Role and Contribution of the National Agency of the Mountain Area to the Sustainable Development of the Mountainous Region in Romania

Through Law 139/2014, a specialized public structure for the mountain area was re-established: the Mountain Area Agency—thus creating the specific institutional framework for this area, which covers an area of 91,336.94 km2 and represents 38.31% of Romania’s territory. Four years later, the Agency established territorial structures at the regional level, namely mountain development offices and mountain development centers, thus creating a direct link with mountain communities to identify their needs and local specifics and contribute to their development. Also, the central institution was reorganized in the National Agency of the Mountain Area (NAMA), and two departments were created: a direction for professional training and innovation and one to coordinate the activity of the structures in the territory. Among the main activities of the institution, we can mention the elaboration of specific legislation, delimitation of the mountain area, management of the “mountain product” quality scheme, organization of informational, professional training, and specialization courses, counseling, evaluation, and implementation of projects with national funding, and provision of secretariat services for the Mountain Massif Committees.