MOVING: Connecting Mountains and Communities
Connecting Mountains and Communities: Local Engagement through the MOVING Project
Between 2020 and 2024, Highclere Consulting (HCC) coordinated Romania’s case study in the Horizon 2020 project MOVING – Mountain Valorisation through Interconnectedness and Green Growth. Focused on the Southern Carpathians, the study explored how certified eco-tourism and mountain product value chains can support sustainable and resilient rural development.
Working Hand in Hand with Mountain Communities
The HCC team worked closely with local actors, from public authorities and entrepreneurs to NGOs and educators, to better understand the realities and opportunities of mountain regions. Through participatory workshops, surveys, and foresight exercises, the project connected people who live and work in the Carpathians, giving shape to a shared vision for their future.
Over four years, HCC:
Brought together more than 37 local stakeholders from Măgura–Zărnești and Țara Făgărașului to discuss sustainable tourism and long-term resilience.
Engaged over 100 students from Brașov in discussions on the potential of mountain economies.
Organised a Summer School for young people to discover sustainable tourism, traditional practices, and the value of local biodiversity.
Facilitated international study visits in Romania, Switzerland, and Scotland, creating opportunities for learning and exchange between mountain regions.
Research and Policy Contributions
HCC led and contributed to several major studies that have influenced how mountain products and regions are understood and supported at European level:
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National research on Romanian producers and consumers using the “mountain product” label.
The Policy Roadmap for Strengthening Mountain Product Value Chains, which brought together evidence and recommendations from 23 European mountain regions.
These results highlight Romania’s potential in linking high-quality mountain production, sustainable tourism, and community-based development.
Commitment and Collaboration
The success of the Romanian case study reflects the dedication of HCC’s research team and the trust built with local and European partners, including the Brașov County Council, the Romanian Ecotourism Association, Carpathian Nature Tours, the Piatra Craiului and Retezat National Parks, and the Țara Hațegului UNESCO Global Geopark. Together, we demonstrated how science, policy, and community knowledge can work hand in hand to build resilient and thriving mountain territories.
