The Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park (Romania)

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1 The Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park (Romania) Gabriela Costea Natural Sciences Museum Complex Galati (Romania) & member of the Scientific Council of the Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park

2 The Prut The Prut is the second longest (950 km) and the last tributary of the Danube, with its confluence located just upstream of the Danube Delta. Forms the frontier with the Republic of Moldavia. Prut It is part of the route of three major migration corridors of birds; It is proposed to be designated as Ramsar Site.

3 The Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park The park covers an area of over 8200 ha surface and a length of about 145 km; Includes many types of natural or managed aquatic ecosystems: ha ponds, lakes, swamps ha forests and wet pastures.

4 In the Prut valley were identified: plant species - 34 species of fish, from which 5 species are protected by European Laws; - 15 species of amphibians, 14 species of reptiles, - From the 218 bird species in the Lower Prut area, 50 species have some degree of protection - 61 species of mammals, of which 27 are protected in Europe. Biodiversity

5 Prut River channel

6 Prut floodplain lakes

7 Anthropogenic impacts A large hydropower dam in the upper section has led to river channel incision, and thus to partial dryingout of floodplain lakes. Stanca Costesti dam, built in 1978 Flood dyke

8 Achievements in Park Management > Park Management Plan has been elaborated > Danube Dialogue Workshop has been organized in 2011 to support cross-border collaboration in floodplain nature conservation Documentation under > River Basin Management Plan has been elaborated jointly by Romania and Moldova (implementation pending)

9 Strategic directions of the Park Management Plan waiting to be agreed by the Ministry of Environment Management of the biodiversity and landscape. Management of the natural resources in a sustainable way. Sustainable development of the local communities from the Park area. Management of the tourism and recreational activities. Awareness, communication, education. Cross border cooperation

10 Current challenges of Park Management Conservation challenges Sediment retention by Stanca Costesti dam affects downstream river section; Long term decrease of floodplain water level due to sediment retention of the dam; Re-opening of the navigation in 2013; Construction of a coal Power Plant just outside of the Park; Illegal fishing electrical and poisoning fishing.

11 Current challenges of Park Management Social-economic challenges Ineffective management of many of the fish ponds in the floodplain resulting in little income for resident people; Little tourism infrastructure; No funding of the park by the Romanian Government.

12 Current challenges of Park Management Political challenges Little public awareness of the park; No common regulation between Romania and Moldova concerning fisheries management and navigation; Environmental Operational Program: A 3.5 million Euro project has been elaborated by Park Administration, and the money has been granted by EOP for the development of the park Infrastructure. - However the contract of this project was no signed and thus regrettably the project could not start.

13 Expectations from collaboration within DANUBEPARKS Conservation issues Scientific exchange on species management Scientific exchange on river and floodplain habitat management; Educational programs and exhibitions exchange;

14 Existing collaborative activities with DANUBEPARKS 2.0 Little Ringed Plover and Sand Martin Monitoring DANUBEPARKS Assessment of environmental education activities along the Danube ( )

15 Expectation from collaboration within DANUBEPARKS Social-economic issues Exchange on involvement of the local communities in park management, and on the creation of local economic benefits; Staff exchange program. Political issues Exchange on good governance practices in park administration; Joint acquisition of projects to financially support the objectives of the park.

16 THANK YOU!