Role of wetland in biodiversity conservation in the context of climate change International workshop report Tulcea, Danube Delta, 11-14 October 2011 By Dr. Iuliana Florentina Gheorghe Ecological University of Bucharest Department of Ecology and Environment Protection Bl. Vasile Milea 1G, sector 6, Bucharest, Romania e-mail:
[email protected]
During 11 - 14 October 2011, took place in Tulcea and the Danube Delta the workshop entitled “Role of wetland in biodiversity conservation in the context of climate change”. Financial support of the event was provided by the Romanian Executive Unit for Financing Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation (UEFISCDI). The proposal was part of exploratory workshops package and was obtained by competition 2011 (Project code PN-II-ID-WE-2011-010). Organizing institution was Ecological University of Bucharest, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection supported by the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration (DDBRA). The topics of Workshop were the wetlands, biodiversity and climatic changes. It was organized in two sections: the first was dedicated to the importance of wetlands in biodiversity conservation production of goods (natural resources - reeds, fish, etc.) and services (microclimate, nutrient retention buffer area, pesticides and other pollutants, fixation of CO2, flood wave attenuation, etc.). and the second section was dedicated to changes induced by climate change on the structure and function of wetland. Why we chose the theme “role of wetland in biodiversity conservation in the context of climate change”? For two important reasons: 1. Wetlands are complex of ecosystems or an ecosystem in the main control factor is the hydrological element. The hydrological level, oscillations, amplitude and frequency of these oscillations are closely related hydrological levels of precipitation and temperature regime (evapo-transpiration). This regime with character of periodicity is significantly disrupted if climate change produces a spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall unbalanced, causing flooding in some areas and prolonged droughts in others. Both droughts and floods causing damage, and they are catastrophic and can lead to loss of life. In case of flooding the wetlands play a key role in mitigating of flood wave and represent a major retreat of excess water protecting agricultural areas adjacent. If prolonged droughts in their neighborhood wetlands creates a microclimate that reduces the effects of drought in agricultural land. Wetlands are subject to structural and
functional changes induced by climate change, extreme changes leading to their disappearance even by turning in terrestrial dry ecosystems. 2. The most wetlands are ecotonal areas which substrate combines features of both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem biotope with a large heterogeneity of the pedoclimatic conditions. This high heterogeneity of soil and climatic conditions allowed the installer a large number of species whose requirements are very different from the biotope; therefore in these areas the values of biodiversity are very increased. Why international working meeting? For three important reasons: 1. Many wetlands accompanying rivers as the Danube, Volga, etc,. and cross-border distribution, so the study of issues in one state can not capture the cumulative effects and distance across a wetland. 2. Most species of resident birds and other migratory species in some national wetland border migration routes and the study and conservation of these species is impossible without cooperation with other countries involved in migration. 3. Causes and effects of climate change can not be analyzed until a broad spatial scale and the data obtained at national level can not explain the phenomenon than judged in a global context, at least continental. As case studies was presented two wetland types: the large wetland with very high complexity as the Danube Delta and Lower Danube Floodplain and small-sized wetland depressions or products in various small rivers near. The role of this meeting is to outline a comprehensive picture regarding the current state of knowledge regarding this complex of ecosystems and ecosystems, to determine gaps in the knowledge and establish new priorities in research to fill this knowledge. The scope of the project is to create a framework for meeting specialists in three important areas: wetlands, biodiversity conservation and climate changes; and establish new contacts between different Romanian and European education and research institutions. The main objectives are: to facilitate international cooperation, to assess the state of knowledge on: wetlands, biodiversity conservation and climate changes, to identify gaps in knowledge, to finding ideas to cover the gaps to make proposals for studies to cover gaps in knowledge and to identify sources for funding proposals Results The program starting in 11.10.2011 October, in the first day the participants arrived in Bucharest and was transported in Tulcea city. A. In the second day, at 9:30, Dr. Iuliana Florentina Gheorghe and Nicolae Gâldean opened the meeting. After the opening, in the morning were exposed to two presentations: “The impact of boreal wetlands on climate change” by Dr. Ülo Mander, professor at Faculty of Science and Technology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu,
