A brief history of approaches, methods and techniques of urban regeneration of historic centres: the Moldovan case “strengths and

weaknesses of the historical centres”

Eastern Partnership Culture Programme

VIVA_EASTPART – Launching Conference

Bari, Italy

25-26 May 2012

General data about Cahul District

• Surface -1545 km²55 settlements: 1 town, 54 villages• Population – 123 900 inhabitants:Urban-39 000, rural-84 900

• Distanţe:Cahul – Chişinau - 175 kmCahul – Odessa - 315kmCahul – Ismail - 127kmCahul – Reni - 60 km Cahul - Galaţi - 60km

• Roads - 1057,9 km including:- 170,37 km national roads- 887, 53 km local roads.

• Transport networks: - internațional harbour Giurgiuleşti - Chișinău - Cahul – Giurgiuleşti railroad - internaţional airport CahulChișinău - Cahul – Giurgiuleşti national

road

Towns and villages included in project activities

• Cahul• Colibasi• Valeni• Slobozia Mare• Borceag

Towns and villages included in project activities

Cahul• 39000 inhabitants• the only urban settlement in the District• 175 km from Chisinau• 6 km from the border with Romania• 35 km from the Ukrainian border• Important strategic position• Little diversification of the local economy

Historical monuments: St. Archangels Mihail and Gavriil's Cathedral (1851), the Russian orthodox old rite church "AcoperamantulMaiciiDomnului" (1892), the house of the writer Alexandru Lipcan (1908), the Museum of Cahul County (second half of the 19th century), the net of underground cellars

”B.P.Hasdeu” State Iniversity in Cahul

” Sf. Mihail și Gavriil” Church

Old rite orthodox church

Towns and villages included in project activities

Colibasi• the largest village in the District• population 6030 people• agriculture - the main economic sector• industry limited to food processing, a wine making company

Arhtectural heritage: • orthodox church Saint Michael (XIX c.)• remains of a Roman defensive wall (Trajan wall)

Towns and villages included in project activities

Slobozia Mare

• population 5960 (2004 census)• agriculture - the main economic sector• industry limited to food processing• Well preserved intangible cultural heritage• A museum representing the development of the settlement, its

history and culture

Towns and villages included in project activities

Valenipopulation of 3021 inhabitants

agriculture - the main economic sector

close to “Prutul de Jos” Scientific Reserve

a traditional bakery

a folk festival is organizad annually

Towns and villages included in project activities

Borceag• 62 north from Cahul • 137 km from Chisinau• population - 1602 inhabitants (2004 census)• Well known “Grape Valley” wine making company (est. 1890)• ...and old sellars built by French barons

Population

Cahul district’s population - 119 231, out of which:• urban population – 39 000 people;• rural population – more than 80 000 people

Landscape - complex variety of geographical and natural areas. The terrain’s altitude descends gradually from north to south and includes in its central part Cahul Plain, in the north it partially covers the hilly area of Tigheci Hills, in the east the Cahul, Salcia mare and partially Yalpug rivers valleys.

Climate –continental temperate: hot summers, mild winters, small quantity of precipitations.

Landscape and environment

Natural protected areas - 2398,2 hectares Forest natural reserves – 4 (near villages Baurci, Vadul lui Isac, Flamanda, Moscovei)Scientific reserve – 1, „Lower Prut River” (near Slobozia Mare and Valeni villages)Medicinal plants reserve – 1, (near Larga village)Monuments of nature – 6,fossiliferous sites – 2, (Pelinei and Moscovei villages), outcrops, canyons etc.Mineral spring waters and a salt lake in Cahul.

Protected areas

PRUT RIVER BELEU LAKE

MANTA LAKES HALMAGEI VALLEY RIVER

CAHUL RIVERFRUMOASA LAKEHYDROGRAPHY

Rivers – 8 (r. Prut, r. Larga, r. Frumoasa, r. Cahul, r. Salcia Mica, Salcia Mare, r. Valea Halmagei, r-ulIalpugel)Natural lakes -2 (Manta, Beleu)Artificial Lakes – 148Mineral waters in Cahul with therapeutic properties

r. FRUMOASA

Intangible heritage

The most visible expression of the intangible cultural heritage takes the form of various festivals, feasts and celebrations.

Cahul town and many of the District’s villages organize folk festivals, some of them having long traditions.

The major festivals organized here are:„Dumitru Botgros”, „Nufărul Alb”, „Bobocelul”, „Feţe de prieteni”, „Horele bucuriene” şi „Dulce floare de salcâm”.

Besides, Wine festivals are organised in many places in Moldova, usually in October.

”Bobocelul”

”Nufărul Alb”

”Chipuri de prieteni”

”Nufărul-Alb” Festival (Cahul)

Strengths • Rich cultural heritage (folklore, handicrafts etc.);• International festivals organized in the area;• Geographical situation (border with Romania and Ukraine); • Existence of an international harbor on Danube and an airport;• High proportion of municipal ownership over land in the area;• Rich natural heritage (Natural Park, protected areas, mineral waters and

a Spa resort (Sanatorium));• Traditions in wine making, possibility to develop wine routes;• Existence of a university in Cahul;• Several minorities inhabiting the area who preserve their culture and

language.

