In the last weeks we had the opportunity to reconfirm that working together we have better results, we are more motivated, we inspire each other, we grow together. The thoughts with which we left the meeting of the ecotourism network in Romania were primarily focused on the importance of this network and the value that each of us brings to this national team. Then followed the event organized by the Romanian-American Foundation – Together, which highlighted precisely the value we have together, how many things we managed to do over time with the contribution of each puzzle piece involved.
It’s already been 7 years since the network of 7 ecotourism destinations in Romania – Discover Eco-Romania (Băile Tușnad and Surroundings, Transylvanian Highlands, EcoMaramureș, Pădurea Craiului, Țara Dornelor, Țara Hațegului – Retezat, Bison Land) have been financially and technically supported by the Romanian-American Foundation, the Environment Partnership Foundation and the Romanian Ecotourism Association. There are years in which we sought to develop, to cause changes not only in the micro-regions we represent, but also at the national or even international level for a sustainable development, with benefits for the community and for nature, to increase the organizational capacity of the management units.
In addition to the benefits of collaboration, the feeling of belonging is an additional motivation, providing security and access to more resources that can be useful in our own work.
In Bison Land we have valuable, talented, passionate people. So far we have managed to discover and work together with some of them, be it local producers, folk craftsmen, artists, hosts, business people or people involved in community development, community members.
It is important to work together, but it is equally important for a team to coordinate the unitary development and promotion of an area. And for the ecotourism destination of Neamț County, this role has been assumed by the Bison Land Association since 2015. We set out from the beginning with a focus on collaboration, involvement and desire for community development. Together we can do more, better, with greater impact, with benefits for the whole community. Important progress is being made in multilateral collaboration at the local level, but we still have work to do before the benefits are felt across the community. Because each person, institution/organization within a community has its role in the development of a micro-region and the standard of living at the local level. 
