 22 33 23
Soil and Mineral Resources Section
Head of Section Mr.V.Egorov tel: 26 55 61
Atmospheric Air Section
Head of Section Mr.C.Filatov tel: 26 51 82
Chemical Substances, Wastes and Radiology Section
Head of Section Mr.C.Mogoreanu tel: 26 54 18
Standards and Analytical Control Section
Head of Section Mr.Gh.Copacinschi tel: 26 54 07
Operative and Information Service
Head of Service Mr.S.Galiøchi
tel: 26 51 89
Flora-Fauna Section
Head of Section Mr.A.Crudu tel: 22 61 76
Fisheries Service
Head of Service Mr.A.Nedelciuc tel: 47 24 12
Zonal Ecological Agencies:
Agency of Chišinãu
Director of Agency Mr.G.Prisãcaru
tel: 44 32 17
Agency of Bãløi
Director of Agency Mr.I.Jeleznîi
tel: -231-33386
Central Agency
Director of Central Agency Mr.A.Talpa tel: 47 60
07
Agency of Cahul
Director of Agency Mr.V.Girnet tel: -239-22152
Agency of Tiraspol
Director of Agency Mr.S.Vãdãnescu
tel: -232-25322
Agency of Edineø
Director of Agency Mr.V.Munteanu tel: -246-23175
Agency of Ungheni
Director of Agency Mr.I.Panciuc tel: -236-22640
Agency of Orhei
Director of Agency Mr.I.Sava tel: -235-24398
Agency of Soroca
Director of Agency Ms.Eugenia Dimitrevici
tel: -230-23212
Agency of Cãušeni
Director of Agency Mr.I.Schiopu
tel: -243-23769
Agency of Cimišlia
Director of Agency Mr.M.Tampiza tel: -241-22253
Agency of Gagause
Director of Agency Mr.P.Burgudji tel: -238-24046
National Institute of Ecology
Dacia Bd. 58, Chišinãu, 2060
Republic of Moldova
tel: 77 04 88, 76 97 87, 76 24 30
fax: 77 04 88, 76 97 87
Director Acad.Dr.,Prof. I.Dediu tel/fax: 76 97 87
Laboratory of Biocenology
Head of Laboratory Dr.A.Lozan
Laboratory of Ecopedology
Head of Laboratory Dr.E.Sergentu tel: 76 24 30
Laboratory of Ecoclimatology
Head of Laboratory Dr. Prof.V.Sofroni tel: 77 36
11
Laboratory of Forest Ecology
Head of Laboratory Dr.V.Hadirca
Laboratory of Agrocenology
Head of Laboratory Dr.I.Tulbure tel: 76 24 30
Laboratory of Ecogeology and Speology
Head of Laboratory Dr.B.Sliusari
Laboratory Ecological Chemistry of Water
Head of Laboratory Dr.V.Ropoøel:
73 96 14
Laboratory Ecology of Water Basins
Head of Laboratory Dr.D.Drumea tel/fax: 22 96 01
National Centre of Radioecology
Head of the Centre Dr., Prof.O.Bleandura
tel: 24 63 10
Centre of Ecological Monitoring
Head of the Centre Dr.P.
Cocîrøã tel/fax: 76 19
64
Laboratory of Eco-urbanistics
Head of Laboratory Dr.D.Buburuz
Laboratory of Environment (Ambientalistics)
Head of Laboratory Dr.C.Bulimaga
Laboratory Ecological Economy
Head of Laboratory Mr.V.Iacovlev
Centre of Sociohuman Ecology
Head of the Centre Dr.,Prof.S.Cuzneøov
tel: 22 16 90
UNEP INFOTERRA, National Focal Point of the Republic of Moldova
Head of Division Dr. P.Cocîrøã
tel/fax: 76 19 64
Service of Hydrometeorology
Grenoble Str. 193, Chišinãu, 2043,
Republic of Moldova
tel: 77 36 11, 77 36 33
fax: 77 36 36
Head of Service Deputy General Director V.Sofroni
tel: 77 36 11
Hydrometeorological Centre
Head of Centre Ms. L.Kuzmina tel: 77 36 44
Informational Centre
Head of Centre Ms. V.Ligeico tel: 77 35 22
Environmental Pollution Supervision Centre
Head of Centre Ms. S.Nour tel: 76 68 55
Ministry of Health
str. Hincesti,1, 2028, Chišinãu,
Republic of Moldova
tel: 72-10-10, 72-98-38
fax: 73 87 81
Minister: Mr. T.Mošneaga
tel: 72-97-37
National Research and Practical Centre for Hygiene and Epidemiology.
