NATIONAL STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
FOR
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
AND
SUSTAINABLE USE OF ITS COMPONENTS

Overview

Priority Objectives for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use of Its Components in Romania

Priority Areas for Nature and Biodiversity Conservation

Legal and Institutional Reform

The objectives and major actions in the approximation strategy for nature conservation

Overview

In order to ensure that the existing biodiversity is maintained, and damaged ecosystems are restored, in 1996 Romania has developed with support from GEF/World Bank a National Strategy and Action Plan for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use of Its Components. It should be mentioned that the developed strategy and action plan have integrated the principles and objectives of the Convention on biological diversity conservation, the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy, as well as the most pertinent international conventions and agreements in the scope of nature and biodiversity conservation.

Priority Objectives for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use of Its Components in Romania

1. Development of the legislative framework and strengthening of the institutional capacity for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of its components.
2. Organisation of the national network of protected areas and ensuring their efficient and adequate management for the protection of natural habitats and biodiversity conservation.
3. In-situ and ex-situ conservation of threatened, endemic and/or rare species with high economic value.
4. The integration of the National Strategy for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use of Its Components within the National Strategy, as well as within the sectorial and local strategies, plans, programmes and policies for national and local sustainable development.
5. The protection, conservation and restoration of the terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity outside protected areas by (1) reducing the negative impacts of pollution, natural resources overexploitation and inappropriate land-use practices and, (2) restoring altered ecosystems and habitats.
6. Protection, conservation and restoration of the biological diversity specific to agrosystems through the implementation of technologies which favour a sustainable agriculture.
7. Training specialists and general public in the spirit and techniques of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of its components.
8. Involvement of NGO's and local communities in programmes and actions aiming at biodiversity protection, conservation and restoration.
9. Conducting special research and monitoring programmes to improve the knowledge on the status of biodiversity.

The following general conclusions form the basis of the objectives and actions selected for the biodiversity strategy:
· The loss of valuable natural resources through the reduction of biodiversity must be stopped.
· Appropriate measures must be undertaken to ensure the long-term survival of species and ecosystems threatened by pollution, unsustainable use or by over-exploitation, etc.
· There is an urgent need for intervention to save representative species and ecosystems currently threatened.
· The economic, ecological and social value of the biodiversity components is major and significantly surpasses the cost of their conservation.
· Legislative and institutional solutions need to be developed in order to ensure a maximum ecological, economic and social benefit.

Priority Areas for Nature and Biodiversity Conservation

Based on the above stated general needs the following priority areas have been identified for targeting within the biodiversity conservation strategy:

Habitats characterised by a large number of endemic species and a high biological diversity

A concentration of habitats with a great number of endemic, rare, relict species can be noticed in the mountain massifs of Rodna, Bistrita and Ceahlau, Bucegi and Piatra Craiului, Retezat-Godeanu, Cernei-Mehedinti, Apuseni. A high biological diversity can also be found in the Northern Dobrogea Plateau, in the southern Banat, on the Transylvanian Plateaux and Danubian gorges, as well as on the Moldavian Plateau. The most important wetland habitats are those in the Delta and the oligotrophic and eutrophic swamps conserving relict and rare species such as the Petea thermal lake and Valsan river. These areas of high biodiversity value need priority protection.

Habitats that are threatened to be irreversibly degraded or even destroyed

Habitats existing around extreme polluting sources that are threatened with irreversible damage should be a priority target for protection. The floodplain habitats in which the underground water and the flood conditions have been modified (e.g. along the Danube River floodplain) and wetlands that are being heavily polluted and drained (Olt River) also need priority attention for conservation and restoration. Hydrotechnical works (i.e. on Rau Mare in Retezat), overgrazing and uncontrolled tourism (in Bucegi, Piatra Craiului and Retezat Mountains) threaten the rich biodiversity of these areas. Many other aquatic habitats are threatened or destroyed by the pollution of rivers and natural lakes, while other large areas of natural habitats are threatened or destroyed due to the open mining.

Habitats and species whose conservation and sustainable management can provide benefits at a local and national level

Habitats which contain major species of trees with high wood production, value (the resonance spruce, broad-leaved trees used for veneer production etc.), herbaceous species with high medicinal, melliferous, fodder values, must be conserved and managed in a sustainable manner. All forest ecosystems with natural structures that are strongly diversified (mixed forests with beech, fir, and spruce, the uneven age beech forests, and mixed oak forests) can provide large economic benefits, if managed in a sustainable manner. For example, the Bucovina forest and grasslands, which are very rich in species, need to be conserved and subject to special management. Aquatic ecosystems such as the Danube floodplains and tributaries, or the Danube Delta can bring large local and regional benefits if protected, restored and effectively managed. Habitats with high aesthetic landscape value which can be rendered through ecotourism also add to the above mentioned.

Habitats and species whose conservation and/or sustainable management can provide educational benefits

Part of the habitats and species whose sustainable conservation and management can bring educational benefits, are contained within the boundaries of protected areas, national parks and biosphere reserves.

Threatened habitats and species which must be controlled through special regulations

The utilisation of grasslands, especially those on steep hills, should be regulated and strictly controlled in order to prevent their degradation and the reduction of biodiversity due to overgrazing and erosion. Stringent regulations and permanent control over the gathering and selling of wildlife plants and animals are needed in order to avoid the loss of valuable species and ensure their sustainable use. Moreover, special regulations should also be issued in order to prevent the reduction of the biodiversity in agroecosystems. A positive example of control through special regulations for threatened habitats and species exists in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve where the Administration has developed several special management measures.

According to the Bern Convention, ratified by Romania, and to the recommendations issued by the Council of Europe, specific plans and regulations shall be developed for the protection of the following bird species: Numenius tennuirostris, Falco naumanni, Crex crex, Phalacrocorax pygmeus, Oxyura leucocephala, Pelecanus crispus, Branta ruficolis, Anser erythropus, Aquila heliaca, Otis tarda.

Legal and Institutional Reform

Actions targeted at species and habitats alone are recognised as insufficient to protect biodiversity in Romania. Institutional reform and development are needed as well. In particular there is a need for:

Creation and/or revision of laws

It is necessary to revise urgently laws covering protected areas, in particular ecosystems, hunting and fishing, the protection of flora and fauna, the protection and keeping of bees, and general biodiversity protection and sustainable use of its components.

Capacity building

In order to ensure the implementation of actions designed for the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components it is necessary to enhance the departments responsible for biodiversity in both national and local organisations and in the agencies governing issues which affect the biodiversity. The responsible personnel must be trained to carry out their designated tasks and thereby strengthen the capacity for biodiversity conservation in Romania.

The Objectives and Major Actions in the Approximation Strategy for Nature Conservation

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