Fund a sensor
An IoT sensor that stays in nature for years.
Donate →Project 2026–2035 ·
IoT sensors in Natura 2000
Sensors in Protected Areas.
Sensors built by young people that monitor the air, water and soil in protected areas.
- 2026–2035
- Environment & biodiversity
Project sheet
Sensors that watch over nature.
Prototypes built by young people monitor air, water and soil in natural areas, and the data become environmental alerts.
Project status
Pilot · prototypes- ✓ConceptAnalysis & partners
- 2PilotFirst activities
- 3OngoingActive in the community
- 4ExpansionRegional scale-up
22,7%
of Romania’s territory is protected under Natura 2000
European Commission, Environmental Implementation Review, 2022 · [1]46%of Romanian pupils are below the baseline level in scienceOECD, PISA 2025, 2025 · [2]
66%of Romanians see climate change as a very serious problemSpecial Eurobarometer 565, 2025 · [3]
✓What we have achieved
- Monitoring prototypes built by young people
- The circuit that turns data into environmental alerts
- Field research in the Vrancea Subcarpathians
→Project objectives
- The first stations in protected areas (2030)
- 100+ IoT sensors at Natura 2000 sites (2035)
- Open data for the community and researchers
Sensors in Protected Areas · from the field
The project in pictures.
Photos from our workshops. Support the project so it can reach the next school too.
Prototypes for monitoring protected areas
The circuit that turns data into environmental alerts
IoT sensors for protected areas
100+IoT sensors in Natura 2000
BGCIglobal environmental network
Part of
The Environment & biodiversity programme.
Extended through the Green Innovation Hub
What we build next.
This programme feeds directly into the Green Innovation Hub initiatives, built on European models.
What we hope for · how you can help
Every sensor is a guardian of Vrancea’s nature.
Choose how you would like to contribute.
Protected area managers
Partners for siting the stations.
Let’s talk →IoT engineers
Help young people move from prototype to station.
Become a mentor →Project 2026–2035
This is a 10-year movement. Choose your role.
Sources and methodology
Where the figures come from.
Our own figures (young people trained, schools, localities) come from the association’s records and are published in the impact report. Context statistics come from official sources, with the year of the latest available edition.
- Share of Romania’s land area covered by Natura 2000 sitesEuropean Commission, Environmental Implementation Review · SWD(2022) 271 · 2022. View source ↗
- 15-year-olds below the baseline level in science, Romania (OECD average: 26%)OECD, PISA 2025 · 2025. View source ↗
- Romanians who consider climate change a very serious problemSpecial Eurobarometer 565 · 2025. View source ↗
Portfolio 2026–2027
Living labs where young people restore nature.
Sensors in Protected Areas is part of the 2026–2027 portfolio of Asociația Grupul Verde: 43 programme lines in which young people build technology for nature, protected species, climate and democracy, with partners from Romania and the EU through Horizon Europe, LIFE, Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps and CERV.
Living labs for nature and climate
Soil living labs: Continental, Black Sea (Pontic) and Steppic regions
Three of Romania’s biogeographical regions, one protocol: young people measure soil moisture and carbon with sensors they build.
Target programme: Horizon Europe · Soil Mission
Linked to: Nature Restored, Environment & biodiversity
Living labs for nature and climate
Living labs for ecosystem restoration
Meadows, riverbanks and forest edges restored with the community; young people track results with cameras and AI acoustic stations.
Target programme: Horizon Europe · Nature
Linked to: Nature Restored, Environment & biodiversity
Living labs for nature and climate
Biodiversity monitoring — Area A: pollinators
Bee and butterfly transects, photos verified on iNaturalist and an AI model that helps with identification, all run by pupils.
Target programme: Horizon Europe · Nature
Linked to: Environment & biodiversity, Nature Restored
Living labs for nature and climate
Living labs for invasive species
Young people map ragweed, black locust and other invasive species with a reporting app and, with experts, propose control steps.
Target programme: Horizon Europe · Cluster 6
Linked to: Environment & biodiversity, Green Case-Law Observatory
European Solidarity Corps
International youth activity (climate, environment)
A week in which young people from several countries field-test environmental sensors and compare their data.
Target programme: Council of Europe · European Youth Foundation
Linked to: Environment & biodiversity, Nature Restored
Living labs for nature and climate
Soil living labs — the full proposal
The consortium, methodology and work plan for the soil living labs, ready to discuss with universities, farmers and authorities.
Target programme: Horizon Europe · Soil Mission
Linked to: Nature Restored, For funders
See all 43 programme linesPropose a partnershipProtected species
Support Sensors in Protected Areas
Help this pilot get started.
Your donation goes straight into the activities of Sensors in Protected Areas in Vrancea — materials, kits, trainers and transport for children and young people. Every amount counts.
Bank transfer with no fees · 3.5% of your tax · sponsorship with a contract