NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY

AND
ACTION PLAN in ROMANIA
2011 • 2020
National Biodiversity Strategy
and Action Plan
2011 - 2020

April 2011
 This document is the final draft of the "National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan"
(NBSAP) included in the Appendix to the Draft Government Decision (GD) on assuming the
obligations of this country commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to
which Romania is a Party.
In its presentation as material for general public and stakeholder information, this
publication adds the necessary references to the above program document as required for a
better understanding, promotion and illustration of the issues.
The sections added by the Project Team include: Acknowledgements, the Message
of the Minister of the Environment and Forests, a Foreword, an Executive Summary,
Conclusions, a Reference List, a Glossary of Terminology, a Summary of the Specific Legal
and Institutional Framework, photographic images of biodiversity aspects in Romania, maps,
charts and textboxes highlighting important points.

Editorial Team: Prof. Univ. Dr. Vladimir Rojanschi, Rodica Stefanescu,

Dorin Alexandru Pop, Alexandru R. Savulescu
Photos: Peter Lengyel, Raluca Munteanu, Dorin Alexandru Pop, Mircea Verghelet

.2 Printing: Digital Advertising, Bucuresti

 Document writers and Project implementers:
The "National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan in Romania 2011-2020" was prepared
under the UNDP/ GEF Project "Support to alignment of NBSAP with CBD obligations and to the
Development of CHM".
The technical expert Project team was selected and coordinated, during the first
implementation stage, by Wrof.Univ. Dr. Dan MA OLEUI, who died in June 2010, and to whom we
are deeply indebted for his efforts. We hereby pay tribute, yet again, in appreciation and gratitude, to
his great personality and contribution, to everything he stood for and achieved.
The authors of the document include: Valeria Abaza, Mihaela Antofie, Iuliana Gheorghe,
Anamaria Gurzau, Marton Kelemen, Simona Mihailescu, Raluca Munteanu, Mariana Niculescu,
Oliviu Pop, Mihai Proca, Sorina Stamate, Mircea Verghelet, Mihai Zotta, specialists in various areas
of expertise as required for the progress of this Project. It is through each individual's input and team
efforts that the development of this document has been made possible.
The document itself was written, based on regular consultation with the Expert Team and
with the Beneficiary'Srepresentatives, by Atena Groza, expert in environmental policies and legislation,
issues of biodiversity, ecology, nature protection, environmental education and investment.
Success in the approval and implementation of the Project is largely due to the UNDP
Office in Romania, especially to Mrs. Monica Moldovan, Director of the Energy and Environment
Program.
In the UEB, during Project implementation, not only were office space, utilities and logistics
facilities provided free of charge, but volunteer support was extended by the human resource
management, economic, accounting, administrative and IT departments, as well as by some of the
students.
Supervision over the project implementation activities in the UEB was provided, both
in technical and managerial terms and for legal and financial _conformity by the President of the
University, Prof. Univ. Dr. ,Mircea Dutu; also President of the "Dreptul la Natura" Foundation,
President of the Romanian Association of Environmental Law,Director and founder of the Romanian
Environmental Law Journal, Member of the Steering Committee of the Environmental Law Network
AUPELFUREF.
In the Ministry of the Environment and Forests, apart from dialog in consultation with
various representatives of several of its departments, successful implementation of the Project was
due to the constant relations maintained with the National Focal Points for the CBD, CHM and GEF
and with the National Project Manager, Florina Ciubuc.
Political support for the Project in general, and for its output (NBSAP) in particular, and
for its approval under Government Decision, was provided by the current leadership of the Ministry
of the Environment and Forests, mainly represented by: Alina Frim - Director of the Biodiversity
Department, Cristian Apostol - Secretary of State, and Laszlo Borbely - Minister of the Environment
and Forests.
To all of the above, and to all those who contributed to this document directly and indirectly,
thanks for your support and efforts!

3.
 Contributors:
In the different stages of public consultation conducted in the document development
process, comments and suggestions for improvement of its quality and contents were expressed by
many public persons, representatives of civil society, the local government and the academic and
business environment, and the mass media.
The following is a random and possibly incomplete list of some of the contributors whose
input was attributable. We also want to thank the anonymous or inadvertently omitted contributors
for their involvement and support in making this a representative and useful document.

