Radio România Internațional

Category: Green Planet

Illegal Logging in Romania

In Romania, forested areas have
dropped significantly in surface, reaching 28.95%, around 7 million hectares,
below the EU average of 43%. Of this surface, about 415,000 ha belong to small
scale owners, with under 100 ha, with a great degree of exposure to illegal
logging for lack of supervision. Old-growth forests, lacking human
intervention, account for less than 3% of the total surface, compared to 12% in
1974. Many of these beech forests are part of the UNESCO world heritage. According
to the latest Greenpeace report on illegal logging in Romania in 2017, the
authorities have identified 12,487 cases nationally, around 34 per day, 32%
more than in the previous year. Ciprian Galusca is the coordinator of the
forest and biodiversity campaign with Greenpeace Romania:

The counties with the most illegal logging are Mures, Brasov, and Olt,
worsening compared to 2016. We have 8,000 violations on the books, 62% more
than last year. On the whole, nationally, we have 200,000 cubic meters of wood
getting cut illegally. Official data shows that between 2008 and 2014 8 million
cubic meters got cut illegally, and of these the authorities have uncovered
logging worth 200,000 cubic meters, meaning less than 2%. This means that,
looking at the figures related to the phenomenon the authorities are not very
effective at stopping it.

The counties of Cluj, Maramures and
Sibiu account for 54% of the volume of illegally cut wood in 2017 at the
national level. Over 20,000 cases were investigated last year, up 15% from
2016. In terms of prosecution, almost 5,500 cases were solved by prosecutors,
up 26%, and only 605 were brought to court. 1,465 vehicles used for the
transportation of illegally cut wood were confiscated, up 27.83% compared to
the previous year, as indicated by Greenpeace Romania. Here is Ciprian Galusca
once again:

When we go to the forest to see what happens, we notice that illegal loggers
are very well equipped. They are economic agents with high performance
equipment, cutting trees with a high degree of efficiency. If we look at the
vehicles confiscated by the authorities in 2017, however, we notice that there
are a high number of horse drawn carts. It is impossible to tell clearly how
much illegal wood is getting cut in Romania.

In the last few years, the
authorities in the country have implemented a number of systems and protocols
meant to combat illegal logging, increasing transparency. However, the practice
cannot be stopped, even though the environmental organizations are doing their
best, according to Ciprian Galusca:

Environmental organizations do their job, they draw attention to this
issue, and offer solutions for the citizens to get involved. This is what
Greenpeace does. Soon we will be launching a smartphone application for people
to get involved in protecting forests in Romania, especially old-growth
forests. The app will allow citizens to report suspected illegal cuttings right
in the field, including a questionnaire by which they can identify whether or
not a cutting is illegal. They can send the filled in questionnaire along with
photos and GPS location. We will be analyzing the data, and possibly send in forest
rangers to investigate. At the same time, the app will use recent satellite
imagery, as recent as 2018, and will allow users to check the legality of wood
transports.

So far, civil society has played an
important role in identifying illegal logging, according to the Greenpeace
Report. According to an Ipsos poll conducted in 28 countries, Romanians are
very worried about the deterioration of the environment. Seven out of ten
Romanians say that deforestation is the main environmental problem at local
level, with waste management in second place in terms of environmental issues
in Romania. 34% of respondents share that opinion, with 32% saying that air
pollution was the worst problem.

(Translated by C. Cotoiu)

28 September 2018
Piatra Craiului National Park

In 1938, with the area only measuring 440 ha, it was granted protected status. In 1972 the surface was doubled, and in 1990 the national park was set up.

Mircea Verghelet, director of park administration company, told us about the most impressive sights: “What is unique about Piatra Craiului National Park is the fact that it is the only lime rock crest in Romania with heights over 2,000 m. It is a lime rock area with a major alpine bare ground. Also, in the western side of the crest we have spectacular relief, with vertical walls hundreds of meters high, pebbled areas and all sorts of formations, incredibly beautiful and a major attraction for the tourists who visit. Also, both in the north and the south sides, at the extremities of the crest of the massif, there are spectacular gorges. I would mention here the Zarnesti Precipices in Brasov County, which are famous, the Dambovicioara Gorges, the Brusturel Gorges and the Dambovita Gorges. All these are nature reserves that are now included in the strictly protected area of the national park.

The biodiversity of the park is impressive. The Piatra Craiului carnation is unique to the park, and is its symbol. It can be admired on the sunny crags in the lower alpine area, or at the upper edges of pastures. In the summer months you cannot fail to spot its beautiful pink colour. 41 species of orchids, edelweiss, yellow poppy and wild lilies add to the park’s natural wealth. From spring to autumn, the area bursts with colour. The caves provide shelter for over 15 species of bats, while over 100 rare bird species and 216 species of butterflies can be spotted, some of them unique protected species.

Mircea Verghelet: “In Piatra Craiului National Park we have over 1,100 species of plants, about one-third of the total number of superior plant species in Romania, on only 14,800 ha. We have the unique Piatra Craiului carnation, Dianthus callizonus, the symbol of the park, an endemic species that flowers only in the second half of July. It can be seen in high areas, but also in lower areas, and this is the only place in the world where it grows. The park is also home to many kinds of mammals. We have large carnivores that are not characteristic only of the park, but of the entire Carpathian area, such as the wolf, the bear and the bobcat. This winter, thanks to the monitoring activities we do, with camera traps placed in the park, we managed to capture four lynxes on film, some 25 to 30 bears and two wolf packs, one of them in the south and the other one in the northern part of the park, with each of the packs being made up of some 5-7 members. Another species which is iconic for Piatra Craiului and is a symbol of the massif is the chamois, which used to have a steady population here. When the Park Administration Company was set up in 1989, we managed to stop the hunting for that species, and right now we have more than 250 chamois living here. In time, they changed their behaviour and became very friendly with the tourists who are allowed to take pictures of them, even from as close as 10-15 metres.

Mountain lovers can also visit areas around the park by bike, and several routes have already been set up. Also lying on the outskirts of Zarnesti, a locality in Brasov County, you can find a gorge whose walls are 200-meter tall, and which stretches along a distance of some five kilometers. These are the Zarnesti Precipices, which represent one of the main access ways to the tourist tracks in Piatra Craiului massif, and the most sought-after climbing and bouldering area. Dozens of routes have been set up on the walls of the gorge. The longest one is 115 meter-long.

Mircea Verghelet: “Last year we ran a project by means of which we set up 11 mountain bike tracks, both inside the park, and along its limits. We marked the tracks on-site by placing some 160 route signs, there are three degrees of difficulty, there is also a map with those tracks that can be purchased from the park administration headquarters. Also, there are 10 boards we placed at major cross-road points around the park, which include the same map as well as directions for tourists. For mountain climbers, climbing and bouldering routes are also included. The most frequently used are those in the lower areas, as they are more accessible, in the regions of the Zarnesti Precipices, where we placed several info boards including details on the parks wildlife species and habitats and a chart with the routes that can be found on the wall, with various names and degrees of difficulty.

