A six-member delegation from the Republic of Moldova visited the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU Prague) as part of a professional training programme attended by representatives of the key Moldovan institutions responsible for land governance, environmental protection, and climate resilience, including Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, the Ministry of Environment, the State Hydrometeorological Service, the National Agency for Land Relations (ANIF), and the Institute for Forestry Research and Management (ICAS).
The study visit was organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) within the framework of the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) project in the Republic of Moldova, financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The programme aimed to introduce participants to European experiences and best practices in sustainable land management, landscape protection, and policy development supporting soil restoration and conservation.
Based on its outstanding experience in this cross-cutting domain, the Czech Republic was selected as the host country, with the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague and its Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences serving as the host institution. The programme combined expert lectures, discussions with specialists, and visits to selected facilities, showcasing Czech expertise in soil conservation, climate change adaptation, forestry management, and landscape monitoring.
The programme combined meetings with professors and researchers from CZU Prague, visits to laboratories and institutions engaged in soil and natural resource management, exchanges with farmers and organizations promoting sustainable land use, and discussions with representatives of the Czech Ministry of Agriculture. The study visit provided participants with practical insights into Czech approaches to soil conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable landscape management.
“Sharing knowledge and building professional partnerships are integral parts of our faculty’s mission. We highly appreciate the trust placed in us by FAO and our Moldovan partners and were pleased to present Czech experience in sustainable land management, natural resource protection, and climate change adaptation. We believe that personal meetings and open exchange of expertise will further strengthen cooperation between our institutions,” said Assoc. prof. Tatiana Alexiou Ivanova, Ph.D., prof.h.c. from the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences at CZU Prague, who serves as the project manager.
“FAO promotes soil health and Land Degradation Neutrality worldwide as essential elements of sustainable agriculture and climate resilience. In the Republic of Moldova, we work closely with national and local partners to advance these objectives through policy development, capacity building, and practical action on the ground. This study visit to CZU Prague was a valuable opportunity to learn from the Czech Republic’s experience and strengthen the capacities of key Moldovan institutions responsible for soil and land management. We consider the visit a great success, and the delegation returns home with new knowledge, practical insights, and professional connections that will support ongoing efforts to improve soil health and achieve Land Degradation Neutrality in the Republic of Moldova,” said Mihail Ojog, FAO Project Coordinator and Chief Technical Adviser of the Land Degradation Neutrality Project in the Republic of Moldova.
“Our visit to CZU Prague exceeded our expectations. We appreciated not only the high level of expertise presented throughout the programme but also the openness and willingness to share practical experience. We are delighted to have built upon our long-standing cooperation through personal meetings and discussions on future opportunities for collaboration,” added Svetlana Ghetmancenco, Director of the National Agency for Land Relations (ANIF), Republic of Moldova.
The programme was implemented under an agreement between FAO and CZU Prague, highlighting the long-term commitment of both organizations to international cooperation, capacity development, and the promotion of sustainable natural resource management and landscape restoration. The initiative further strengthened collaboration between Czech and Moldovan institutions working towards resilient and sustainable land management practices.