loana-Noemy Toma - President/ "Pro vita universale" Association; Bogdan Badescu - President/
Romanian Speological Federation - Protection Committee; Peter Lengyel - UNESCO Pro Natura;
Gabriel Paun - President ''Agent Green", Gabriel Preda Tarnoveanu - Director Coordinator APM
Satu- Mare, Monica Caliri - Public Manager, Coordinator MRDT; Erika Stanciu Bodean - President
of the Representative Council of the Natura 2000 Coalition; Catalin Platon - Executive Director,
National Association of Fish Farmers "ROMFISH"; Conf. Univ. Dr. Liviu Fartai~ - Forest Biology
Department, Forestry Faculty, "Stefan eel Mare'; University, Suceava; Sarin Stefanut - Head of the
Ecology, Taxonomy and Nature Conservation Department of the Biology Institute Bucharest, the
Romanian-Academy; Delia Vuscan > SJRP Advisor, OCPI Cluj; Conf. Univ. Dr. Paulina Anastasiu-
Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest; Gheorghe Lucaci
- Biological Research Centre Iibou, "Vasile Fati" Botanical Garden ; Dan Traian lonescu - Forestry
Faculty, "Transilvania' University, Brasov, Dr. Teofil Lazar - Romanian Ornithological Society;
Marius Darie; Florin Stoican - President of Kogayon Association; Razvan Popescu-Mirceni; Csaba
Vizauer - Association for the Protection of Birds and Nature "Milvus Group"; Grigore Davideanu
- UAIC; Ecological Society ''Aquaterra'' Iasi, Prof. Dr. Ovidiu Toma - Coordinator of CCRMPM,
Faculty of de Biology, Department of Bio-Chemistry and Molecular Biology, ''Alexandru loan Cuza"
University, Iasi, Tibor Hartel - Asobeka; Gina and Dan Cogalniceanu, researcher Eugen Nitu -
"Emil Racovita' Institute of Speology, Sorin Pop; Dr. loan Valentin Petrescu - Manager, "Bioflux"
Romania; Sergiu Mihut - Focal Centre for Biodiversity Conservation; lovu Biris - ICAS; loan Ielev
- INHGA; Nicolae Radulescu-Dobrogea - President, Eco Civica; Sergiu Fendrihan - President, ERB
Association; Doina Mihordescu - Head of Regulations Office, APM Bacau, Luiza Teodorescu - Senior
Advisor, APM Teleorman; Larisa Cohn - SGA Ilfov; Larisa Florescu - Institute of Biology, Bucharest;
Rodica Raspopa - Senior Inspector, City of Bucharest; Simona Dragoi - ICAS; Nicoleta Capatana -
REPA, Bucharest; Slaba Andrei - "Ovidius" University, Constanta; Cristian Mihai Munteanu - "Emil
Racovita' Institute of Speology; Valentin Beloiu - Comissar, NEG, Bucharest; Maria Mihul - WWF
DCP- RO; luliana Chiriac - APM Vaslui; Prof. Univ. Dr. Gabriel Arsene - University of Agricultural
Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Banat in Timisoara, Prof. Univ. Dr. Dan Candea - Technical
University, Cluj-Napoca; Mirela Duculescu - vicepresident Arhiterra Association; Prof. Univ. Dr.
Zbigniew Bochniarz - Environmental economist, International Relations Director - University of
Washington, Seattle, USA.

.4 Black Pine of Banat - Pinus nigra ssp. banatica (Photo Mircea Verghelet)
 NationalBiodiversity Strategy and Action Plan in Romania, 2011-2020

Romania is the richest country in biodiversity of the European Union, the only
country that includes five bio-geographical regions, and hosts a significant percentage of
the European habitats and species. Romania is privileged, but also obliged to provide for
the good long term preservation of this highly valuable natural legacy.
The global concept of human society development is undergoing change. More
and more political leaders realise that the only way to a durable future is sustainable
development, a development model that provides for the delicate balance of economic,
social and natural components.
As Minister of the Environment, I believe that the National Biodiversity Strategy
and Action Plan 20~1-2020 will have an important contribution to the sustainable
development of Romania, in the interest of future generations.

Laszlo Borbely,
Minister of the Environment and Forests

.6
 , -;- -- --- - -
. -

List of Acronyms 9
Foreword 11
Executive Summary 14

Chapter 1 - Introduction 17
1.1. Biodiversity and the Importance of Preserving It 18
1.2. Objectives and Principles ofthe Convention on Biological Diversity 19
1.3. European Union Policy and Strategy for Biodiversity 21
1.4. Romanian Policy for Biodiversity 25
1.5. National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans Developed in Romania 28
to date

Chapter 2 - Biodiversity in Romania 31

Overview 32
2.1. Diversity of Ecosystems and Habitats 33
2.2. Diversity of Species 40
2.3. Genetic Diversity 41