Estonia and „The impact of invasive species on biodiversity of wetlands” by Teodora Maria Onciu, professor at Ovidius University of Constanţa, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Ecology and Biology Department, Romania. Afternoon the participants watched a movie about the Genesis of the Danube Delta and heard also two presentations: “Danube Delta general characterization” by Gâldean Nicolae, senior lecturer at Ecological University of Bucharest, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Romania Biodiversity in Danube Delta” Iuliana Florentina Gheorghe, senior lecturer at Ecological University of Bucharest, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Romania. Below are presented summaries of these four presentations: A. 1. The Impact of Boreal Wetlands on Climate Change By Ülo Mander Faculty of Science and Technology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu, Estonia Abstract Services provided by wetland ecosystems to humans include provisioning (e.g., providing water food, fuel, fiber), support (soil fertility, nutrient cycling, pollination) and regulation (climate moderation, flood control), preservation (biodiversity, renewable resources), and cultural and amenity (economic, spiritual, and recreational benefits). The lecture will briefly characterize these services from both current and historical perspectives using examples from Estonia and other northern European wetlands. However, the main focus will be on biogeochemistry and climate regulation functions of boreal wetlands. Boreal peatlands store up to 460,000 Mt of carbon (storage of all peatlands is roughly 730,000 Mt C), equivalent to approx. 65% of all C in the atmosphere or 60 times current annual global emissions from fossil fuel burning. On the other hand, annual peatland degradation causes globally 3000 Mt CO2 emissions (equal to 11% of all greenhouse gas emissions).. Due to global warming, there is threat that boreal peatlands will loose significant amounts of carbon, contributing to the fastening rise of atmospheric mean temperature. Restoration aspects and the role of boreal peatlands in methane and nitrous oxide fluxes of peatlands will be discussed.
A short CV of Ülo Mander Ülo Mander is Professor of Physical Geography and Landscape Ecology and Head of the Department of Geography, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences at the University of Tartu, Estonia. He received a B.Sc. in physical geography (1977) and Ph.D. in biology/ecology (1983) at the University of Tartu, Estonia. Prof. Mander’s research and teaching has focused on landscape ecology (nutrient cycling at landscape and catchment levels) and ecological engineering (constructed wetlands:
design and performance). He has written over 200 papers and edited 25 books and special issues of international peer reviewed journals in these fields.. He has been visiting scientist/visiting professor at various universities and research centers (University of Kiel, Germany, Lund University and University of Linköping, Sweden, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape and Land Use Research, Germany, National Agricultural Research Center for Hokkaido Region, Sapporo, Japan, Ohio State University, USA). Since 1994 he is/has been member of editorial board of 8 international peer reviewed journals. A. 2. Invasive species in the Danube Delta and their impact on species diversity By Teodora Maria Onciu Ovidius University of Constanta (Romania)
[email protected] Skolka and Gomoiu (2004) defined invasive species (generally referred by certain authors as introduced species or alien species) as organisms (e.g. plants or animals) that extend their range naturally or due to the antropochoric spreading. The Danube is Europe’s second longest river and during about the last ten thousand years built, on its junction with the Black Sea, an unique wetland in Europe – the Danube Delta. (Torica, 2006). Recently, the Danube was connected through several canals with the main Western Europe Rivers (Rhine, Main, and Oder), facilitating communications with the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. After 1984, the opening of the Danube-Black Sea Canal shortened the navigation route towards the Black