Radio România Internațional

Tag: green planet

  • Protection of sturgeons in the Danube Basin

    Protection of sturgeons in the Danube Basin

    The Danube River and the Black Sea are still home to some of the worlds most important wild sturgeon populations. Unfortunately, over the past decades, these migratory fish populations have dramatically dwindled because of barriers created by man. Dams and hydropower plants have divided the natural habitats of these fish species. Furthermore, fishing, pollution and the destruction of habitats have caused imbalances of the marine ecosystem and sturgeons have consequently been much affected.



    Out of 6 species, only 4 have managed to survive, namely the beluga or huso huso, the sterlet, the sevruga sturgeon and the Russian sturgeon, which are on the list of endangered species on the Red List of Endangered Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Fishing of sturgeons was first forbidden in Romania in 2006 for a period of 10 years, and in 2016, the ban on sturgeon fishing was extended by another 5 years.



    In order to contribute to the conservation of sturgeons, WWF – World Wildlife Fund Romania has implemented various projects approaching the issue of overfishing, which is the main direct threat to the survival of the last wild sturgeon populations in the Danube. WWF Romania experts say that more involvement is needed and a wider European cooperation. Also, mechanisms need to be created for fishermen to be supported, for them to be able to obtain revenues from alternative sources and to be involved in activities related to the conservation, protection of habitats and the preservation of essential fish migration routes.



    At present, in Romania, commercial fishing of sturgeon is banned, as well as the sale of sturgeon meat and caviar from the wild sturgeon in the Danube. Cristina Munteanu, a national manager of the WWF Romania project, has more: “Sturgeons are still most affected. We do not have the exact number of individuals in the species remaining in the Danube and the Black Sea, because these partial monitoring methods are rather expensive and require a lot of time. However, the knowledge we have following this partial monitoring shows that the sturgeon population is not big enough to allow commercial fishing. The ban on sturgeon fishing continues until 2021 and afterwards a decision will have to be made, in the next year, based on the latest scientific data which is available to us.



    WWF Romania cooperates with the World Sturgeon Conservation Society, a global network of researchers, together with which it drafted a pan-European action plan for this fish species. The plan was adopted at the end of 2018 by the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats and it will serve as a framework for all the European countries located in the regions with sturgeon populations. Last year, 10 European countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine initiated a project for a 3-year period, for the conservation of endangered migratory fish species in the Danube basin.



    Here is Cristina Munteanu with details: “The project is funded by the EU through the Danube Transnational Programme and it was launched last June. It is meant to identify common methods to set up sturgeon habitats, to make demonstrations of how to increase the fish population, to identify methods to set up fish farms with the purpose of repopulating the Danube and the Black Sea with sturgeon. Based on the analysis of current policies well eventually make some recommendations on how to include the conservation of these species in various plans such as the water transport plans, the plans for sand and gravel extraction from the Danube or any other project undertaken on the Danube. There are 10 countries in this project grouped by work packages. Depending on their experience, each partner will be involved in one or two work packages. One package focuses on identifying habitats, another one focuses on conservation ex-situ, namely on fish stocks which are used for repopulation. Other packages are devoted to policies and databases including up-to-date information. Although the project has just started, we managed to achieve some things such as a draft habitat-identification manual. We have also started to analyse the existing policies and we are currently drafting a report on these policies.



    Also as part of this project, on April 18, in Isaccea, Tulcea county, action was taken to repopulate the Danube with sturgeon, more precisely with Russian sturgeon: “The event was actually a demonstration; we did not actually replace the extinct fish individuals. We released around 1,500 baby sturgeons that were marked and that will be monitored, to see their behaviour in the Danube on their way to the Black Sea and how long they stay in the feeding areas. Repopulating actions will also take place in Hungary where a smaller number of sturgeons will be released. The repopulating actions will be resumed next year.