Chapter 3 - Direct Threats to Biodiversity in Romania 43

3.1. Change of Land Use 46
3.2. Infrastructure Develo~!Eent 46
3.3. Expansion and Development of Human Settlements 46
3.4. Hydrotechnical Works 47
3.5. Over-Harvesting of atural Resources 47
3.6. Inappropriate Use of Non-Renewable Resources 49
3.7. Invasive Alien Species 49
3.8. Climate Change 50
3.9. Pollution 52

Chapter 4 - National Biodiversity Strategy 57

4.1. Vision 58
4.2. Strategic objectives 62

7.
 A. Development of the General Legislative and Institutional Framework and 62
Securing of Financial Resources
B. Providing Consistency and Efficient Management of the National 69
Protected Area Network
C. Providing Good Conservation Status for Protected Wildlife Species 78
D. Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity Components 86
D.l. Land- Use Development 87
D.2. Forest Management 88
D.3. Harvesting of Wild Species of Economic Value 92
D.4. Agriculture 9S
D.S. Tourism 99
D.6. Transport, Energy and Use of Non-Renewable Resources 101
E. Ex Situ Conservation 103
F. Control of Invasive Species 107
G. Access to Genetic Resources and Fair Distribution of Benefits in the Use 109
of Such Resources
H. Support and Promotion of Traditional Knowledge, Innovation and 111
Practices
1. Development of Scientific Research and Promotion of Technology 113
Transfer
J. Public Communication, Education and Awareness Raising 116

Chapter 5 - Action Plan for Biodiversity in Romania 121

Chapter 6 - NBSAP Implementation - Responsible Authorities, Required Financial 151

Resources and Reporting Indicators

Conclusions 157
Appendices 161
Appendix 1 - Legal Framework 162
Appendix 2 - Institutional Framework 166
References 171
Glossary of Specific Terms 177

.8
 LIST OF ACRONYMS
..\1 Appropriate Assessment COP Conference of Parties
-lliS Access and Benefit Sharing CORINE Coordination of Information on the Environment
..\CPART ational Agency for Higher Education CSC Carbon Storage Capacity
Qualifications and Partnership with the Business CSNR ational Strategic Reference Framework
and Social Environment
CZITAS Zonal Wild Animal Rescue Centre
illVA African - Euroasian Waterbirds Agreement
DAISIE Delivering Alien Invasive Species Inventories
AFM Environmental Fund Administration for Europe
AGV General Association of Hunters Directorate-General Joint Research Centre of
DGJRC
Al\1 Management Authority European Commission
ANAP National Agency for Protected Areas DSMZ Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen
ANAR "Romanian Waters" ational Authority und Zellkulturen
Al\TCPI Iational Agency of Cadastre and Real Estate EC The European Commission
Publicity ECCB European Congress of Conservation Biology
ANCS ational Authority for Scientific Research ECOIND Iational Research - Development Institute for
ANRMAP ational Authority for Public Procurement Industrial Ecology
Regulation and Monitoring EEA European Environment Agency
AP ( Iatural) Protected Areas EEC European Environmental Commission
APDRP Paying Agency for Rural Development and Fisheries EIA Environmental Impact Assessment
APL Local Public Administration (local government) ERDF European Regional Development Fund
APM County Environmental Protection Agency ESF European Social Fund
AR Romanian Academy ETAP Environmental Technologies Action Plan
ARACIS Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in ETP Potential Evapo- Transpiration
Higher Education EUNIS European I ature Information System
ARBDD Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration EUROBATS European Bat Agreement
ARPM Regional Environment Protection Agency FAO Food and Agriculture Organization
ASAS Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry FC Cohesion Funds
"Gheorghe Ionescu Sisesti"
FEADR European Agricultural Fund for Rural Develop-
ATCC American Type Culture Collection
ment
AV Hunters' Association FM Environmental Fund
BCCM Belgian Coordinated Collections of FRS Romanian Speological Society
Microorganisms
GEF Global Environment Fund
BCH Biosafety Clearing - House
GFRA Genetic Food Resources and Agriculture
CAP Common Agricultural Policy
GMO Genetically Modified Organisms
CAT Technical Review Committee
GNM ational Environmental Guard
CCIR Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
IAS Invasive Alien Species
CCRMPM Regional Research Consortium (Moldova) and
Environmental Monitoring ICAS Forest Research and Management Institute
CEE Central Eastern Europe ICIM Institute of Environmental Research and
Engineering
CEPA Communication, Education and Public Awareness
IDD Danube Delta Institute (old name)
CHM Clearing - House Mechanism
IEEP Institute for European Environmental Policy
CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered IFF Inter-governmental Forest Forum
Species
IMO International Maritime Organization
CJ County Council
INB National Biodiversity Index
CNCSIS National Council for Scientific Research in Higher
Education

