The “Canotca” – a model of innovative tradition recovery
Rowmania project initiated by Ivan Patzaichin Association – Mila 23 aims at supporting locals and traditions specific to the Danube Delta.
Text: Cosmin Goagea
Photo: Dragos Lumpan
This article was published in zeppelin magazine number 96
Romania seen from a boat may look like a better world. However, the chance of this world consists in ever preserving and recovering normality which defines it, its non-contamination and some natural gestures, as discreet as possible, less invasive and more thoughtful. How can we actually find a balance between the providing economic development to an area thus offering a future to its inhabitants and preserve the natural and cultural heritage?
How much are rural areas connected to urban ones and how these two kinds of development may grow together without disrupting each other? These questions make the grounds for Rowmania project initiated by Ivan Patzaichin Association – Mila 23, which aims at supporting locals and traditions specific to the Danube Delta through a series of tourism programs based on social entrepreneurship, campaigns on paddling promotion and sustainable development projects valid for other protected areas, too. The following interview with Teodor Frolu, Vice-president of Ivan Patzaichin Association and one of the movement promoters offers some answers to these questions and makes reference to a new type of boat.
CG: What is the strategy meant to propel entrepreneurship? Who are the local partners? What are they asked to do and what are they offered?
TF: Rowmania project should be understood as a work of tourism mobility infrastructure, which can make the backbone of a balanced development and a less intrusive to nature one. Roads and utilities are the main development tools which we got familiar to operate with. When talking about natural preserved areas, we notice that there is quite a strong contradiction between existing infrastructure and standards relating to biodiversity preservation. Rowmania is a project designed to support the inhabitants of the area who had taken over wrong models of development for tourism and agriculture, some practices, which prove to be extremely harmful and equally unsuccessful once environmental standards have been implemented. Rowmania project provides an open format, which can join from contractors and consultants of various specialties to local authorities and NGOs. Most important is the central part played by the beneficiary who is actually the local and the fact of recovering local traditions and resources. The guesthouses admitted in Rowmania network are going to be selected according to some criteria pertaining to “slow tourism” values. This accreditation process is going to benefit from some specialized support offered by various partner organizations, thus becoming an incentive for those wishing to revert to ecotourism (where it is still possible, of course). The development of slow tourism in the Delta will be a long term process meant to replace the amount of weekend tourists by a different type of tourist offer, mainly focused on the site natural and cultural heritage and on expanding the time spent in the Danube Delta.
CG: There is a building component (modules for the bridge, a watching tower, an Infopoint, a pier, etc.). Are these just a manifesto for a soft intervention or will they be built?
TF: There will be some Rowmania centers where the routes are entered from (inter-modal hubs for connoisseurs) and there will be the Rowmania campsites and “refuges” that provide some needed facilities. Rowmania Center is a project executed by SKAA group of architects (Sorin Istudor and Kalliopi Dimou). They use local materials having a minimal environmental impact. Everything is located within the built-up areas, but generally situated on the outskirts. This infrastructure will be financed from European funds and granted to locals for management further to proper selection and training. Ivan Patzaichin Association along with a number of partners coordinates the construction, the financing and the project integrated management. Further to completion, the association will monitor and ensure a proper use of resources.
CG: In which manner is the canotca boat innovative and functional? Who manufactures it and for whom?
TF: The canotca is an example of innovation which involves an operational upgrade of a tradition. A lotca* is a boat with personality. It is devised as a utility strong boat, though. The paddles constrain the user to row backwards. This is different from touring friendly. Commonly, a canoe or a kayak is used – they are light boats which allow crossing some land areas and offer independence and a maximum mobility in a direct relationship with nature. Thus, a need arose to make the canotca which combines easy handling and transport (typical for the canoe) and the identity of a lotca in the Danube Delta landscape. However, the traditional lotca will not disappear. Paddled by a local, they stand as a short distance tourism option. Currently, workshops in the Delta do not build lotca anymore. Recovering a planker job means reviving interest and love for this kind of boats. So, we drew on a local boat builder’s experience. He might be the only one still working wooden boats in his workshop and together with him we have made the prototype. The new canotca boats will be managed in a similar way as the rent-a-bike system: tourists may pick up a canotca from a location and drop it off to another “stop”. A tourist who enjoys canotca rides is quite educated. So, he is less intrusive; he prefers a minimum infrastructure and enjoys traditional cuisine. He is seeking for peacefulness and wishes to feel free. Do protect him since in Romania he is kind of a Crisp Pelican.
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* lotca= a Romanian word referring to a long narrow fishing boat from the Danube Delta using paddles to move on water.
Credits
Ivan Patzaichin, President of Ivan Patzaichin Association – Mila 23
Teodor Frolu, Vice-President
Paul Vasiliu, Boat Builder
Claudia Vilceanu, Comunication Expert
Sorin Istudor and Kalliopi Dimou, Architects
Grigore Mitrea, Wood Craftsmen
Serban Alexandrescu, Art Director
Alexandru B?iatu, Social Entrepreneurship
Olah Gyarfas, Designer