    Romania also has sturgeon farms. One kg of sturgeon is 9.5 Euros and caviar costs between 127.6 Euros and 212.7 Euros per 100 grams. (translation by L. Simion)

  • The Nera Gorges

    The Nera Gorges

    The parks most grandiose place is the Nera Gorges, a canyon stretching over more than 20 kilometres. The Nera River is crossing this spectacular, breath-taking canyon, the biggest in Romania, with stonewalls reaching up 200 meters, into which the water has carved numerous ponds, caves, canyons and waterfalls. Tens of tourists are visiting the Nera Gorges every year and for this reason the authorities want to turn it into an eco-tourism destination. Raluca Peternel with the WWF branch in Romania has worked on the Nerei project from its very beginning.



    Raluca Peternel: “The Nera Gorges as an eco-tourist destination has been proposed upon a selection carried out in all the south western Carpathians. The initiative is part of a bigger project run by WWF Romania jointly with its partners. As part of this project called ‘Wildlife in the Carpathians – wealth for the people, research was carried out on areas with tourist potential in south western Carpathians. Because the Nera Gorges got the highest number of points, the place was promoted as an ecotourist destination. The area is famous for its legends, breath-taking beauties as well as cultural values like traditions and customs. The area has its well-preserved forests that have been proposed for UNESCO. There is accommodation here that can cater for all tastes as well as many entertainment facilities. All tourist routes are marked and certified and have been included on a map, which is available in guest-houses, the parks administration centre and in many other places. Tourists cannot get lost if they have this map, which comprises comprehensive information about the region.



    The Nera Gorges-Beusnita natural reserve was created back in 1943 to protect the biodiversity in the region as well as a series of areas of breath-taking beauty, some of which have been included in national and international rankings. Here is the Bigar waterfall, a unique place in the world, which looks like a cupola inundated by waters coming from underground caves. The Devils Lake is one of the most interesting lakes in the region and was formed after the ceiling of a cave had collapsed. It is 9 meters deep, the deepest Karst lake in the country. In a wild area of the park, the Ochiul Beiului Lake is crater shaped, and is 3.6 meters deep. It is blue in colour, and so clear that you can see the fish swimming in it. 20 minutes away from Ochiul Beiului Lake is Beusnita Waterfalls, in fact a chain of smaller waterfalls, 15 meters tall, covered in green moss.



    The Nera Gorges area has some of the most beautiful ancient and semi-virgin beech forests in Europe. The forested peaks are not too high, but we find a rich biodiversity. Here we find 30 orchid species, and a luxuriant vegetation climbs the limestone walls, in the cracks grow wild lilac bushes, alongside other sub-Mediterranean plants. Calin Uruci, a biologist with the park’s management, told us: “In terms of biodiversity, along the Nera River we have species that are Tertiary Age relics, such as the Balkan Loach. If we speak of the beech copses on the limestone plateaus, on the Nera’s steep banks, we are about to issue a UNESCO backed website, since here we have some of the most representative ancient and semi-virgin beech forests in Europe. Numerous invertebrate species find shelter here, which is provided by the old-growth trees, and the significant quantities of deadwood, helping to regenerate elements in forest ecosystems. Basically, in a dead tree there’s more life, due to species that take shelter here, than in a living one. The older the tree, the more valuable it is in terms of biodiversity. The park is special due to its sub-Mediterranean climate and its Karst relief, which is why we have here species such as the horned viper, or species endemic to the park, such as the Carpathian scorpion, which you can see on the national park’s crest.



    The Nera Gorges area also shelters many species of birds, mammals, while its pristine waters are home to many species of carnivorous fish. Calin Uruci: “We have large numbers of peregrine falcon, in fact, we have here more than three quarters of daytime predatory birds in the country, and 9 out of the 10 species of woodpecker in the country. We also have rare species, protected at the European level. In total, we have over 140 species that are protected. In terms of running water bodies, we have the common kingfisher, one of the most beautiful birds in Romania, and people who go by boat down the Nera river can see them fly along it in summer. In terms of mammals we have a sizeable population of lynx, as well as several wolf packs. Bears are rarer, it is only a transit area for them. Since water is the most important element, this park has a well represented population of otters.



    This area, which is about to be turned into a destination for eco-tourism, has everything to gain from the development of local communities. Producers will be able to better sell their traditional fares, which are being advertised at international fairs, such as Banat spirits, Tirol cheeses, jams and preserves, and many types of honey.