Sea by 250 km (Gastescu and Stiuca, 2008). The continental temperate climate of the Danube Delta, the different and strongly interdependent ecosystems (and the associated diversified habitats), and the great quantity of food expressed by the high natural productivity are all arguments to explain the possibility of alien species accommodation. The communication with the brackish waters of both the Atlantic Ocean’s Eastern regions through the large canal network and the Black Sea can explain the penetration routes of the accidentally introduced species. The deliberately introduced species – object of fish farming or of other human activities – constitute another category of alien species. In fact, the Danube Delta is a region in which species can easily penetrate and found optimal conditions for their settling and development. Alien species can be classified according to the way they extended their range in tree categories: accidentally introduced species, species that naturally extend their range and deliberately introduced species (Onciu, 2010). Accidentally introduced species occur when humans unwillingly provide the transport between the native region and the new habitat. It is a simple act of carrier through an invasion corridor. The most important routes of introductions are due to shipping and the increased use of containers in transportation. (Elodea canadensis Michaux, 1803, Anodonta (Sinanodonta) woodiana Lea, 1834 Mya arenaria L. 1758, Scapharca inaequivalvis Bruguiere, Mnemiopsis leidyi Agassiz 1900, Beroe ovata Bruguiere 1999, Rhithropanopaeus harrisi tridentatus Gould 1841, Eriocheir sinensis Milne-Edwards 1854, Corbicula fluminea Müller 1774, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say 1824, Carassius auratus gibelio (Bloch, 1783), Pseudorasbora parva Temminch & Schlegel 1846).
Species that naturally extend their range, usually man commensals or species that benefit from man-induced changes. While the process is natural, it is usually enhanced by human disturbances (Nyctereutes procyonoides Gray 1834, Canis aureus L., 1878, some Lycaenid butterflies such as Lampides boeticus L. 1767 and Syntarucus pirithous L. 1767 and Cameraria ohridella Deschka et Dimic 1986). Deliberately introduced species can be either authorized or unauthorized. Their scope is limited, focused on immediate gains with no long-term perspective. The species involved have a certain economic value in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, hunting, pet and plant trade or for the biological control of pests (Robinia pseudoacacia L. 1862, Populus sp., Amorpha fruticosa L. 1753, Ctenopharingodon idella Valenciennes 1844, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Valenciennes 1844, and Aristichthys nobilis Richardson, 1845, Phasianus colchicus L., 1758). Summarizing, it is easy to notice that all organisms interfere in the new, recipient ecosystem, especially disrupting existent food chains. Some species (Mya arenaria, Scapharca inaequivalvis, Mnemiopsis leidyi, Canis aureus) outcompete resident species producing critical changes in the biocoenose. The majority of alien insect are crop pest. But, on the whole, invasive species recorded in the Danube Delta are not harmful for the ecosystem. A. 3. Danube Delta general characterization By Teodora Maria Onciu and Gâldean Nicolae Ovidius University of Constanta (Romania)
[email protected] Ecological University of Bucharest, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Romania The Danube is Europe’s second largest river, 2 860 km long, with a drainage basin of 810 000 km2, covering almost one third of Europe (major parts of 13 countries with more then 86 million inhabitants), lower third of this river including two important wetlands: Danube Floodplain and Danube Delta. Danube Delta is situated in the eastern part of Europe between 46°42‘N and 44°42‘N and 28°44‘E and 29°46‘E, in fact at the intersection of 45° N (parallel of latitude) with 29° E (longitude). The Delta is formed between the three arms of the Danube: Chilia, Sulina and Sf. Gheorghe. The delta can divide into: the fluvial delta (49%) and the marine delta (51%). The present morphology of the delta is an expression of the fluvial-marine interactions in Holocene. The delta has a very recent origin, perhaps less then 7,000 years ago. It was formed and extended rapidly thanks to the low tidal oscillations of the Black Sea (5-7 cm), the shallow continental platform of the Black Sea, the high sediment load carried by the Danube, and the strong North-South marine littoral current which facilitated deposition. The Danube Delta with its 5,500 km2 is a buffer zone between two large systems, performing an extremely important role of filtering and reducing the pollution impact of the Danube on the highly degraded and already endangered Black Sea. In the last decades, especially after building the great hydro technical works at the
