And since the city hall does not yet have an employee specialized in operating the equipment, after working hours Ion Rîpă leaves his suit in the office and gets behind the wheel of the tractor whenever needed.

The past weeks have already demonstrated the usefulness of the equipment, whether for clearing dry vegetation in fire-risk areas or for targeted interventions in the households of vulnerable people: “We recently had a request from an older woman who was left alone. Her garden had not been worked for years, and we intervened with the machinery to help her. This equipment was designed exactly for such situations, to be there where we are needed.”

The new machinery has changed the way Tuzara manages vegetation fires. If last year the firefighters and volunteers intervened almost weekly, now the shredder purchased has allowed the creation of protection strips between the uncultivated agricultural land and the forest area. This reduces the risk of the fire spreading to people's households.

At the same time, the water tank will be used not only for extinguishing fire outbreaks but also for water distribution during drought. The kindergarten in the village of Novaci, which is not yet connected to a water supply system, will be able to receive the necessary water for hygiene.

The roads will be cleaned faster in winter, the green areas will be irrigated during drought periods, and sanitation works will become more efficient. The city hall also plans to use the equipment for maintaining the more than 60 hectares of newly planted forests in the last two years, including on land transformed from former unauthorized dumps.

“People are satisfied and react positively. They are simple people from the countryside. They want deeds, cleaned roads, help on time and support for mothers and the older people,” says the mayor.

The investment in Tuzara is part of a larger action to increase resilience to climate change at the local level.

Also with the support of UNDP, Sweden and Norway, a 21 kW photovoltaic system and a set of efficient air conditioning units used for heating and cooling will be installed at the House of Culture in Ciorești, Nisporeni district. The intervention will bring annual savings of over 22 MWh and will reduce emissions by 9.8 tons of CO2.

In Cișmichioi, Găgăuzia region, the efficient air conditioning installed in the House of Culture ensures comfort in the most frequented rooms, including in the concert hall with 500 seats. In 2026, the locality will also benefit from a 10.5 kW photovoltaic system, which will contribute to additional emission reduction and increased energy independence.

Tuzara, Ciorești and Cișmichioi are three different examples of how investments in multifunctional equipment, green energy and responsible natural resource management can transform communities in the Republic of Moldova. With the support of UNDP and development partners, these localities are taking concrete steps towards safer public services, reduced costs and greater capacity to adapt to climate change, with benefits felt by thousands of people.