Each year, around 110,000 tourists visit the Piatra Craiului National Park. 25% of them are foreigners. (Translated by C. Cotoiu and E. Nasta)

31 August 2018
The Macin Mountains National Park

The Macin Mountains National Park in Tulcea county is a protected area in Dobrogea, eastern Romania. The park was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1998 and is the only region in the European Union where ecosystems that are normally found in steppes coexist here with those specific to the sub-Mediterranean regions. The Macin Mountains are part of the Natura 2000 Network being the only national park in Europe aimed at the protection and promotion of biodiversity in the steppic bioregion.

The Macin Mountains are the driest and oldest mountains in Romania and home to almost 70% of all types of known rocks, plants growing in the dry land, birds usually found in other Danube countries and many rare species. The area is also a major migration route for the birds following the Prut and Siret rivers. Its also where you can spot the largest number of predatory bird species in Europe, namely 29.

For its ornithological wealth, the Macin Mountains have been added to the list of Europes Most Important Bird Areas. Viorel Rosca, director with the Macin Mountains National Park tells us more about this region:

Viorel Rosca: “There are 181 different bird species here because the region is a real paradise for birds thanks to the alternation between valleys and sharp crests which allows the formation of rising air currents. The birds use these currents to glide and to look for food. The area is home to many rare, endangered species that can only be seen in books in other parts of Europe. We have many species of eagles, such as the spotted eagle (Aquila Clanga) and the lesser spotted eagle (Aquila Pomarina), the short-toed snake eagle (Circaetus Gallicus), the Saker Falcon (Falco Cherrug) and other endangered species. The most common animal species here is the Greek tortoise (Testudo Graeca). We have monitored this species and found out there are 4,000 of these animals around our park. Tourists visiting the park on horseback can often see these animals gathered around the pools formed in the granite rock. Also living here is the so called ‘Dobrogean dragon (Elaphe sauromates), which is a non-venomous snake that can grow up to three meters in length, and which needs peace and quiet in order to develop properly. The national park is also home to a rare species of lizard, the European copper skink (Ablepharus Kitaibelli) and to the European green lizard (Lacerta Viridis), which is quite beautiful.

There are many ecosystems in this area, including forests, bushes and pastures, rivers, moors, rocks and pebbles and several archaeological sites. Macin Mountains is the only place in the country where the red deer can still be found. Fortunately, in the past years, the population has grown to 160. Deer and wild boars can also be found in the area, just like jackals, the main animal predator in the park. As regards plants, the second crest of the mountains, Culmea Pricopanului, is home to 27 species that are unique in Dobrogea, and 72 protected species, as they are rare or vulnerable. There are plants that grow right from the stone, as the magmatic rocks there are rich in nutrients. Next, director Viorel Rosca gives us details about the richness of this park:

“There are some 1,900 species of plants, accounting for more than half of Romanias flora. In spring, there are two species of snowdrops that can only be found here: Galanthus Picatus and Galantus Elwessi. We also have the cloth-of-gold crocus (Crocus Reticulates), rare irises like the bearded iris (Iris Reichenbachii) and the pigmy iris (Iris Pumila), the basket-of-gold wildflower (Alyssum Saxatile). Another endemic species in the park is Campanula Romanica, which grows on rocky ground and has a special adaptation system, as the Macin Mountains are the driest and rockiest in the country. We also have the frog cup (Flitillaria Meleagris) and other extremely rare species of wild flowers, which cannot be found anywhere else in the country. Extremely beautiful are the peonies and we have two species: the Dobrudjia peony and the steppe peony. There are also species of trees growing here, such as the Crimean beech, a species of beech that grows at altitudes of over 700 meters. We have an area of 155 hectares of forest of this species of beech, which can grow up to 40 meters in length and 2 meters in diameter.

For several years now, the village of Greci has hosted the Information Centre of the Macin Mountains National Park, which hosts permanent exhibitions reflecting the areas biodiversity, but also temporary exhibitions promoting the traditions of the minorities living in that part of the country.

(Translated by D. Bilt & M. Ignatescu)

27 July 2018
The LIFE Programme in Romania

It’s been 26 years since the launch in Romania of the
LIFE Programme, a financing instrument of the European Union for protecting
nature. The programme’s general aim is to contribute to the successful
application of EU policy and legislation on the environment by co-funding
European added value projects. This project has helped restore forests and
aquatic habitats, saving numerous endangered species. Many sites are also
protected through the Natura 2000 network. Europe has today 27,000 such sites,
which cover 18% of EU’s territory. We found out more from Madalina Cozma,
project manager with the Ministry of the Environment:

The EU believes it is very important to have a
financial instrument dedicated to biodiversity and the protection of a clean
and healthy environment. Fortunately, things have expanded, as the EU has
realised it’s a also good thing to support productive activities, so Life
Programme financing also covers this aspect, alongside the conservation of
biodiversity and the environment. We should keep in mind that productive
activities, which create jobs, have to be in harmony with a clean environment.
We need industrial production in harmony with EU directives for environmental
protection and conservation. The LIFE Programme also deals with activities
aimed at climate, but also information and governance. Therefore, people have
to be informed on the procedures involved in this programme, the way in which
they can influence European legislation, but also the way in which they can act
regionally.

Romania has valuable ecosystems, recognised at
a European level, covering a surface area of 1.6 million hectares, as well as
the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve with its 580,000 hectares. Protected natural
areas in Romania, including the Natura 2000 sites, account for 23% of the
country’s surface area. The new LIFE Programme supports parties interested in
protecting nature and conserving endangered species. The new integrated LIFE
projects aim to put into application environment and climate legislation, in
order to tackle issues such as water shortages, climate change, the circular
economy and loss of biodiversity. Here is Madalina Cozma from the Romanian
Ministry of the Environment:

We are doing everything in our power to inform
interested parties, potential beneficiaries and the people running projects
about the way in which they can be implemented, what they should do and how to
comply with EU provisions. New elements were launched on 18 April. This year
we’ll be able to upload the projects on the EU’s digital platform in two
stages: we can make a concept note presenting what we as potential
beneficiaries can do and informing the people financing our ideas for projects.
This means writing within a template provided by the EU, about ten pages long,
where to express our ideas and provide a financial evaluation. This document is
then posted on the EU’s digital platform until June 10. In October the EU
provides an answer as to whether the idea is worth financing, then we write the
project in long form, the template for which can also be found on the EU
website, and then we submit the project and we’ll get an answer in January
2019. In July 2019 we can begin implementing the project. We have a National Point
of Contact within the Ministry of the Environment, where you can call the line
dialling 021.4089609, or you can go to the website of the ministry, where you
have all the data.

Since 1992, when the LIFE Programme was
launched, 3,942 projects have been implemented, with 52 projects in Romania in
all areas covered by the programme. Madalina Cozma gave us a few examples:

Projects dealing with conservation and
biodiversity. Here we have valuable projects recognised at the European level,
such as the Management and Protection of Large Carnivores. We also have
projects aimed at protecting birds. We have projects such as the one for
protecting a rare species of bird, a project developed together with our
colleagues in Hungary and a bird protection NGO. We have a project, which we
plan to continue, regarding another species of bird that was all but extinct in
Europe, endemic to the western pat of the country, from the Banat region to the
Pannonian Basin. This was a very successful project, which we also presented at
EU level. We continue to strive to attract as many potential beneficiaries as
possible and to explain the role of these types of financing and how they can
apply within the programme. With this programme, we want to access as much
funding as we can so as to be able to conserve a large part of Romania’s
treasure trove of nature and biodiversity.