str. Gheorghe Asachi 67a, 2028, Chišinãu,
Republic of Moldova
tel: 72-96-47
fax: 72-97-25
General Director: Deputy Minister Mr. M.Magdei
tel: 72-98 69, 72-99-83
Ministry of Agriculture and Alimentation
Bd.Stefan cel Mare,162, 2012, Chišinãu,
Republic of Moldova
tel: 24 34 27
fax: 23 23 68
Minister Mr. V.Gorincioi tel: 23-35-36, 23-34-27
Institute for Research and Technology Design in
Pedology, Agrochemistry and Soil Amelioration "N.Dimo"
str.Ialoveni, 100, 2070 Chišinãu,
Republic of Moldova
tel: 72 50 43, 72 50 38
State Concern "ACVA",
str. Aleko Russo 1, 2068 Chišinãu,
Republic of Moldova
tel: 44 12 22
fax: 23 39 81
Director Dr.M.Penicov tel: 44 40 95
Association " Moldsilva " (Moldavian Forestry)
Bd.Stefan cel Mare, 124, 2001 Chišinãu,
Republic of Moldova
tel: 26 23 06
fax: 22 32 51
General Director Mr.G.Vdodîi
tel: 22 32 51
Association of Fisheries "Prut"
str.Teilor 4, 2043 Chišinãu,
Republic of Moldova
tel: 76 79 55
Director Dr.V.Lobcenco
State Centre for Certificate of Chemical and Biological Means
of Plant Protection and Growth Regulators
Bd. Stefan cel Mare, 162, 277012, Chišinãu,
Republic of Moldova
tel: 24-84-90
fax: 24-87-24
Director Dr.I.Lazari
The Republic's station for plants protection
Ministry of Agriculture and Nourishment
Str. Cartus, 77, 278270, Durlesti, Chišinãu,
Republic of Moldova
tel: 723-963; 723-972
fax: 23-23-68
Director Dr.G.Lungu
Association "Geologia Moldovei"
str. Mitropolit Dosoftei, 156,
2004 Chišinãu, Republic of Moldova
tel: 63 06 56
National Agency for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastres
str. Puskin, 47, 2005, Chišinãu,
Republic of Moldova
tel: 21-22-44,
tel/fax: 22-63-73
General Director Mr.I.Stratulat
Ministry on Communal Service and Dwellings
Fund Exploration
str. Gh.Tudor 3, 2001 Chišinãu,
Republic of Moldova
tel: 72-95-47, 25-91-57
fax: 25-94-99
Minister Mr.M.Severovan tel: 25-91-10, 25-91-11
Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Bd.Stefan cel Mare,75, 2012 Chišinãu,
Republic of Moldova
tel: 23 32 00, 25 53 46
tel/fax: 22 45 47
Minister Mr.A.Constantin tel: 23-35-69, 22-12-01
Ministry of Industry
Bd.Stefan cel Mare,69, 2001 Chišinãu,
Republic of Moldova
tel: 23 35 66
tel/fax: 22 24 73
Minister Mr.G.Triboi tel: 22-73-46, 23-35-56
Department of Civil Defence and Extraordinary Situations
str. Gheorghe Asachi, 69, 2028 Chišinãu,
Republic of Moldova
tel: 23-34-30
fax: 73 85 42
General Director Mr.A.Cociug tel: 73-85-10
Department of Standards, Metrology and Technical Supervision
str.Serghei Lazo,48, 2004 Chišinãu,
Republic of Moldova
tel: 24-79-91, 62-85-58
fax: 63 05 81
Director Mr.D.Cimpoieš
Department of Statistics
Moldavian State University
str. Livezelor 60, 2012 Chišinãu,
Republic of Moldova
Rector Dr.,Prof.G.Rusnac
Academy of Sciences
Bd.Stefan cel Mare 1, 2012 Chišinãu,
Republic of Moldova
tel: 26-14-78,26-26-12
Fax: 26-20-91
President Acad. A.Andries tel. 23-35-87
Vice-President Acad.P.Vlad tel. 26-27-38
General Secretary Acad. Gh.Sišcanu
tel. 26-03-13
Institute of Genetics
Padurilor str. 20, 2002 Chišinãu, Republic of Moldova
tel: 77 04 47
Director Acad.A.Jacota
Institute of Chemistry
str. Academiei 3, 2028 Chišinãu, Republic of Moldova
tel: 26 27 38
fax: 73 99 54
Director Acad. Nicolae Gãrbãlãu - 73 54 90
Adjunct Tudor Lupašcu - 73 97
33
Institute of Physiology
Academiei str. 1, Chišinãu 277028, Republic of Moldova
tel: 72 51 55
Director Acad. T.Furdui
Institute of Zoology
Academiei str. 1, Chišinãu 277028, Republic of Moldova
tel: 73 98 09
Director Dr.,Prof.I.Toderaš
Institute of Plant Physiology
Pãdurilor str. 22, Chišinãu 2018, Republic of Moldova
tel: 78 84 05;
Director Acad. S.Toma tel: 78 85 18
Institute of Biological Protection of Plants
Bd.Dacia, 58, Chišinãu 2060,
Republic of Moldova
tel: 77 06 66,
fax: 77 04 33
Director Acad.I.Popusoi
Institute of Botany