Iron Gates (after 1971), the sediment discharge significantly decreased from 41.3 million tons/year in the period 1971 -1980, to 21.2 millions tons/year between 1981 -1990. The most destructive human activities in the delta started under the “Program for the remodelling and integral use of the natural resources in the Danube delta”: almost 17% of the delta was dammed and either transformed in fish ponds, or drained for agriculture (polders). A. 4. Danube Delta - unique and diversified By Iuliana Florentina Gheorghe Ecological University of Bucharest, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Bl. Vasile Milea 1G, sector 6 Bucharest, Romania
[email protected] The Danube Delta is part of two contrasting structures. The Danube Delta is the most humid region in the country close to Dobrogea the driest region of Romania (350 -400 mm per year). The Danube Delta is the youngest land in Romania (16000 years) in the vicinity of older Măcin Mountains (Hercynian Mountains) These two contrasts are created very heterogeneous climatic conditions that allowed the installation of high biological diversity. Making an analysis of the four levels of biodiversity (genetic, specific ecosystem and ethno-cultural) the Danube Delta contains a lot of ancestor of breeds and varieties and is an important natural banks of the genes with the largest value in World Natural Heritage (melon, tomatoes, sturgeons- Acipiter sp. Huso huso extinct species in Europe). At specific level, some taxonomic groups were studied, for them are data and information, but same were not investigated; therefore the species richness values are underestimated. In Danube Delta the number of species identified is 5429. The flora is represented by 1839 plant species of which - inferior plants: planktonic algae (678 species), lichens (107 species), macro fungi (38 species); and vascular plants (1016 species). The fauna is represented by 3590 species of which – invertebrates: mollusks (91 species) insects (2244 species) – vertebrates: fish (135 species), amphibians (10 species), reptiles (11 species) (90%), birds (331 species), mammals (42 species). Concerning the diversity of ecosystems in Danube Delta are present 30 types of ecosystems preserved in 20 special protection areas. The most important elements of Diversity ethno – cultural are: earth houses covered with reeds, traditional fishing and harvesting of the reed. Threats to biodiversity are: present of invasive species, the traditional small boats replaced by motor boats, depopulation and replacement of traditional architectural style with an eclectic style, and intensive agriculture and aquaculture.
Presentations were made by four speakers (one Estonian and 3 Romanian) they were listen by 22 persons. The audience composition was the following: researchers, professors and students from: two research institutes (Forest Research and Management Institute – ICAS -, Danube Delta National Research Institute – INCDD -), one Forestry Directorate (Tulcea Forestry Directorate), Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration and students from two universities (Ecological University of Bucharest and Ovidius University of Constanţa) (photo. 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a).
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After each Presentation were made comments and discussion, and at the end of the day conclusions have been drawn and have identified new research topics. Conclusions of the second day Have been identified gaps in knowledge in terms of: Greenhouse gas emission in wetland based on peatlands regarding gene reserve of microorganisms involve in denitrification and methane production. The particularity of nutrient cycle in wetland covered with Sphagnum sp. Implications of peat burning in atmospheric CO2 emissions. Availability of phosphorus in wetlands’s soils
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Structural changes during wetland ecological succession
Given the existence of wetlands with peat in northern of Romania similar to those in Estonia were proposed the common research themes: identify the genetic structure of microorganisms in Romanian and Estonian peat lands testing the wetland based on peat in reducing pollution of surface water by filtration comparative study between the use of peat as a energy resource or as a building material or filter for water clean-up. Given the existence of glacial lakes in different succession stage in Retezat mountain, professor Teodora Maria Onciu propose a comparative study between wetland with different ages to highlight the structural changes during wetland ecological succession. Also was proposed the development of academic exchanges between the Romanian and Tartu University students in ecology.