The financial package for the application of
the LIFE Programme for 2014-2020 is over 3 billion euros, compared to 2 billion
euros for the 2007-2013 interval.

27 April 2018
Spring Bird Migration

Romania boasts a rich bird fauna. There are thousands of species that find in our country good conditions for nesting, feeding or just shelter. Out of the total number of known species, some 100 are sedentary and 150 migratory, but there are also birds that stay during winter as well, some that transit the country to reach other areas and also, sometimes, birds that get lost.

In Romania, there are 5 main locations known to host migratory birds of prey: Dobrogea, the upper and lower Mures, the Prut Valley and the Turului Valley. The migratory birds that go round the Carpathians and the Black Sea must pass through Dobrogea, which is seen as a genuine funnel for migration. The Macin Mountains are one of the best places for migration in Europe, in terms of number of species. Some 10,000-prey birds and 20,000 white storks migrate annually. Lunca Prutului is another wetland of interest, both for Romania and the southeast of Europe as a whole. Some of the main routes of these birds go along this valley. Some of them get shelter, others feed and nest in this area.

Ovidiu Bufnila, a communication specialist with the Romanian Ornithological Society told us more: “There are approximately 400 species of birds that either stay the entire year, such as sparrows, tits or birds that have wintered in Romania and are now leaving, such as most species of goose and the winter swans. But there are also birds that have just returned or are on their way to Romania. The first migratory bird that we have seen this year was a black stork. It had stopped on its way to the north, somewhere near Odorheiul Secuiesc. There followed the first white stork, which was spotted above Bucharest on March 7th. On March 8th, my colleagues saw the first real signs of spring. They saw the first hoopoe near Calarasi, and also the first big flocks of storks transiting Romania, and some 200 cranes that had stopped for food and shelter somewhere in Dobrogea, near Histria. But what was most interesting was that spoonbills were spotted not in the Danube Delta as usual, but in Moldova, in the east. Then, one by one, all the other species that we know started coming. The biggest wave however, and the most visible one, was the one during the freezing rain period, a phenomenon that caught lots of birds on the way. Storks managed to stay on the ground and get rid of the ice that had fallen on them, but there were other weaker and less prepared species that were really affected. Some didn’t make it, others headed north. Migration will end when we see the last announcers of spring, and I’m referring to cuckoos and bee-eaters, beautifully colored birds, which normally arrive in Romania in early May or late April. “

Scientists have been particularly keen on finding out how birds manage to find the right direction during migration. Although there are lots of theories about it, most scientists believe that birds’ orientation during migration varies from one species to the other. It has been scientifically proven that migrating birds have been shown to possess compass systems that allow them to select and maintain certain compass directions. Three such systems are known, solar, stellar and magnetic.

There are species that inherit the sense of orientation such as the cuckoo. There are also cases when the young birds follow their parents, for instance, the white stork.

In all these cases a map is being imprinted in the birds’ memory after the first migration, a map they will use in their future migrations. Given that the number of migratory birds originating in Europe is on the decrease, the European Union has been implementing policies aimed at containing this phenomenon, with measures being taken for habitat management and protection. The Birds Directive of the European Union is the oldest EU legislation on the environment. It plays a major role especially in the case of some of the most threatened bird species: the Eurasian spoonbill, the white-tailed eagle and the Spanish imperial eagle. In Romania, farmers are granted subsidies provided that they get involved in activities offering protection to certain bird species, for instance, the lesser spotted eagle. In Romania, we have more than 2,300 pairs, accounting for 10% of the world’s population and 22% at European level, which is largely due to the fact that in Romania, nature is still rich and farming is environmentally friendly.

Speaking about that, is Ovidiu Bufnila again: “There are quite a few agro-environmental measures to be taken. These measures, which we support together with our partners, are meant to help farmers, but also to support Romania’s fauna. I’m talking about the lesser-spotted eagle, its nesting areas, which should be rich in food resources. Farmers who apply for this agro-environmental measure will have to abide by certain rules and protect the species for which they got the money. “

Another agro-environmental measure pertains to the protection of the red-breasted goose, a species on the verge of extinction, protected at EU level. This bird was included on the list of the most endangered species temporarily living in Europe. The red-breasted goose has officially received international protection, through the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats. In Romania, the red-breasted goose arrives only in late October and stays until March.

With details on that, here is Ovidiu Bufnila once again: “The red-breasted goose is a species that, the moment it arrives in Romania, needs to find corn kernels, until then wheat and the rape grow. This measure is kept in place, there are tens of millions of Euros Romanian farmers cash in, yet this measure applies only to the habitat of the red-breasted eagle, in Baragan and Dobrogea. “

The Romanian Ornithological Society has been running a series for projects for the protection of birds and for combating poaching in the case of mocking birds. “Romania Grows Wings” is a project whereby ornithologists jointly with volunteers set up new artificial nests each spring, in parks around Bucharest and in ten other major cities across the country. Another project targets the protection and the preservation of one of Europe’s most endangered bird species: the Saker falcon. In order to provide nesting facilities for the Saker falcon, artificial nests have been set up on the high-power grids of the electricity distributor in Oltenia, southern Romania. At present, the Saker falcon has a population of around 450 pairs across Europe, with half of it being reported in Hungary and Slovakia.

30 March 2018
The Green Planet

Worried by the irreversible
negative effects of building micro-hydropower stations on mountain rivers,
environmentalists have launched a free interactive map and an app that allows
anyone to contribute to the protection of rivers where such plants are built.
The app was created by WWF Romania in association with ESRI Romania, in an
attempt to draw attention to the fact that these hydropower projects are
destroying unique and valuable mountain ecosystems. Rivers are dried and
reduced to a trickle of water, while valleys that used to be green are now
filled with building site waste and thick metal pipes.

For years now,
micro-hydropower plants have become a business of choice because they can be financed
using European funds and yield high profits with the use of green certificates.
Diana Cosmoiu, national policy coordinator for WWF Romania, explains:

We created this
interactive map in order to show the impact of hydroelectric projects on
Romanian rivers, especially those with a high environmental value. So far, no
such instrument has been available to the public, one that is both complex and
easy to use. The app superimposes the locations of these hydropower stations
over the maps of protected areas, highlighting rivers that are important from
an ecological point of view. There are only a few rivers left in Romania that
have not been affected by hydroelectric facilities and other types of projects.
Apart from hydroelectric projects, there are also hydrotechnical projects that
interfere with the course of the rivers and have an environmental impact by
breaking up rivers, affecting the sediment and the migration of fish.