SWOT of Cahul District area

• Very limited municipal budgets;• Poor infrastructure;• Short term vision of local administration;• Fragmented ownership over the land;• Lack of adequate Public-Private Partnership (PPP) experiences in

any fields: urban development, tourism or culture;• Low economic activity and little diversification;• Low degree of urbanization;• Tourism potential in the region is almost unused;• Often periods of political instability• Urban development is rather chaotic, especially in smaller towns

Weaknesses

SWOT of Cahul District area

Opportunities

• Economic recovery of the country;• Free trade agreement with EU that will be signed in the near

future;• Raising FDI attractiveness of Moldova;• Access for more EU financial assistance;• Develop and capitalize the tourism and culture potential of the

region;• Territorial development through a regional policies approach

SWOT of Cahul District area

Threats

A new economic crisis;National political instability;Continuous emigration caused by social and economic reasons;Lack of continuity of local political agenda

SWOT of Cahul District area

Local stakeholders involved

1. Cahul county municipalities: Cahul, Valeni, Colibasi, Borceag, Slobozia Mare;

2. Cahul County Council – Cultural Department;3. Central/national institution dealing with territorial

development, cultural heritage and tourism issues - Ministry of Construction and Regional Development;

4. Small and medium enterprises and business support institutions dealing with heritage;

5. NGOs from Cahul region;6. Cahul State University;7. Cultural Associations

STUDIES, STRATEGIES

Local Strategies

• Programme for social and economical development of Cahul District (2012-2015)

• Strategy for tourism development in Cahul District (2012-2015)

• Strategy on Sustainable Development of Cahul municipality „Local Agenda 21” (2005-2015);

• In villages only some short action plans exist;

STUDIES, STRATEGIES

National strategies, Programmes

National Program “Moldovan Village” (2005-2015). It’s major objective is sustainable socially oriented development focusing on rural areas.The program was too ambitious compared to available means.

After independence, integrated urban development was totally inexistent in government policies. To present day the Govermnet hasn't formulated a spatial development srategy. Last document of this kind were elaborated in 80s, during the Soviet era.

Other initiatives

Establishing the National Centre for Human Settlements "Habitat Moldova Centre" (UNDP supported) in December 2005

Main activities:• Capacity building of main actors at national and local level

involved in urban development process;• Advocacy and awareness;• Policy advice, consulting and technical assistance;• Informational support (including “Urban Moldova”

magazine);• Monitoring and Evaluation (yearly bulletin “Cities of

Moldova”: informational base for policy makers, researches, and citizens, civil society)

Concept on urban development of Republic of Moldova - Project "Mesmerizing Moldova" UNDP

Other initiatives

Kyiv Initiative: Pilot Project on the Rehabilitation of Cultural Heritage in Historic Towns

Main activities:1. Political and Technical Management2. Heritage Assessment Reports3. Priority Intervention Towns4. Preliminary Technical File

Results:• Setting up of political back up and technical management

structures• Publication of Heritage Assessment Reports• Development of a regional network of professionals and

towns• Elaboration and implementation of the Diagnosis

methodology• Public Awareness / communication

Some other initiatives

Hist.Urban – Integrated revitalization of historical towns to promote a polycentric and sustainable development (CADSES Programme)

Main activities:Developing and implementing integrated and practice-orientated revitalization approaches (concepts, plans and guidelines). Through transnational actions (conferences, workshops) they exchange their experiences and results, linking the local activities.

Results:The results of Hist.Urban are summarized in a transnational manual on integrated revitalization approaches for historical towns, demonstrating special revitalization strategies and instruments and giving advice to decision makers on their successful implementation.

Some other initiatives

Project - Integrated Urban Development of Vital Historic Towns as Regional Centres in South East Europe (ViTo)

Main activities:Work Package 1 – Transnational Project management and CoordinationWork Package 2 – Communication and disseminationWork Package 3 – Start-ups and analysisWork Package 4 – Integrated planning process and approachesWork Package 5 – Management of revitalization

Results:An analytical framework for integrated and spatially embedded revitalisation practicesDevelopment of methods for planning and implementing revitalisation projectsIntegrated revitalisation plans for historical areas/centresPilot projects pronouncing visible results Etc.

Major challenges

• Ruralization of the country (urban population: 1990 - 47.4% 2011 - 41.0%);

• Huge discrepancies between vigurous economical and social indicators in Chisinau and the stagnation in the rest of the cities;

• Low attractivity of small towns (for investors, people etc.)

• Little atention of central authorities towards national policies in integrated urban development

• Still imperfect legislation (limited fiscal descentralization, no focus on cities with potentioal to become growth poles etc.)

• Elaborate a national long term strategy on urban development;

• Speed up reforms in administrative sector• Adapt the legislation to facilitate an equitable

development of cities and towns on the whole territory of the country;

• To modify regional development strategies to include integrated urban development at the core of regional programmes;

• Allocate sufficient funds to implement those programmes;

• Focus on cities with greatest potential to become regional growth poles;

Possible solutions

Thank you for your attention!