B. In the third day at 9:45 clock, the participants were shipped to the cruise and started with the presentation: “The particularity of nutrient cycle in saturated soil" by Dr. Sakadevan Karuppan, division officer in Department of Soil and Plants Nutrition, International Atomic Energy Agency, FAO/IAEA, Vienna, Austria During the same day have followed three presentations: “Allelopathic interactions versus biodiversity management” by François Pellissier, professor at Savoie University, Alpine Ecology Laboratory, UMR CNRS 5553, France; „ Floodplain forests - the role in biodiversity conservation” by Dr. Iovu Adrian Biriş & Dr. Filat Mihai, scientific secretary at Forest Research and Management Institute (ICAS), Forest Ecology Department, Romania, and „ The role of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration (DDBRA) problems faced in the conservation of biodiversity” by Dr. Grigore Baboianu Governor of Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration (DDBRA), Romania Below are presented summaries of these four presentations: B. 1. The Particularity of Nutrient Cycling in Saturated Soil By Karuppan Sakadevan Department of Soil and Plants Nutrition, International Atomic Energy Agency, FAO/IAEA
[email protected] Wetlands are distributed throughout the world with an area approximately 800 ha except and are the interface between terrestrial and aquatic environments. While they occupy only less that 6% of the total global land area, their overall role at national, regional and global scale is much greater than their area. In agricultural catchments, wetlands are important zones for capture and storage of water and nutrients that can be used for biomass production and improve food security.
Wetlands are sources, sinks, and transformers of materials, particularly nutrients and habitats for diverse life forms. It is a place for migratory birds to come and roost during seasons. They are a source of food, fiber, and clean water for humans, a carbon sink and source that affect climate change, a system for controlling flood water, an area for recharging ground water, and an agent of chemical transformation. Wetlands are complex ecosystems because the performances of wetlands are driven by many physical, chemical, and biological processes. This complexity means that understanding wetland ecosystems requires an interdisciplinary approach including chemistry, biology, ecology, hydrology, plant science and pedology, to mention a few. The workshop presentation focuses on the nutrient cycling (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur) in wetlands and their importance to wetland management and water quality improvements. B. 2. Allelopathic interactions versus biodiversity management By François Pellissier Universite de Savoie Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, CNRS UMR 5553 73376 Le Bourget-du-Lac Cedex FRANCE Phone : +33 (0)4 79 75 88 69 Fax : +33 (0)4 79 75 88 80 E-mail :
[email protected]
Allelopathy covers the biological effect of one plant (including microorganisms) on another plant, through the release of chemical compounds into the environment. Both stimulatory and inhibitory effects can be observed, depending on the donor and target species, as well as the involved chemicals. Such chemically mediated interactions occur in terrestrial, aquatic and agricultural systems. Allelopathy is further gaining a larger audience in explaining the invasive potential of alien plants and their suppressive effects on native flora. Such plant chemical interactions also may play a major role due to climate change, which implies some species redistribution within various ecosystems. Global change is supposed to act more intensively on high altitude and latitude ecosystems. Therefore, comprehensive results of field experiments in subalpine and boreal spruce forests to check the influence of allelopathy on forest regeneration and dynamics will be presented. A survey of literature will then extend the scope to allelopathy case studies in wetlands, with special highlight to their biodiversity conservation. B.3. Floodplain forests - their role in biodiversity conservation By Iovu-Adrian Biriş1, Mihai Filat1, Nicolae Doniţă2, Marius Petrilă1, Cristina Munteanu3
Forest Research and Management Institute, Voluntari, 128 Şoseaua Ştefăneşti , cod 077190, Ilfov, Romania 2 Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Bucureşti, 61 B-dul. Mărăşti , sector 1, cod 011464, Romania 3 WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme, Bucureşti, 109 Mircea Vulcănescu Street, Sector 1, cod 010818, Romania 1