The application can also be
used on a smartphone, as Diana Cosmoiu from WWF Romania details:

This app provides nature
lovers, NGOs and anyone interested in such investments with information on the
location of hydropower stations in relation to protected areas and
environmentally important rivers. At the same time, nature lovers and NGOs can
contribute to the protection of rivers by contributing new information gathered
in the field. The map provides technical data about a certain hydropower plant,
such as capacity and when it became operational. We can look up a specific
river and see if there are any installations on it. We can also do all sorts of
searches, by county, for example, or we can look up a certain investor. Locals
who live around a hydropower station and people passing through the area, such
as researchers, anglers and tourists, can access the map on their phones, and,
using an app incorporated into the map, can upload information from where they
are into the map. The information is reviewed by WWF, and, if verified, is
incorporated into the map.

One case that was recently in
the media is the hydropower project in the Jiu Gorge National Park, in
south-western Romania, which is to use 85% of the capacity of the Jiu River.
Both the investor and the authorities have ignored the European legislation on
nature conservation. There are many more such examples, to be found even in
protected areas and these practices must be put an end to, the
environmentalists say. Diana Cosmoiu WWF Romania:

There are hundreds of
installations that have been obstructing our rivers for decades. Many of them,
around 100, do not appear on our map for lack of information. Some are very old
projects, even clogged in some cases and therefore do not produce any power,
but they still block the rivers and affect the local flora and wild life.
What’s important is not the number of such projects, but their location. If you
look at the map, you’ll see that it’s precisely the areas with high
environmental value, high up in the mountains, that have the greatest potential
to produce electricity, due to a high altitude differential, and these are the
places in which investors are interested.

Romania is not the only
country in Eastern Europe that faces such problems. Drava, a river in Croatia
that flows into the Danube and which forms part of the EU network called Natura
2000, is threatened with the building of two large hydroelectric plants. Plans
to build a hydropower plant also exist for Hron river in Slovakia, in spite of
the fact that the middle section of the river has recently become a Natura 2000
site to improve the conservation of its fish species.

23 February 2018
Green Buildings in Romania

Romania is gradually adopting the idea of green buildings, sustainable buildings constructed on the basis of ecological standards, well insulated and low polluting, with a minimal environmental impact. It is a concept already applied around the world, in cities that have started to blend green buildings with modern or legacy architecture. This trend is encouraged by organizations that issue certificates attesting that buildings are environmentally friendly. According to Build Green Romania, one of the main organizations of this type, Romania is in a good place right now as far as this area is concerned. Bucharest and Cluj are the cities with the top graded buildings in terms of environmental friendliness. We spoke to Elena Rastei, an environmental activist and sustainability expert, who told us that the market evolves differently according to the destination of the building, with significant differences between residential and business buildings:

“This is a more recent trend when it comes to residential complexes. To this point, one of the first developers of green certificate buildings, Studium Green in Cluj Napoca, finished its first project as late as 2014. In Bucharest, the first such buildings were finalized in 2016-2017. As regards commercial buildings, that is an area with a higher percentage of green buildings. The first of their type appeared around 2009, and the trend holds. When we talk about residential buildings, people are looking for better and healthier buildings. People are starting to think about the air they breathe indoors. It is not only about technology, but also about how to maximize natural light within a home, possibilities to provide natural ventilation, independence from mechanical devices, and less reliance on toxic volatile chemicals in interior finishes, which are known to be harmful. The quality of interiors is also related to how well sealed buildings are, and if there are pockets of higher temperature that encourage mildew. Materials are also very important in terms of toxicity.”

Some buildings can be completely covered in living plants, and they are referred to as vertical gardens. Plaints are not just decoration, but provide a multitude of benefits. They reduce noise, have a cooling effect, provide fresh air and have a soothing effect on the tenants. In a green building, each apartment has access to a small oasis of vegetation with centralized irrigation and illumination. Also, vegetation is distributed so that even the smallest apartment has access to potted plants, while larger ones have entire planted areas. Here is Elena Rastei again:

“When we talk about planted areas, we have two types of impact on the terrain, if it is green or if it is barren. A barren plot is better from a sustainability point of view, when it is revitalized and reintroduced to the system, compared to a green plot that we destroy when we build. In the initial phase, a green plot has smaller impact on the sustainability index. However, we can also have a green plot on top of the building, on the roof. This green space can be of two types: intensive and extensive. It is intensive when we have trees, with a substrate at least 30 cm thick in order to sustain roots, with higher costs, with drip irrigation, and more attention needed to the support structure of the building. For instance, the Central District building in Bucharest has this combination of intensive and extensive green space. Extensive green spaces have a thinner substrate, at least 10 cm thick, which can be manually irrigated, with local, adaptable plants, that need less water.”

This complex was named last year the highest performing residential building in Romania as part of an international competition judged in London, called the European Property Awards. Romania is actually a pioneer in innovative policies for the green building sector. The country reduced taxes for green buildings, and proposed the introduction of a so-called green mortgage, encouraging developers to build green, and customers to get a cheaper mortgage loan. Even though green buildings cost 20% more to build, an apartment in such a building is almost the same price as a regular one. In addition, the customer spends much less for maintenance in such a building.

At a European level, Romania is a young market in terms of green buildings. Before 2015, Romania had 200 green buildings. Right now, 6,000 homes in 22 projects are in the process of getting certified. In terms of business buildings, 50 buildings have applied for the American system of certification called LEED, and 80 of them have applied for the British system BREEAM. (translated by Calin Cotoiu)

26 January 2018
UN report on the protection of the Danube-Carpathian area

Well known for its natural treasures, the
Danube-Carpathian area is in jeopardy, according to the UN Environmental
Program, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Eurac Research Centre.

Illegal logging, trading in protected species,
most notably sturgeon, and diverting mountain springs, are threatening
biodiversity in the area, in spite of European and international legislation on
nature protection. This year, UNESCO, noting their exceptional natural value,
declared a part of its world heritage 24,000 ha of virgin forests in Romania,
as well as 5,500 ha of beech forests and virgin forests in the Carpathians and
the Podillya region of Ukraine. In addition, forests in the Carpathians are
home to the largest populations of large carnivores, which, in spite of
international legislation and EU conventions, continue to be poached. WWF
Romania has been working in this region for over 10 years, running projects to
preserve the biological diversity of wild species and natural ecosystems.
Orieta Hulea, WWF Romania general manager, told us:

Romania is of inestimable value, with its
virgin or near-virgin forests. WWF Romania, along with other environmental
organisations, has begun an ample process of identifying these areas. We
started with an estimation made for about 200,000 ha, six or seven years ago.
Then we started field evaluations, with
systematic scanning of surfaces, but the process of including these surfaces,
confirmed as virgin forests by scientific process, in the Virgin Forest
Catalogue, which was set up last year, is a laborious one. Where forests are
under state property, the process is easier, they go under strict protection
right away. However, in terms of private forests, the process encounters
obstacles, because forest owners agree to have forests protected with great
difficulty. Which is why, in order to protect forests that go into the
catalogue and make the process easier, we need to have available compensation
for private forest owners. Then we confront illegal logging. Things have been
done, things have improved through closer monitoring and control, but illegal
logging is still going on. That is why Romania needs to set up a Forestry
Inspector General Office, a system of tracing wood mass, allowing the real time
identification of such situations, followed by intervention, in conclusion:
control and intervention.

