531
Reserve is an ecological area of national and international importance. This area
includes the deltaic space, the Murighiol Plopu salt marshes, the Razim Sinoe
lagoon system, the Isaccea-Tulcea section and the Black Sea coastline from the
Chilia Branch to Cap Midia, also including the territorial waters.
Within this perimeter, the Danube Delta shelters a large number of species
belonging to a large number of systematic units. Moreover, the Danube Delta stands
out due to its very high density of rare species or species that do not exist elsewhere
on the continent. The protection of fauna, more precisely of birds, and also of forests became a must approximately 80 years ago, after the First World War. After
1930, there were two natural reserves: Letea Natural Park (1930) and RoscaBuhaiova- Hrescica Area (1940). In 1950, thanks to the creation of the Commission
for Natural Monuments by the Romanian Academy, the number of natural reserves
increased to six (three bird reserves, one forest reserve and two bird and forest
reserves). At that time, the overall surface area of the reserves was 41,046 ha.
Whereas other protected areas (national parks, natural monuments, strict natural
reserves, etc.) enjoy strict protection, the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve has several objectives. These are the preservation of the ecosystems (flora and fauna), the
stimulation of traditional economic activities that are not harmful or are minimally
harmful to the ecosystems, and the information and education of the population
about the scientific importance of the existing ecosystems and the importance of
their preservation. This concept of a reserve should be integrated as a deltaic space
management tool meant to harmonize the traditional economic activities of the local
population with the requirements of nature preservation. According to this concept,
three types of zones were defined in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve
(Fig. 17.11).
The strictly protected zones have an overall surface area of 506 km
2
(i.e., 8.7%
of the total surface area). These zones include 20 reserves in which any economic
activity is forbidden. Human access is permitted only for scientific research or environmental monitoring purposes. Buffer zones (2233 km
2
, i.e., 38.5% of the total
surface area) are generally defined around the strictly protected zones. Certain traditional natural resources exploitation activities are allowed in the buffer zones.
These zones are intended to reduce anthropogenic pressure and to ensure a smooth
transition to the economic zones. The economic zones (3061 km
2
or 306,100 ha, i.e.,
52.8% of the area of the reserve) include floodable land, land protected by dykes for
agricultural, fishery or forestry use, and localities. All economic activities are
allowed in these zones; however, certain restrictions imposed by the ARBDD
3
may
apply. Whereas all the zones which were previously altered are included in the
reserve, these “altered” zones are not on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites;
therefore, its surface area is only 312,440 ha.
3 Management of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve.
17 Alteration and Remediation of Coastal Wetland Ecosystems in the Danube Delta…
Reserve is an ecological area of national and international importance. This area
includes the deltaic space, the Murighiol Plopu salt marshes, the Razim Sinoe
lagoon system, the Isaccea-Tulcea section and the Black Sea coastline from the
Chilia Branch to Cap Midia, also including the territorial waters.
Within this perimeter, the Danube Delta shelters a large number of species
belonging to a large number of systematic units. Moreover, the Danube Delta stands
out due to its very high density of rare species or species that do not exist elsewhere
on the continent. The protection of fauna, more precisely of birds, and also of forests became a must approximately 80 years ago, after the First World War. After
1930, there were two natural reserves: Letea Natural Park (1930) and RoscaBuhaiova- Hrescica Area (1940). In 1950, thanks to the creation of the Commission
for Natural Monuments by the Romanian Academy, the number of natural reserves
increased to six (three bird reserves, one forest reserve and two bird and forest
reserves). At that time, the overall surface area of the reserves was 41,046 ha.
Whereas other protected areas (national parks, natural monuments, strict natural
reserves, etc.) enjoy strict protection, the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve has several objectives. These are the preservation of the ecosystems (flora and fauna), the
stimulation of traditional economic activities that are not harmful or are minimally
harmful to the ecosystems, and the information and education of the population
about the scientific importance of the existing ecosystems and the importance of
their preservation. This concept of a reserve should be integrated as a deltaic space
management tool meant to harmonize the traditional economic activities of the local
population with the requirements of nature preservation. According to this concept,
three types of zones were defined in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve
(Fig. 17.11).
The strictly protected zones have an overall surface area of 506 km
2
(i.e., 8.7%
of the total surface area). These zones include 20 reserves in which any economic
activity is forbidden. Human access is permitted only for scientific research or environmental monitoring purposes. Buffer zones (2233 km
2
, i.e., 38.5% of the total
surface area) are generally defined around the strictly protected zones. Certain traditional natural resources exploitation activities are allowed in the buffer zones.
These zones are intended to reduce anthropogenic pressure and to ensure a smooth
transition to the economic zones. The economic zones (3061 km
2
or 306,100 ha, i.e.,
52.8% of the area of the reserve) include floodable land, land protected by dykes for
agricultural, fishery or forestry use, and localities. All economic activities are
allowed in these zones; however, certain restrictions imposed by the ARBDD
3
may
apply. Whereas all the zones which were previously altered are included in the
reserve, these “altered” zones are not on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites;
therefore, its surface area is only 312,440 ha.
3 Management of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve.
17 Alteration and Remediation of Coastal Wetland Ecosystems in the Danube Delta…