In general, floodplains and forest floodplains in particular are considered among the most valuable ecosystems and represent a topic of high interest due to the importance and the role they have at the level of landscape, to their multiple implications in ecological, social and economic development, but, in the same time, to the fact that they are the most severely modified ecosystems by human activities. Numerous recent research have emphasised the crucial role of forest floodplains, especially of the natural and near natural ones, in stabilizing the landscape of floodplains, in ensuring hydrological functions (i.e. water retention, self-purification, groundwater supply, nutrient retention and recycling), in reducing the banks erosion, in decreasing the catastrophic effects of floods, as biodiversity reservoir, as biocorridor and an area with high productivity, but in the same time for the services provided (i.e. tourism and recreation). The Lower Danube Floodplain, known also under the name of “Lower Danube Green Corridor”, consists in the major river bed which belongs to the Danube from downstream the Iron Gates II to Isaccea, where it reaches Danube Delta, and comprises a length of about 750 km. The area under regularly flood is located in the majority on the Romanian territory (90%), on the left bank respectively, the right bank being higher and steeper, and the passing from minor river bed to terrace being sudden. Until the first half of the 20th century, before the constructions of dikes, drainage of wetlands and river course regularization, the floodplain of Danube occupied around 500 000 ha on Romanian territory (excluding the Danube Delta), stretching as a stripe on the left bank of the river, with a width that varies between 2 and 26 km. Forest comprised around 75-85 000 ha in 1961, which represent 15-17% of floodplain area under natural flooding regime. These forests consisted almost exclusively in indigenous species of willow and poplar and along with those in the Danube Delta they made up the largest willow based floodplain forests (Salicetum) in Europe and the second in the world, after the floodplain and Delta of Rio del Parana (Argentina). On small areas, with higher elevation, there were also hardwood floodplain forests of oak (Quercus robur, Q. pedunculiflora), ash (Fraxinus angustifolia, F. pallisae), elm (Ulmus minor, U. laevis) and alder (Alnus glutinosa) species. Through the construction of over 1 200 km dikes only in the Lower Danube Floodplain and the wetland draining works conducted mainly during 1961-1970, the floodplain landscape was profoundly modified in terms of geographic environment and biocoenosis. So the area under a natural hydrological regime was reduced to that situated between banks and dykes (the area which is known as “dyke-river bank area”) and the islands of the minor river bed, which had remained undammed. The floodplain area has decreased with around 80% in the last 50 years, comprising today around 100 000 ha (excluding Danube Delta). The surface of forests has been considerably diminished too, and over 23 % of it has disappeared.
Large areas of the remained floodplain forests are profoundly modified at the level of biocoenosis structure due to a large scale use of hybrid poplar and willow clones, to the expansion of exotic tree species, some of them very invasive (Amorfa fruticosa, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Acer negundo, etc.), and to intensive forest management practices. Important evolutions have been registered in the last 20 years in terms of management objectives of these forests, because all of them have been included among protective forests and most of them are part of the national work of protected areas and NATURA 2000 pan-European network. All these changes which have occurred in the last decades at the level of forest ecosystems of Lower Danube Floodplain or at the level of protection status or management objectives demand a new analysis and approach of forest management in relation with present requirements. In this paper we describe forest management measures for Lower Danube Floodplain aiming to preserve and reconstruct the forest ecosystems types and to ensure a balance among ecological, economic and social functions. The silvicultural activities proposed are differentiated for artificial forests (plantations of hybrid poplars, willows and other exotic species) and natural and seminatural forests, for forests included in the national network of protected areas or in NATURA 2000 and for forests with no protection status other than forest management objectives. These measures consist in the substitution of populations of hybrid poplars and willows clones, primary of those located in inappropriate sites, with indigenous species, in natural regeneration of stands of indigenous species, in stimulating the establishment of willows on recent alluvial deposits or on banks. They also consist in identifying and delimiting the most valuable stands of indigenous poplars and willows which will be designated as genetic forest resources. Protective forest belts on river banks consisting in indigenous species are also proposed along with a limitation of the maximum allowed surfaces of clearcuttings, or the maximum length of these surfaces along the river and the control of invasive species. Measures for birds’ protection and for integrating damaging factors control in floodplain forest are presented too. The results obtained might be included among technical regulations for the management of floodplain forests.