In the last three decades, sturgeon fishing has
gone down over 99% all over the world, as the populations were severely
depleted. In the Danube basin we find the last viable sturgeon populations on
the entire continent. In order to protect this category of fish, the ban on
fishing sturgeon has been extended by five more years last year. Of the six
sturgeon species in the Danube basin, one is extinct, and the other five are
threatened. Orieta Hulea, WWF Romania General Manager, told us about it:

Sturgeon fishing is strictly prohibited.
Special permits are issued only for scientific research. However, we are faced
with poaching, and there we have a long way to go. We published a report a few
years ago on caviar smuggling. Some seizures have been made, a year ago a huge
quantity of meat and caviar was seized. The Border Police is making efforts to
this end, but these efforts have to be concentrated, and we worked very closely
with fishing communities along the Danube. There are social problems there, and
poaching is a way of supplementing resources in those communities. Therefore we
have to offer all sorts of opportunities, mechanisms that offer additional
opportunities to the people inclined to run afoul of the law, allowing them to
supplement their income.

Experts also warn of the extinction of
protected bird species in the Danube-Carpathian area. Tens of millions of birds
are hunted illegally in the Mediterranean area every year, and that goes for
Romania as well. Orieta Hulea:

Right this year, the authorities in Italy
seized from Italian hunters birds that had been shot in Romania. We are talking
about small birds that reach West European countries. Some of the birds were
under international protection. There was another case, at the border with
Hungary, where several thousands of birds were seized. It seems that there is a
demand in Western countries, especially Italy, for these birds, which are
served in restaurants as delicatessen. The impact is devastating for these
small birds, with an important role in the ecosystem.

The Danube-Carpathian area is believed by the
authors of the study to be one of the most important regional ecosystems in the
world, it needs sustainable management and close collaboration between national
agencies and the states in the region in terms of information exchange and law
enforcement. In addition, what is needed is enforcement of EU laws on nature
and wildlife, including the European Union’s action plan against smuggling wild
species.

29 December 2017
Carpathian Bears

Approximately half of the total number of
big carnivores in Europe can be found in Romania’s forests. The biggest of
them, also dubbed ‘the king of the European forest’ is the brown bear, a
species that is protected in the European Union, as it is on the red list of
endangered species. In many European countries, these bears have actually
disappeared from their natural habitats, destroyed by human intervention. In
Romania there are several viable populations of bear, which are however very
difficult to manage. For years now, people have been reporting cases of bears
who come down to the inhabited areas, causing serious damage. Many people have
been hurt and dozens of domestic animals have been killed. Also, the bears have
destroyed crops and damaged sheepfolds and apiaries. Local authorities in the
mountain areas are overwhelmed by the situation and have called on the Ministry
of the Environment to find a solution.

Cristian Pap, the regional coordinator
of protected areas with WWF Romania has told us why the situation is as it is
today:

We’re
in this situation as the result of an aggregation of factors, including the
fragmentation of bears’ habitats. Forests have been massively cut, everywhere
in the country. Then, natural food supplies have diminished, which means that
the bears, just like other big carnivores, can no longer find prey in the
forest. Forest fruits are also scarce,
because people pick them all up. On the other hand, bears are attracted to the
inhabited areas by the waste that is not properly stored or disposed of, and
also by orchards. And, we can also talk about the change in their behavior due
to the way in which hunting is managed in Romania. There are hunters who feed
the bears in order to prepare them for their hunting parties.

This summer, out
of the 18 hunting associations existing in Harghita county, in central Romania,
12 have submitted applications to
harvest 73 bears and 12 wolves. An approval was issued for only 6 bears,
although, since the beginning of the year, more than 340 cases of destruction
caused by wild animals have been reported in this county alone, of which 80
caused by bears. This fall, the Ministry of the Environment has approved an
order for the catching of at most 140 dangerous animals, all over the country,
but hunting associations representatives say it’s not enough. For instance, in
Covasna county, the habitat can accommodate 700 bears, but in reality their
number is double. While local authorities call for harvesting approvals, the
green associations suggest non-lethal solutions, in order to protect the
species. They do not agree with a waiver that would allow shooting bears as a
means of conflict prevention, anticipating a hidden way of trophy hunting.

Here
is the green activist Gabriel Paun:

Trophy
hunting is the main cause of today’s hysteria, which is an artificial problem
from our point of view and which actually generated the problem that we are
faced with today. If we look at Romania’s history, up to the 80s and 90s,
people simply cohabited with wild animals. When the trophy industry started
developing and growing roots, it started turning into a problem, which
eventually degenerated into hysteria. This industry has developed alongside
certain services, which actually meant the setting up of observation points to
find and shoot the bears living close to the local communities. Most of them
are in Covasna and Harghita, where there are also the largest bear populations.
Also, it is there that the biggest problems appear, because the bears were
taken out of the woods, and since they are not fed at those observation points
anymore, problems occur on a regular basis.

Green activists
believe that the brown bear needs large habitats to travel around without interacting
with humans, using central passing corridors. WWF is already running a number
of projects and campaigns aimed at protecting the natural environment and the
brown bears in the Carpathians, as Cristian Pap told us:

In 2012-2014 we had a project in Maramures,
called ‘Open borders for the bears in the Romanian and Ukrainian Carpathians’,
bringing solutions for the preservation of biodiversity, especially that of
large carnivores, by maintaining ecological connectivity in the Carpathians and
reducing the risk of habitat fragmentation. We have also identified the needs
for an ecological reconstruction of these corridors, while at the same time
maintaining a sustainable use of natural resources. All our preservation
activities go hand in hand with this sustainable development component. We’ve
also run many other projects, including in the south-western Carpathians, where
we tried to identify the critical areas for the bears’ habitat, the wild areas.
We are currently running a project called ‘Transgreen’, an international
project that provides solutions for the building of a transport infrastructure
with a minimum impact on the environment. Together with the authorities we come
up with concrete solutions, which combine infrastructure development with
ecological connectivity. So, we are talking about a green infrastructure that
is essential for both people and animals. Also, we are now running a project
called ‘EU Large Carnivores’, a Life project by means of which we are trying to
reduce the area in which conflicts may occur between people and wild animals.
This ecological connectivity is important because, due to its absence in
certain areas, we can actually witness conflicts between bears and humans.
Because there are no ecological corridors they can use in order to get from one
area to another, bears can reach human settlements and cause incidents.

The solutions
proposed by environmental organizations include electric fences, the setting up
of an emergency center for wild animals and a better waste management system in
the localities situated at the foot of the mountain. Some people have suggested
bears should be relocated, but the risk of them returning to the place where
they were captured remains. In the meantime, the Ministry of the Environment
has been working on a plan to manage the bear population and has promised to
submit it for public debate in January at the latest. Also, a census is being
considered, to establish exactly how many bears are there in the Carpathians. (Translated by Mihaela Ignatescu)

24 November 2017
The protection of forests in the Carpathian region

The Carpathian Mountains, which stretch over 8 countries and 1,500 km, are Europes second largest mountain chain after the Alps. These mountains have a unique natural richness of a high biological value being home to numerous endangered species and the largest virgin forests in Europe. It is estimated that there are 300,000 hectares of quasi-virgin forests in these mountains, which is only a small part of the woods that once covered Europe. These include over 10,000 hectares of beech forests in eastern Slovakia and western Ukraine, which are part of UNESCOs heritage list, as well as some of the few still intact forests in Europe to be found in the southern part of the Romanian Carpathians. Over 24,000 hectares of beech forests from Romania have this year been added to UNESCOs World Heritage Sites.

