12 February 2013
Romania Designates Seven Ramsar Sites
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The Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) reported that the Government of Romania has designated seven new Wetlands of International Importance, bringing the total number of sites for this country to 19.

Romania11 February 2013: The Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) reported that the Government of Romania has designated seven new Wetlands of International Importance, bringing the total number of sites for this country to 19.

According to the Ramsar Secretariat, the sites are all nature reserves with high biodiversity values. They are related to the Danube River meadows and the river’s older arms. The WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme and WWF’s International Freshwater Programme assisted in the preparation of the designations.

The first site, Blahnita, features swamps, permanent lakes and sand dunes covered with various species of trees, and is inhabited by a number of fauna species. The site has been designated as a special protection area (SPA) under the EU Birds Directive for the protection of 16 bird species listed in Annex I (which lists endangered and migratory species), and is important for the protection of many migratory species listed under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (also known as CMS or Bonn Convention). Activities carried out on the site include agriculture, fishing and forestry, while threats to the site include water pollution, poaching, overfishing and dumping.

The second site, Borcea Arm, is a Danube meadow site that serves as a resting, breeding and feeding ground for a great variety of bird species. The site provides a regulatory ecosystem service, reducing Danube floods in the area. It also features some historical and archaeological ruins.

The third site, Calafat-Ciuperceni-Danube, comprises three nature reserves for the protection of migratory and water birds under CMS and the European Union (EU) Birds Directive. The site also features habitats of community importance and plays an important role in mitigating Danube flood damage. Biodiversity has been lost due to drainage, the construction of dykes and channels and conversion to agricultural land.

The fourth site, Canaralele de la Harsova, is situated in the confluence of two Danube branches, on a major migratory route, and represents an important area for the resting and feeding of rare bird species. It provides shelter to populations of protected birds listed under Annex I of the Birds Directive. The site also features some temporary lakes that provide breeding and nesting grounds for other birds. The area plays an important role in reducing and regulating the effects of Danube floods, and activities carried out there include forestry, navigation and agriculture.

The fifth site, Danube Islands-Bugeac-Iortmac, is a part of the Danube’s floodplain. Situated on the route of a migration corridor, it provides a breeding and resting place for several rare bird species. The area also supports endemic flora, and has an important hydrological role in regulating Danube water fluctuation and floods. A LIFE project financed by the EU protects the islands located there. Activities carried out on the site include navigation, fishing, poaching, hunting, tourism, urbanization and the generation of wind energy.

The sixth site, Jiu-Danube Confluence, covers part of the Jiu River, which flows into the Danube. The site includes a variety of ecosystems high in biodiversity. It is an Important Bird Area for many migratory species, and it was declared a Special Protection Area (SPA) under the Birds Directive in 2007. It provides nesting, resting and feeding grounds for various species of migratory and non-migratory birds, and in the hydrological cycle, regulates groundwater levels. Activities carried out in the area include fishing, recreation and tourism.

The seventh site, Old Danube-Macin Arm, is part of the Danube meadow and is located in an important migration corridor. Its diverse landscape supports rich biodiversity and provides breeding, resting, feeding and shelter grounds for many IUCN Red Listed bird species. The site has an important hydrological regulatory role in reducing the effects of the Danube floods. Threats to the area include drainage, wind turbines, urbanization, grazing, hunting and poaching. Activities carried out on the site include agriculture, forestry and fishing.

These new Ramsar sites can be searched on the Critical Site Network Tool, developed by Wetlands International, BirdLife International, and the UN Environment Programme – World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), as part of the Wings Over Wetlands (WOW) project.

Romania’s designations contribute to one of the goals contained in the Ramsar Convention’s Strategic Plan for 2009-2015, which is to reach a protected area of 250 million hectares by 2015. [Ramsar Press Release] [Critical Site Network Tool]