Project history

Hațeg Country Dinosaurs Geopark was created within an interdisciplinary collaboration
launched and co-ordinated by the University of Bucharest in association with:
Hunedoara County Council, councils and mayors of Baru, Pui, Sălașu de Sus,
Sântămaria Orlea, Hațeg, Totești, Râu de Mori, Sarmizegetusa, General
Berthelot, Răchitova, Densuș, Agency of the Environmental Protection Deva
(Environmental Protection Guard), Ion Mincu University of Architecture,
University of Petroșani, Hidroconstrucția SA, Romanian Ministry of
Environmental Protection and Water Management, Hațeg Dinosaurs Geopark
Association, other national and international organizations and institutions.

The team that supported the implementation of the draft terms for the establishment of the 
geopark was made of: PhD professor Dan Grigorescu (Geopark project initiation
and coordination Geopark CEO, geology, paleontology and bio-conservation
expert) PhD lecturer Alexandru Andrășanu (coordination of interdisciplinary
studies, documentation, education, projects, bio-conservation), geologist Dan
Palcu (multimedia, communication, promotion), PhD professor Dan Manoleli
(sustainable development), scientist Dorel Rusti (Biodiversity), PhD Cristina
Ochinciuc (Architecture), PhD lecturer Florin Lupescu (Regional Development),
t. A.  Zoltan Csiki (paleontology),
associate professor, architect Alina Bogheanu (Architecture), PhD lecturer
Iuliana Gheorghe (plant science), PhD professor Dan Cogălniceanu
(Biodiversity), PhD professor Grigore Buia (ON/OFF applications), Theodora
Niculescu (graphics), scientist Sorin Piperca, associate professor Oana Ciobanu
(sociology), Ion Glodeanu (community relations), Alex Bernard (documentation).

The initiation of the Hațeg Country Dinosaurs Geopark project was based on the special results
of the paleontological studies undertaken in the area, the openness shown by
local authorities for such a project, the experience of collaboration with
Geological Reserve Haute Provence, the
launching of the Geopark concept by UNESCO in 1998 at the ProGEO Conference in
Belogradcik (Bulgaria).