However, the Carpathians continue to be at threat as a result of human intervention, including the fragmentation of habitats, the disappearance of various species of plants and animals and the destruction of mountain rivers. For this reason, 14 years ago, the Carpathian countries decided to join efforts for the sustainable protection and development of the Carpathians by laying the foundations of the Carpathian Convention.

In mid-October, Hungary hosted the fifth conference of this convention, which was also attended by Alina Szasz, public manager with the Brasov County Council:

“Romania ratified the Carpathian Convention in 2006. This is an agreement between the countries crossed by the Carpathians, namely Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Poland and Romania, and its aim is to view the Carpathians as a single entity, without rivalries and borders. The Convention aims to ensure the management of cultural and natural resources and the creation of new jobs, always taking into account the people living in these regions. The Convention itself consists of 8 working groups: the sustainable preservation of biodiversity, regional development, agriculture and rural development, durable forestry management, industry, transport, infrastructure, sustainable tourism, culture and traditions and adjustment to climate change. Besides these 8 working groups, the Convention runs four additional protocols, namely for the sustainable usage and preservation of biodiversity, for sustainable forestry management, for sustainable tourism and transportation. The meetings, which take place every three years, discuss each protocol and article of the convention, as well as the positive aspects and the efforts made so far and that needs to be done in the future. Every country presents its efforts in the respective areas.”

Starting this year, Romania will be hosting the Centre of Cooperation Platform for Sustainable Tourism within the Carpathian Convention, the first at national level and the third regional one, after the ones in Ukraine and Poland. A series of activities making use of the huge potential of the Carpathians will unfold here. All involved actors in the tourist sector will also try to identify the best ways of cooperation, particularly those who carry out their activity in mountainous areas. Alina Szasz explains:

“We have presented in Lillafuered, Hungary, a programme that we have designed for the 2017-2020 timeframe. The programme has five major goals, including the management of a database that is constantly uploaded with the projects that have been developed or implemented in the Carpathians, as well as the existing financing sources. This way, all Territorial Administrative Units and NGOs in Romania, or those from across the Carpathian chain, have access to information about the projects that have been carried out in these mountainous regions, precisely to avoid running the same projects again and also to set examples of best practice. Apart from these five main goals, we have chosen 15 of the 27 activities included in the country action plan and 9 of the 24 activities included in the joint action plan of the signatory countries. These two action plans (the country plan and the joint plan of the signatory countries) are actually at the core of the sustainable tourism strategy. This strategy provides the framework and the actions that should be implemented across the Carpathian chain. Every country should establish what exactly it wants to achieve and what it really needs, depending on its level of development. Thus, we want to achieve a harmonious development.”

The green watchdog WWF Romania has contributed various projects to the implementation of the Carpathian Convention, says Cristian Pap, WWF regional coordinator for protected areas:

“We have implemented a project in the whole Carpathian eco-region, and have debated the issue of the sustainable use of natural resources. It refers to forests, all sorts of species of plants and animals, and waters. We are now carrying out a project to ensure the sustainable development of infrastructure at the Carpathians level. Our strategic partners in the project are the Environment Ministry and the Transport Ministry and we want to have, for instance, properly built highways, which pay attention to wildlife corridors and do not disrupt the movement of large animals to areas with a rich biodiversity. We refer to ecoducts and to those measures aimed at reducing the impact of highways or roads on the movement of big carnivores. In another move, huge steps have been taken to identify and protect primeval forests. We have also taken action in the field of climate change. Two weeks ago, in Hungary, for instance, a new form of the Convention was adopted, and it includes a new article that recognises how vulnerable the Carpathians are to climate change. According to this article, the signatories should implement actions meant to cushion the effects of climate change, for instance to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The sides should also take measures of adaptation to climate change, whose effects are becoming visible.”

Representatives of the seven countries who attended the meeting hosted by Hungary have arrived at the conclusion that cooperation is further needed to cope with the new challenges in the Carpathian region. The sixth Conference of the Parties of the Carpathian Convention is due in Poland, in 2020.

27 October 2017
The Children’s Forest cross-country race

The Children’s Forest Association is organising the 9th edition of the biggest environmental sports event, the Forest cross-country race. All donations as well as the entry fees will be used to fund foresting activities. In the last 100 years, Romania has lost more than half of its forested areas, particularly in the south of the country. Since 2009, people interested in the protection of nature and the restoration of damaged land have been taking part in sports activities to support forestation projects. Let’s find out more about this new edition of the race from the president of the Children’s Forest Association, Teodora Palarie:

“The Forest race will be held at two locations this year, in Bucharest and Ploiesti, in Tineretului Park. This spring we began the forestation of a plot of 5.8 hectares near Ploiesti and we want to have as many people as possible from Prahova County involved in our forestation programme. After last year’s race, some of the people who accompanied the runners told us they also wanted to be involved in the project. This gave us the idea to organise a competition for sitting on the grass. It’s a 30-minute test in which people can sit on the grass, talk, laugh, but are not allowed to get up or use any electronic devices. We also have a 1-hour competition for people who wish to connect with nature allowing them to meditate and relax. The additional requirement is that they are not allowed to talk for this entire hour. We were inspired by a competition held in Korea, where there are many more requirements, prizes are given, and winners are also supposed to maintain a constant heart rate. This won’t be the case in our competition, at least not this year. We’re only trying to test people’s appetite for involvement and their wish to support forestation by sitting on the grass. If we decide to do it in the future, though, it would be the first such competition in Europe.”

The Children’s Forest cross-country race is held over two days this year. Both individual runners and teams may take part. Teodora Palarie tells us more about the different races for beginners and advanced runners:

“At both locations, namely in Ploiesti on the 30th of September and in Bucharest on the 7th of October, we have a 500 m race for children between 4 and 7 and a 1-km long race for children between 8 and 13. There’s also a 1 km long walk for families, with prizes being given for the family with the highest number of members, youngest member and oldest member taking part. We also have the 30-minute long competition for sitting on the grass and a 1-hour long competition, as well as educational workshops for children and parents where they can learn more about the environment. One such workshop, held in German, will be about forests, but there are also many other activities based on the collaboration between children and parents or adults so that everyone learns more about nature. For those who love physical exercise and running, three different races are held the next day both in Ploiesti on the 1st of October and in Bucharest on the 8th of October: 5, 10 and 15 km timed races. This is intended as a test for the upcoming event on the following weekend in the capital city, the Bucharest International Marathon. Those who want to take part in the event and want to test themselves in a time-trial race ahead of a semi-marathon, are expected at the Forest cross-country Race if they want to put their stamina to the test”.

