Re-discovering the potentials of invisible rivers : Strategy for mutual ecological and economical benefits

Abstract: Republic of Moldova is a small landlocked country in Eastern Europe. State of the environment is one of the many concerns of national government. Unfortunately, being the poorest country in Europe, Moldova is not able to provide necessary funding for the large-scale projects. Water resources are scarce: the one major river is Dniester. However, small rivers also could be seen as a valuable natural resource, though they are clearly neglected and overused. In this work I wanted to explore how healthier ecosystems built around water bodies can change people’s perception of the river and contribute to better quality of life in urban and rural areas. State of the river is heavily influenced by human activities, and it also has an impact on people’s lives. I examined the closed loop of that mutual interaction in order to design a comprehensive strategy of development. It would provide mutual benefits to ecosystems and economy, enhancing the resilience of both. Proposed strategy is based on sustainability of different dimensions: ecological, social and economical. It offers a set of measures which should be undertaken in urban and rural areas in order to re-discover value of the natural resource. All actions are designed to improve quality or abundance of water and simultaneously benefit other aspects of people's lives.