B. 4. The role of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration (DDBRA) problems faced in the conservation of biodiversity” By Dr. Grigore Baboianu Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration (DDBRA), Romania
[email protected] In the same time with the establishment of Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (1990), an organization was created to administrate the natural heritage of national interest from the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, to protect and conserve the physical and geographical units of the DDBR territory - Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority (DDBRA). According to the Law No. 82/1993 subsequently completed and modified, DDBRA is a public institution, subordinated to the Ministry of Environment.
The main attributions of DDBRA are as follows: a. Assessing the ecological status of the natural heritage, organizing the scientific research, drawing up the conservation and restoration strategy and, after its approval by the DDBRA Scientific Council, taking the necessary measures for biodiversity conservation and protection, b. To establish and implement the ecological reconstruction measures of the deltaic ecosystems and decide the adequate legal measures for the protection, improvement and restoration of the environment quality, where it was deteriorated; c. Direct management of the public land of national interest within DDBR and taking measures for restoration and protection of the component physical and geographical units; to organize and implement the survey and control of the enforcement and compliance with the legal provisions concerning the protection measures established in the DDBRA status, as well as other aspects which, according to the law, are in the responsibility of DDBRA; d. For the achievement of its attributions DDBRA can request from the state institutions responsible with the discouragement of the illegal practices, support for the control and punishment, in accordance with the law, of the minor offences committed on the DDBRA territory. Those institutions have the obligation to answer to the DDBRA request. To establish, together with the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Dwelling, the regulations for circulation and access on the river branches for boats, motorboats, river and maritime ships, and for the channels and inner lakes within DDBR, to propose and submit to the Ministry of Water and Environmental Protection the access and circulation rules, verifying if they are respected. Tulcea Harbor Master’s Office and the Frontier Police Inspectorate, through their territorial sub-units, will provide, at DDBRA’s request, support for the implementation of the legal measures on the ships that caused water pollution, according to the law in force; e. In co-operation with the decentralized departments of the other specialized authorities of the central and local public administration, and in partnership with other local institutions and the private sector will:
draw up management objectives for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in DDBR (The Management Plan of DDBRA), promoting the achievement of the priority objectives for the environment and sustainable development, in compliance with the objectives of the National Strategy for Environmental Protection, the National Strategy for Sustainable Development and the National Plan for Romania’s adhering to the European Union; elaborate and implement local strategies for the environment and sustainable development, in compliance with the objectives and recommendations from Agenda 21, from the strategies and the action plans designed and implemented within the Process Environment for Europe; contribute to the design and implementation of land use planning and urban development, ensuring the integrity of the environmental dimension and ecological requests in the zonal and local strategies, regarding land use planning and organization of human settlements, taking into account the structure and the
value of the natural heritage of the area and its utilization on sustainable development principles; take part in the elaboration and implementation of the plans and programs for protection of local people interests, for conservation of the cultural heritage, as well as for increasing their quality of life, civilization and living standards improvement; contribute to the design and implementation of protection plans and programs against flooding and natural calamities;
f. issue the environmental approval and authorization of the economic activities by individuals and local entities, in accordance with the biodiversity conservation requirements and specific ecological structures, including also the establishment procedures of the environmental obligations in the privatization process; g. potential for regeneration and ecosystem support capacity, elaborating and implementing in this purpose regulations concerning the valorization of the natural renewable resources and of all the other DDBR resources; h. in accordance with the law, it can grant the sustainable use of natural renewable resources and land use activities in order to carry on economic activities; i. cooperate with local public authorities to defend the interests of local people and to improve their quality of life and civilization standard; j. encourage and impose through the means foreseen by the law, mainly by the authorization procedures implementation, the promotion of safe technologies, changing of production and consumption patterns through the sustainable use of material and energetic resources and reduction of the negative impact on the environment; k. participate, according to