The new forests, set up by the Children’s Forest Association, are made of species of black pine, ash, Norway maple, silver berry, dogwood and Siberian elm, and will protect the neighboring farming plots of land. The forests will also reduce soil degradation through the input of organic matter. Starting 2009, in the wake of the forestation campaigns, late last year 285,500 saplings were planted. They will grow into mature trees in the next years, on surface areas in several plots of land across the country, where the plantation of saplings is needed, for a surface area of 350,000 hectares. Speaking about that, here is Teodora Palarie once again.

“The autumn plantation campaign unfolds as usual in November. It will be the 20th campaign, as each year we have spring and summer plantation campaigns, and we have activities aimed at expanding existing forests and creating new ones.. Our objective is to safeguard the forests we already have, that is the 58 hectares, of which 40 will be expanded, and we will also create 10 more hectares of new forest. So we shall go to Ialomita County, the commune of Barbulesti, but talks are still ongoing, yet we hope to get round to planting saplings in Giurgiu County as well. The Children’s Forest project has set out to re-forest the Vlasia Woods, so we shall take action in the southern-Wallachian region, a region that, unfortunately, is very scarcely forested. The forestation average accounts for 4-5 percent of the land surface area, given that the recommended forestation average in the plains stands at 20 per cent”.

Last year, more than 2,000 people took part in the in the Forest cross country race. The organizers of the event hope that this year as well, participation is going to be high, so that Romanian forests may yet again take root. (Translated by E. Nasta & C. Mateescu)

29 September 2017
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.

25 August 2017
Hydro-technical construction, a danger for the Jiu Gorges

The Jiu Gorges National park is one of the most spectacular protected areas in Romania. It stretches along the valley dug by the River Jiu into the mountain, between the Parang and Valcan massifs, and covers over 11,000 hectares. 80% of the area, of a remarkably rich biodiversity, is mainly covered by beech and sessile oak, as well as by hornbeam and she tree forests. Experts have identified over 700 species of plants and over 440 species of animals, some of them protected by law. All these, however, have been and will continue to be affected by hydro-technical works which will abstract water from the River Jiu and channel it through huge pipes towards the power plant, thus irreversibly damaging the fauna and flora in the area.

Biologist Calin Dejeu from Cluj-Napoca has got involved for years in saving mountain rivers and continues to make sustained efforts to try to stop these damaging works.

“This National Park is the most spectacular in the country. It is an immense wild and heterogeneous region. The area is mainly covered by spruce tree forests at higher, colder altitudes, and is also home thermophile species like Fraxinus ornus, which grow in the far end of the gorges. The area is breathtakingly beautiful due to the primeval forests on the slopes, lots of spectacular rocks and cliffs and, in particular,the cataracts of the River Jiu. The flora is rich and diverse including over 17 species. Juniper and many orchid species grow in the alpine hollows. The fauna is also rich and includes a wide variety of animals. The area is home to 11 species of amphibians such as the salamander, reptiles, such as the horned viper and 135 bird species. Actually, this is a bird migration corridor for eagles, big owls, black storks and in some winters, dwarf cormorants. That it why the hydro-technical project will affect many species. We cant even imagine or estimate how big the impact will be. Even the dwarf cormorant will be affected by the disappearance of water. At least 13 fish species live in the River Jiu, but no one knows exactly how many are actually living in the river.”

The River Jiu is also the best river in Romania for those who like rafting. Ecologists say that after the hydro-power plant has been built, the flow of the river will be of 20 cubic meters per second upon entering the gorges and of only 2.7 cubic meters per second upon exiting the gorges. Calin Dejeu has filed a complaint, a petition signed by over 20,000 people who call for abandoning the project and notified the European Court of the illegality of the project.

Here is the history of the project:

” Works began in 2004. Fortunately, their progress was quite slow and up until 2012 they managed to implement only 45% of the project. Then, fortunately, Hidroelectrica was declared insolved and works were halted until 2016. Unfortunately, instead of enforcing the environment legislation so that the Jiu river could be saved, we “strike it lucky” with financial or other problems that Hidroelectrica has been faced with. In 2005, when the area was officially granted the National Park status, any such work ought to have been stopped, as its totally incompatible with the National Park status. In any other country around the world, national parks are sacred, youre not allowed to touch nature, let alone destroy a park completely, with the support of that countrys government. Nothing like that has ever been seen in this world. It is a shame, and a national tragedy. For the time being, destructions have occurred on a limited scale, around the building yards. The great disaster will occur when they finish work and deflect the Jiu rivers flow in the tunnel. There is a complete disaster around the building yards. They made access roads, they dynamited the land, they logged forest trees…it looks ghastly. “

In Romania, over 450 micro hydro-powerplants are in various stages of construction or functioning, many of them lying right at the heart of some of the areas registered as part of the Natura 2000 European network. With details on that, here is biologist Calin Dejeu again:

“Anywhere we look on the map of the Carpathians, we can see rivers are destroyed by big dams with lateral adductions drying all the rivers in the region, or by micro hydro-powerplants. There are only several rivers or small river segments left. The tributary of the eastern Jiu river, the Jiet, has been completely dried by the Hidroelectrica s water intakes. The entire water volume flows under the mountain into the Lotru river. Its natural flow has not been restored up until this day. Even the Capra river on the Transfagarasan has been captured in pipes and the Capra water fall has dried out.”

In November 2013, the World Wild Fund Romania publicly raised the issue of the impending necessity to come up with a legal document capable of protecting the rivers in the Carpathians. A campaign was launched, themed “Mountain rivers: the last chance” as well as a petition addressed to the authorities to come up a set of measures that would save Romanias precious rivers.

28 July 2017
European Bison in Romania

The European bison, the largest land mammal in Europe, has suffered a great deal because of poaching and the fragmentation of the habitat. It became extinct in the wild in Western Europe as early as the 11th century, only 50 European bison having survived across the world. Since the second half of the 20th century, European bison have been gradually reintroduced into a few forests in Europe. After a lapse of about 200 years, the European bison was reintroduced in Romania too in 1958, when the first reserve was set up in Silvut, the Hateg Land, in the West. 10 years later, another reserve was opened as part of the Vanatori Neamt Natural Park, in the Eastern region of Moldavia. In 1983, another reserve was established in Bucsani, Dambovita County, in the South, boasting the largest number of European bison in this country.

Last year, there were 32 adult European bison and 5 calves in that reserve. In 2008, another reserve was set up in Vama Buzaului village and in 2012, World Wide Fund for Nature Romania and Rewilding Europe undertook the initiative of reintroducing European bison into the Tarcu Mountains; the first transport took place in May 2014. Ever since, in spring or early summer, more European bison have been brought over from reproduction centers and nature reserves in Europe, from countries like Belgium, Germany, Italy or Sweden. There is also a plan to repopulate the Poiana Rusca Mountains with European bison. At present, there are 25 free-roaming European bison in the Tarcu Mountains and 29 European bison in the forests in Moldavia. For six years now, the board of the Vanatori Neamt Natural Park has been successfully implementing a programme of releasing those animals back into the wild.

