1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

02/03/2015

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Approach

The aim of this Aprroach is to increase the awareness about the risk related to agricultural use of contaminated land and to present the appropriate technologies for sustainable use of contaminated land in order to reduce the transfer of contaminants into the food chain. The implementation of appropriate SLM will improve the soil and crop quality with positive effects on the quality of life for local community from contaminated area.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

The Case Study area is located in Sibiu County, around the most important factory for processing of non-ferrous ores – Copsa Mica. The main environmental damages in the area Copşa Mică (Romania) are caused by ore processing and this town was classified as an environmental disaster area. The main pollutants identified in this area were cadmium, copper, lead and zinc. According to data from LPIS provided by Sibiu County Center of Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture (2012) the arable land represents 60.4% from total area (2818.6ha) being located mainly in bottomland. Grassland represents 34.9% from total area, that means 1627.3 ha. Orchards and vineyards represent a very small proportion from total cultivated area, only 2.3% (106 ha) and 2.4% (110.3 ha).
Large scale migration from urban to rural areas (village surrounding the Copsa Mica) took place after reducing the activities of industrial platform. In villages located in polluted area there are many small landowners. The lands are used as agricultural land and the products are used for own consumption. Also, due to both, low fertility of soil (as a result of contamination) and lack of financial resources, there are lands abandoned. The agricultural use of the land represents a risk for population health and also reduces the number of methods that could be used for remediation.
The aim of the approach was to increase the awareness about the risk related to agricultural use of contaminated land and to present the appropriate technologies for sustainable use of contaminated land in order to reduce the transfer of contaminants into the food chain. The implementation of appropriate SLM will improve the soil and crop quality with positive effects on the quality of life for local community from contaminated area.
During workshops stakeholders are informed about state of soil degradation from their area, about risk related to agricultural use of contaminated land. The researchers and SLM experts share their experience with land owners and land users related to sustainable measures for reducing the effects of soil contamination and together they select the measures to be tested. The production of biomass for non-food purpose has been tested as a potential solution to produce valuable biomass while remediating the soil. Immobilization of heavy metals in soil was agreed by the traditional land owners who want to keep the agricultural use for their land.
Land owners offer the plot for testing the new technology and researchers / SLM experts organised experimental field and presenting the results to land owners, local authority, farmers, students during information session (field day, workshop)

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The aim was to increase the awareness about the risk related to agricultural use of contaminated land and to present the appropriate technologies for sustainable use of contaminated land in order to reduce the transfer of contaminants into the food chain. The implementation of appropriate SLM will improve the soil and crop quality with positive effects on the quality of life for local community from contaminated area.

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	passive	Researchers organised information sessions (workshops and stakeholder meetings) for land owners, local authority, farmers, students.
planning	interactive	Researchers and SLM experts organised participatory sessions with land owners, local authority, farmers, students in order to select the appropriate SLM Technology to be tested.
implementation	interactive	Land owners offer the plot for testing the new technology and researchers and SLM experts organised experimental field and presenting the results to land owners, local authority, farmers, students during information session (field day, workshop)
monitoring/ evaluation	none
Research	none

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• mainly land users, supported by SLM specialists

Explain:

Selection of appropriate SLM Technologies was made by land users, farmers and land owners suppoted by SLM specialists during participatory sessions.

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• evaluation of well-documented SLM knowledge (evidence-based decision-making)
• research findings
• personal experience and opinions (undocumented)

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users

Form of training:

• farmer-to-farmer
• demonstration areas
• public meetings

Subjects covered:

Status of soil degradation by heavy metal contamination. Risk related to agricultural use of contaminated land. Measures for reducing the transfer of contaminants into food chain.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• no

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

Yes

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Specify topics:

• ecology

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 2,000-10,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

Research projects funding from National Research Fund and EU projects

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Yes

If yes, specify type(s) of support, conditions, and provider(s):

Subsidies for energy crops

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• agricultural

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• no

If no or uncertain, specify and comment:

They need financial support to continue application of selected SLM.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Receiving the knowledge tools to improve the quality of crops and offering the possibility to provide new products (from biofuel crops) on the market which increase the farm income.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Awareness raising about the risk related to agricultural use of contaminated land lead to increase the number of land users which want to implement appropriate SLM for contaminated land.

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Difficulties to continue the activities initiated without external financial input.	Subsidies
Undeveloped energy crop market	Support for creating local or regional markets for energy crops

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Inadequate authorities' interest for SLM	The authorities have to provide help in order to meet the needs (support for poor land users) in order to implement SLM activities to change land uses or to adopt measures for reducing transfer of contaminants into the food chain.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Nicoleta Vrinceanu, Motelica, D.M., Dumitru, M., Eugenia GAMENŢ, Calciu, I., Veronica Tanase, Mihaela Preda (2008) – Assessment of Some Inorganic Additives Used for In-Situ Remediation of Heavy Metals Polluted Soils, Abstract book of The 1st European Conference on Remediation of Soil, sediment and Groundwater – Biological, Chemical and Physical Technologies, 21–23 october 2008, Amsterdam, Olanda, p.173.

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Comănescu, l., Nedelea, A., Paisa, M., 2010. Soil pollution with heavy metals in the area of Copșa Mică town – Geographical considerations, Metalurgia International XV 4, 81-85.

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Lăcătușu, R., Lăcătușu, A.R., 2010. Evolution of heavy metals pollution from Copșa Mică. Scientific Papers, UASVM Bucharest, Series A, LIII, 85-92.

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Petronela-Bianca Pavel, Puschenreiter, M., Wenzel, W.W., Elena Diacu, Barbu, C.H., Aided phytostabilization using Miscanthus sinensis × giganteus on heavy metal-contaminated soils, Science of the Total Environment 479–480 (2014) 125–131

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Miscanthus giganteus - o solution for contaminated land

URL:

http://www.tribuna.ro/stiri/actualitate/miscanthus-plantat-la-cop-sa-mic-a-inc-a-din-2007-51036.html

Title/ description:

Miscanthus giganteus - the crops too expensive for romanian farmers

URL:

http://www.tribuna.ro/stiri/eveniment/culturile-de-miscanthus-prea-scumpe-pentru-agricultorii-sibieni-76070.html

Title/ description:

*** Annual Report of EPA Sibiu County. 2012. (in Romanian)

URL:

http://apmsb.anpm.ro/upload/62681_Raport%20anual%20privind%20monitorizarea%20PIGCA%20pentru%20anul%202011.pdf