its attributions and legal competence in the elaboration and implementation of the cooperation programs and projects with the national and international organisms in the cross border, regional and international context; l. draw up and publish periodical reports concerning the environmental status at the DDBR level; m. operate through all the means foreseen by the law and on the entire DDBR territory, for the protection and improvement of the environmental status and life quality, taking into consideration the need to implement at local level the provisions of the international conventions and agreements at which Romania is part, as well as for the achievement of the objectives, programs and action plans developed based on these conventions and agreements; n. encourage and develop partnerships with all the civil society sectors, nongovernmental organizations, as well as with the public or private institutions that militate for supporting and realization of the environmental objectives and sustainable development; o. organize instructive, formative and educational activities, provide current information about the evolution and status of the DDBR environment quality to the local population and authorities, develop cooperation with mass-media and publish materials in order to sensitize the public opinion, to involve the population and local communities in supporting and implementation of the environmental protection measures, nature and biodiversity conservation, ecological reconstruction of the deteriorated areas and
improvement of life quality, reduction of wild fauna capturing, possession and killing during the prohibition periods; p. identify, delimit and propose the declaration of the functional zones of the reserve and place marks and warning signals for restriction of the disturbing actions; r. with regard for ecosystem protection, approve proposals for land use planning and urban development on the DDBR territory, elaborated in accordance with the law; s. work together with the National Company “Apele Române”– S.A. for the effective water management and implementation of the necessary hydro technical works. Presentations were made by four speakers (one Austrian, one French and 2 Romanian) they were listen by 22 persons. The audience composition was the following: researchers, professors and students from: two research institutes (Forest Research and Management Institute – ICAS -, Danube Delta National Research Institute – INCDD -), one Forestry Directorate (Tulcea Forestry Directorate), Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration, one nongovernmental environmental professional organization ( WWF), Academy (Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences) and students from two universities (Ecological University of Bucharest and Ovidius University of Constanţa) (photo. 1b, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b, 10b).
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The study visit was conducted in fluvial delta used channel "Mila 23" to strictly protected area “Nebunu” (photo 11b, 12b)
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After each Presentation were made comments and discussion, and at the end of the day conclusions have been drawn and have identified new research topics. Conclusions of the third day Were identified the following gaps in knowledge: How will be influenced, in the coming years, the European surface water resources in the context of climate change in terms of quantity and quality? The existing amount of water will be available for irrigation and industry or will be used only for drinking and domestic activities? How long droughts present in Danube River Basin will affect the Danube Delta ecosystems? The effects of prolonged drought in terms of elimination of competition will increase the allelopathic mechanisms? Changing Euro-American poplar plantations with native poplar species will have a beneficial effect on the deltaic ecosystem and floodplain? Given the existence of large wetlands in Romania like Danube Delta and Danube Floodplain the participants proposed the common research themes: Assessing the role of large wetlands like Danube Delta and Danube Floodplain, in filtering and storing fresh water. The studies regarding the rate of organic matter production and storage, the forming of the mats. Developing a study on the feasibility of replacing Euro-American poplar plantations with native poplar species Was reiterated the idea to study the wetland ecosystems in various succesional phases, in transition from aquatic to terrestrial. Also was proposed the development of academic scholarships between Romania and International Atomic Energy Agency financed by Alfred de Monaco Foundation for the students in ecology.
C. In the fourth day at 9:00 clock, the participants went to the museum in Tulcea where visited the Danube Delta Genesis Hall, Dioramas and Aquarium (photo 1c, 2c).
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Photo 2c
Photo 4c
A great importance has been given of sturgeon enclosure, because here is present the Huso huso specie, specie extinct in Europe, the only exemplars that exist are in Romania (3c, 4c). The scientific program ended in 14.10.2011 October with a last round of discussions and final conclusions: The meeting was interesting, topical in term of scientific aims. Following the discussions will be collaboration between ICAS Campulung Moldovenesc and University of Tartu regarding the greenhouse gases emissions in peatland. Three students will make proposals for to get three scholarships to IAEA. Afternoon the foreign guests arrived in Bucharest from Tulcea and were transported in hotel of airport for accommodation.