Padurilor str. 18, Chišinãu 2018, Republic of Moldova
tel: 55 04 43
Director Acad.A.Cebotari
Institute of Microbiology
Academiei str. 1, Chišinãu 2028, Republic of Moldova
tel: 73 80 13
Director Acad.V.Rudic
Institute of Geography
Academiei str. 1, Chišinãu 2028, Republic of Moldova
tel: 73 98 38
Director Acad. T.Constantinova
Institute of Mathematics
Academiei str. 5, Chišinãu 2028, Republic of Moldova
tel: 72 59 82
Director Dr.C.Gaindrick
Institute of Applied Physics
Academiei str. 5, Chišinãu 2028, Republic of Moldova
tel: 73 81 50,
Fax: 73 81 49
Director Acad.M.Bologa tel: 72 58 95
Institute of Geophysics and Geology
Academiei str.3, Chišinãu 2028,
tel: 73 90 27
Republic of Moldova
Director Acad.A.Drumea
Institute of Power Engineering
Academiei str.5, Chišinãu 2028, Republic of Moldova
tel: 72 70 40
Director Acad.V.Postolatii
Centre for Automation of scientific and metrological research
Academiei str. 3/2, Chišinãu 2028,
Republic of Moldova
tel: 73 74 11
Fax: 22 77 36
Director Mr.V.Buzdugan
Computer Centre
Academiei str. 5, Chišinãu 2028, Republic of Moldova
tel: 72 70 26
Other institutions
Scientific Research Institute of Water Supply and Amelioration,
str. Miron Costin 7, Chišinãu 2068,
Republic of Moldova
tel: 44 11 27
Director Dr.,Prof. A.Gavriliøa
Research and Technology Institute for Agrochemical Service of agriculture
str. Cosmonautilor,6, 2005 Chišinãu, 24-34-72
Republic of Moldova
tel: 24-30-66,
Fax: 24-27-87
Director Dr.I.Burlacu
I. Laws of the Republic of Moldova
A. The Basic Laws of the Republic of Moldova
1. The Constitution of the Republic of Moldova, June 29,1994
2. On the Environmental Protection, June 16, 1993
3. Water Code, June 22, 1993
4. Land Code, December 13, 1991
5. Underground Code, June 18, 1993
6. On the Protection Zones and Belts of Rivers and Lakes, August 1, 1995
7. On the Animal Kingdom Protection, November 9, 1995
8. On Ecological Expertise and Environmental Audit,
June, 1996
B. The Laws with Environmental Concern of the
Republic of Moldova
9. On Monuments Protection, June 22, 1993
10. On Sanitary Epidemiological Safety of the Population, June 16, 1993
11. On Veterinary activity, August ,1993
12. Arbitrage production code, January 15, 1992
13 On Civil Protection, November 10, 1994
14 On Secondary Resources, May 23, 1996
15 On Concessions, November 30, 1995
16. On the Amendments to the Criminal and Administrative Code, May 5, 1993
17. On the State Control of the Land Ownership Regime and Land Monitoring,
December 22, 1992
18. On Privatisation, July 4, 1991
19. On Suspending Some Articles of the Land Code, November 8, 1994
20. On Land Tax and Way of Taxation, February 25, 1993
21. On Property, January 22, 1991
22. On Renting, January 14, 1992
C. Other Laws
23. On Labour Protection, July 2, 1991
24. On Consumer Rights Protection, May 25 1993
25. On Basics of the Fiscal System, November 13, 1992
26. On the Profit Tax for Enterprises, December 2, 1992
27. On Foreign Investments, April 1, 1992
28. On the Government of the Republic, May 31, 1991
29. On Village and Agricultural-Industrial Complex Priority Development in the Social-
Economic Complex of the Republic of Moldova,
February 15, 1991
II. Decisions of the Parliament of the Republic
of Moldova
A. The Decisions with Environmental Concern
1. On the Approval of the List of the State Patrimony
not Subjected to Privatisation, December 15, 1992
2. Decision of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova on the Concept for Transition to Market Economy of the Republic of Moldova, July 25, 1990
3. Decision on the Concept of the Agrarian Reform and Social Economic Village Development, February 15, 1991
B. The Decisions of the Parliament's Presidium
of the Republic of Moldova
1. On the adherence of the Republic of Moldova at
the Agreement Against Dispersing Atomic Arms from 01-07-1968.