Sebastian Catanoiu, the manager of the Park explains:

“This is the only place in Romania where the European bison can be found in the wild, in a semi-wild condition as well as in captivity. We have 7 European bison at the zoo that is open to the public all year round, 13 bison that are in a reserve ready to be reintroduced into the wild and another 29 that were set free this spring. Starting 2012 we have released bison every year. All this time the bison have explored around 60 thousand hectares and have even crossed the parks borders. Some of them got close to the storage lake in Bicaz, others have already crossed the county border to Suceava. Semi wild bison have a reserve of 180 hectares, where they are being prepared to be released into the wild and they are only fed in winter. In summer they have to find food by themselves, so that when they are set free they should be able to survive on what they can find around. Of the 29 bison that live into the wild, 6 were born there and have never had any contact with people, so they are 100% wild.”

Besides the bison reserve near the Vanatori Neamt Natural Park, there is the Silver Forest, a combination of forest and landscape reserve. It covers 2.4 hectares and is made up of mostly birch trees. The forest boasts trees over 100 years old, but also younger trees of 20 to 40 years. The Copper Weed Forest reserve is also located in this area, stretching on 10.2 hectares. It boasts beautiful species of plants and a lot of secular durmasts. The Emerald Forest, also known as the Dumbrava Oak Reserve covers 56.6 hectares and boasts centuries-old oaks and over 200 species of vascular plants.

Vama Buzaului is a picturesque village at the foot of the Ciucas Mountains in Brasov county. The newest bison reserve is also located here, home to bison that will be reintroduced into the wild in the following years, as Tiberiu Chirilas, the mayor of Vama Buzaului told us:

“This reserve has two components. As in the case of any reserve, its purpose is to save this species and repopulate the area with it, while a second component is the tourist one, which is quite successful. Last year, for instance, around 14,000 people visited the reserve. It was set up in 2008, when we received 10 bison and now, in 2017, we have 37. We have requests to provide some of these animals to repopulate other areas. For instance WWF Romania sent us such request, as they want to repopulate an area in Caras Severin. At present our reserve stretches across 11 hectares and we plan to extend it by another 80. This extension is necessary if we want to reintroduce these animals into the wild. These extra 80 hectares will make up a semi-wild area for bison, an area where they are prepared to live as wild animals again.”

The Vama Buzaului mayor wants to make available to tourists some of the households in the village, for agro-tourism, with the help of EU funds. This way, tourists will have the opportunity to take part in the daily activities of the locals, which is a very good way of promoting local traditions:

“I would like agro-tourist guest houses in Vama Buzaului to be able to host tourists who want to see the reserve and also spend a few days here. Besides the reserve, also worth visiting is the Urlatoarea Fall, close to the bison reserve. Also, we have mountain tracks leading to Mount Ciucas and the old customs entry point, which we plan to turn into a museum.”

The Ciucas Massif is part of the Curvature Mountains and is unique due to its specific rocks and its remarkable biodiversity. It boasts 22 habitats of community interest, over 12 hundred species of plants and several thousand hectares of virgin forest, accounting for 22% of the forestry real estate in the area.

28 April 2017
Consul Hill, included in tourist circuits

The area is known to host Pontic-Caspian steppe, boasting rare forms of vegetation. One of the main reasons the National Park was set up was the high number of protected species of plant life, currently facing extinction, and which are specific of Dobrogea. The Consul Hill lies close to the Macin Mountains and Izvoarele village. It is a volcanic rock mound which the authorities intend to introduce into tourist circuits as of this year. A total of four new tourist circuits will be created, including archaeological sites, religious objectives and several panoramic viewpoints. Consul Hill is 333 meters high and was declared a protected site together with the King Ferdinand I Glades in Niculitel, back in 1927.

Viorel Rosca, the director of the Macin Mountains National Park says: “Consul Hill is the starting point of the first circuit, passing through Alba and Teilor Valley. It is one of the two nature reserves declared by Queen Maria in 1927. The decision was taken after the year before, in 1926, King Ferdinand together with his wife, Queen Maria, and their daughters passed through the area with a royal pageant. They embarked on a ship in Oltenita and reached Dobrogea via Macin branch. They were enchanted with these fairytale realm, as they called it, boasting lush vegetation. Near Consul Hill Queen Maria found a wonderful spot to indulge her passion for painting. There is communion between steppeland and wetland plants, also due to the proximity of Taita River, which flows into the Black Sea, giving the whole area a special appeal, both in terms of its beautiful landscapes and its potential for scientific research. Queen Maria was accompanied by a pharmacist, whom she would ask about these plants and wonderful scenery. The man told her the plants are very rare, and many can be found only in Dobrogea. Thus we are honoured to include this hill into a tourist circuit that is bound to appeal to nature lovers”.

Macin Mountains can be visited on foot, on horseback or by bike. Bike tours are of medium difficulty and connect the park’s bordering villages. The mountain ridge is dotted with ancient citadels and monasteries, making for important eco-tourism and religious tourism sites.

Viorel Rosca: “The area around Macin Mountains is generally a unique tourist alternative boasting millennia-old ventifacts. The area’s geological diversity, which holds an immense scientific value, goes hand in hand with unique elements of vegetation. The area is home to Romanian blood-red peony or the steppe peony, the dittany, the white carnation, several species of orchids and irises. So we try to promote these areas for the public at large, for those who love beauty, recreation and tranquility, mainly because the Hercynian Mountains have been better known to the scientific world, to MA and PhD students, than to the public at large. Students and experts alike find new territories to explore here, as the places haven’t revealed all their scientific secrets yet. The area is also home to a species of Achillea Desert Eve, which is 15-centimeters tall. Only by simply touching it, you’ll notice that the plant gives off a strong, musk-like scent. Another plant that can be found in the region is the Nyman, a species known as Motherwort, which is a rarity, as it usually grows in Anatolia-Turkey and Iran. Equally interestinging is the Oriental Hornbeam, unfolding its globular crown over other plants, like an umbrella, on torrid days. Its roots are stretching on a radial area of 25 meters, fixing the vegetation and the soil on the Consul Hill. The golden grass is another plant specific to the Dobrogea steppe bioregion.“

The wide variety of ground, forest and rocky ecosystems in the Macin Mountains, alongside the aquatic ecosystems close by, provide favorable conditions for many bird species. The Macin Mountains are also an important point on the map of migration routes, along the Prut and Siret Rivers. A great number of migratory birds transit that corridor. Here we can also find Dobrogea’s most important nesting place for birds of prey. For instance, the saker falcon, one of the most endangered species in Romania, nests in the crevices of the Macin Mountains, just like the long-legged buzzard.

Viorel Rosca: ”The Macin Mountains are a priceless corridor for migration, especially for birds of prey. From the Consul Hill, we can watch very rare bird species like the lesser spotted eagle, the buzzard, the lesser eagle, the common pern or the short-toed snake eagle. All these birds can be watched with binoculars, which can be provided by the Park Administration. Two caves can also be visited in the area. They are home to two species of bats, of which one is very rare. These are only some of the reasons why responsible tourism should be practiced in the area.”

The Macin Mountain Park Administration hopes that at least 15 thousand people will visit this protected area this year. Seven camping sites have already been laid out on the premises, while in 2017 the first 80 accommodation places will be made available in the localities of Isaccea, Cetatuia and Traian. (Translated by V. Palcu and E. Nasta)

31 March 2017