( March 15, 1993).
2. On National Focal Point of the Republic of Moldova
in the International Environmental System of the UNEP, INFOTERRA
(June 14, 1993).
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION (presented at the
Parliament):
1. Forest Code
2. Law on Natural Resources
3. Law on the Regime of Noxious Products and Substances
4. Law on the Radiological Protection of Human Population
5. Law on the Access to the Ecological Information
1. On the Adherence the Republic of Moldova to the International Conventions,
June 23,1993
2. Convention on Biological Diversity, Rio de Janeiro,
l992. (Signed June 5, 1992)
3. Framework Convention on Climate Change, Rio de
Janeiro, l992. (Signed June 12, 1992 and Ratified March 16, 1995)
4. Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone
Layer, Vienna. l985. (Ratified March 16, 1995)
5. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species
of Wild Animals, Bonn, 1979. (Ratified June 23, 1993).
6. Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment
in a Trans-boundary Context, Espoo, Finland, 1991. (Signed February
25, 1991 and Ratified June 23, 1993).
7. Convention on Trans-boundary Effects of Industrial
Accidents, Helsinki, 1992. (Signed March 17, 1992 and Ratified
June 23, 1993).
8. Convention on Trans-boundary River Courses and
International Lakes Protection and Use, Helsinki, 1992. (Signed
March 17, 1992 and Ratified June 23, 1993).
9. Convention on Long-Range Trans-boundary Air Pollution,
Geneva, 1979. (Ratified July 29, 1994 and Accepted December 21,
1994)
10. Convention on Danube River Protection, Sofia,
1994. (Signed June 29, 1994).
11. On the adherence of the Republic of Moldova at
the Agreement Against Dispersing Atomic Arms from 01-07-1968.
( March 15, 1993).
1. Annual Report on the Quality of the Environment
(01.10.92 - 01.10.93) /Department of Environmental Protection,
National Institute of Ecology/, (Typewrite), Chišinãu,
1993;
2. Annual Report on the Quality of the Environment
(01.10.93 - 01.10.94) /Department of Environmental Protection,
National Institute of Ecology/, (Typewrite), Chišinãu,
1994;
3. The State and the Protection of the Environment
in the Republic of Moldova. (A Report Drawing up for the European
Conference of the Environment. Sofia 1995.) Publishing House of
Writer's Union of Moldova. Chišinãu,
36 pp., English, 1995,
Danube River Basin Environmental Program (DRBEP);
National Coordinator of the Republic of Moldova
Head of Parliamentary Subcommission of Ecology,
Director of the National Institute of Ecology
Bd. Dacia 58, Chišinãu 2060, Republic of Moldova
Acad. Ion Dediu, Director
tel: +373-2 77 04 88,
tel/fax: +373-2 76 97 87
National Focal Point of the Republic of Moldova
Head of Laboratory Ecology of Water Basins of the
National Institute of Ecology
Bd. Dacia 58, Chišinãu 2060, Republic of Moldova
Dr. Dumitru Drumea
tel/fax: +373-2 22 96 01
Black Sea Environmental Program
National Coordinator of the Republic of Moldova
Head of Parliamentary Subcommission of Ecology,
Director of the National Institute of Ecology
Bd. Dacia 58, Chišinãu 2060, Republic of Moldova
Acad. Ion Dediu, Director
tel: +373-2 77 04 88,
tel/fax: +373-2 76 97 87
1. Annual Report on the Quality of the Environment
(01.10.92 - 01.10.93) /Department of Environmental Protection,
National Institute of Ecology/, (Typewrite), Chišinãu,
1993.
2. Annual Report on the Quality of the Environment
(01.10.93 - 01.10.94) /Department of Environmental Protection,
National Institute of Ecology/, (Typewrite), Chišinãu,
1994.
3. Moldavie. Presentation des aspects nationaux pour
l'AECN 95. En: AECN/CIO (94)3, Annexe IY au raport (Textes origineux),
AECN 95. Presentation des Programmes Nationeux et de la Task Force
ONG Nature. Conseil de l'Europe, Strasbourg, France, 10.06.1994,
p. 59.
4. Moldova: a country of fertile lands. Moldova (National
information). In: Euro-Diary / Euro-Agenda 1995, Council of Europe.
ENCY/European Nature Conservation Year. Strasbourg, France. 1994.
5. Ion Nistor. Istoria Bassarabiei. Cartea Moldoveneascã.
Chišinãu,
296 pp. 1991.
6. Environmental Resources and Constraints in the
Former Soviet Republics. Edited by Philip R.Pryde. Westwiewpress,
Colorado, USA, 364 pp., February 1995.
7. Ioan Scurtu, Dumitru Almas, Armand Gosu, et al..
Istoria Bassarabiei. Europa Nova & Tempus, Bucuresti, 410
pp. 1994.
8. Socio-economic Evolution of the Republic of Moldova
in 1995. Ministry of Economy. Chišinãu,
80 pp. February 1996.
9. MOLDOVA. Development Co-operation. UNDP, "Reclama",
Chišinãu,
88 pp., English, May 1996.
10. European rivers and lakes. Assessment of their
Environmental State. EEA Environmental Monographs 1. Editors:
Peter Kristensen and Hans Ole Hansen. EEA, Copenhagen, 122 pp.,
1994.
11. Moldova. Moving to a Market Economy. A World
Bank Country Study ISBN 0253-2123 The World Bank, Washington,
D.C. 107 pp., March, 1994
12. The State and the Protection of the Environment
in the Republic of Moldova. (A Report Drawing up for the European.
Conference of the Environment. Sofia 1995.) Publishing House of
Writer's Union of Moldova. Chišinãu,
36 pp., English, 1995.
13. The Republic of Moldova. The National Strategic
Action Plan for Environmental Protection. (The State Department
for Environmental Protection, The National Institute of Ecology,
World Bank. Chišinãu,
pp 152., English, 1995.
14. Republic of Moldova. National Environmental Action
Plan. World Bank, 47 pp., English, August 1995.
15. Academy of Sciences of Moldova. Chišinãu,
pp. 128., English, 1993.
16. Petru Cocîrøã. "Problems and some results looking informational assurance of the environmental protection activity in the Republic of Moldova." In: Problems of philosophy, ethics, right and management looking society informatisation. (Scientific-practical Conference).
Republic of Moldova. 24-25 October 1995. Chišinãu,
1995
17. Environmental Information Systems in Georgia.
Authors: T.T.Bakuradze, M.Gwilawa, Z.Jincharadze, M.Khurtsidze
and M.Kurtubadze. UNEP/EAP.TR/95-02 GA/205024-95/1 ISBN 92-807-1519-4.
UNEP/GRID-Arendal 1995.
18. Environmental Information Systems in Ukraine.
Author: Andrey V. Semichaevsky. UNEP/EAP.TR/95-03 GA/205024/95-2
ISBN 92-807-1518-6. UNEP/GRID-Arendal 1995.
19. Arcadie Capcelea. The Republic of Moldova on
the way to the Sustainable Development - Achievements and Problems.
Chišinãu,
192 pp., 1995.
20. Petru Cocîrøã.
"Elaboration and Implementation of the Integrate Ecological
Monitoring System in the Republic of Moldova." In: Ecological
Management and Sustainable Development. (International Conference).
Republic of Moldova. 5 - 6 June 1996. Chišinãu,
1996.
21. NGOs AND ECOLOGY. Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine.
Directory. 2nd Edition - Spring 1996. ISAR - KIEV, p. 1 - 130.
1996.
22. An overview of the development in the telecommunications
sector of the Republic Moldova. Outline. Ministry of Communication
and Informatics. Chisinau, 1996.