9
•
INCD National Research & Development Institute PEBLDS Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diver-
INCDM National Marine Research and Development Insti- sity Strategy
tute "Grigore Antipa" PIB Gross Domestic Product
INCDPM National Research and Development Institute for PIC Prior Informed Consent
Environmental Protection PFI Intact Forest Landscape
INEGES National Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions PHARE Poland, Hungary, Albania, Romania, Estonia -
INMH National Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology countries assisted by the European Commission
INS National Institute of Statistics under pre-accession programmes

Inter-govermental Panel for Climate Change PN Natural! National Park

IPCC
IRCM Romanian Marine Research Institute (Grigore PNA National Action Plan
Antipa) PND National Development Plan
ISTIS State Institute for Variety Testing and Registration PNDR National Rural Development Program
IUCN International Union for the Conservation of POR Regional Operational Program
Nature POSDRU Sectoral Operational Program for Human Re-
LIFE Environmental Financial Instrument of the Euro- source Development
pean Commission POSMediu Sectoral Operational Program for the Environment
MADR Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development POS Sectoral Operational Program for Transport
MAE Ministry of Foreigrr Affairs Transport
MAl Minis!ry _ofAdministration and Intern~l Affairs PoWPA Programme of Work on Protected Areas of the
MAPDR MInistry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural CBD
Development PR Public Relations
MApN Ministry of National Defence PUG Urban Masterplan
MCMA Ministry of Commerce and Business Management RAPPAM Rapid Assessment and Prioritization of Protected
MCPN Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Areas Management

MCSI Ministry of Research, Science and Education RB Biosphere Reserve

Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism RBDD Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve
MDRT
Ministry of the Economy, Commerce and Business RD Research and Development
MECMA
Environment RNP National Forestry Regie Romsilva
MECTS Ministry of Education, Research, Youth and Sports SAU Usable Agricultural Surface Area
METT Management Efficiency Tracking Tool SCI Sites of Community Importance
MFP Ministry of Public Finance SEA Strategic Environmental Assessment
MM Ministry of Environment SEBI Streamlining European 2010 Biodiversity Indica-
MMDD Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Develop- tors
ment SJRP County Public Relations Office
MMFPS Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Protection SM State of the Environment
MMGA Ministry of Environment and Water Management SPA Special Protected Areas
MMP Ministry of the Environment and Forests TEEB The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity
MTI Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure UAIC ''Alexandru loan Cuza" University in Iasi
NBSAP National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan UEB Ecological University in Bucharest
OAR Romanian Architects' Order UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Deserti-
fication
OCPI Office of Cadastre and Real Estate Publicity
UNCED United Nations Conference for Environment and
or Intermediary Body Development
OM Ministerial Order UNDP United Nations Development Program
OSIM State Office for Inventions and Brands UNEP United Nations Environmental Program
PACSP Action Plan for Protected Species Conservation WFCC World Federation of Culture Collections
WMM World Meteorological Organisation

.10
 FOREWORD

The "National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan in Romania" for the 2011-2020 horizon was
repared under a financial and technical coordination Project supported by GEF- Global Environmental
Facility through the UNDP - United Nations Development Program. This was provided to the Romanian
Government through the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MEF) as support to the alignment of
_-ational Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan in Romania with the country obligations following the
ratification of the CBD - Convention on Biological Diversity.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), signed in Rio de Janeiro, on 5 June 1992 and brought
into force on 29 December 1993, in its objectives, the principles invoked and recommended measures, and
by the ratification and acceptance of its provisions by 193 states, is the most important international tool in
coordinating national policies and strategies in the field, from a common perspective, in a global manner
and with a world encompassing scope.
Expressing the concern of the international community regarding the Significant depletion
of biodiversity as a result of certain human activities, the CBD is defined by three objectives: biological
diversity conservation, sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from
the use of genetic resources, including by adequate access thereto.
With the imprint and the limits of the historical context in which it was developed and adopted,
expressed by the values and ideas shared and promoted at the Earth Summit (1992); the document is still
marked by an utilitarian logic and economic principles, trying to combine, in an integrated way, traditionally
contradictory aspects of ecology, on the one hand, and of economy on the other hand, in order to meet the
sustainable development objectives.
This status of apparent trade off between the need for economic development and modernisation
of human society and the need to preserve biological diversity for future generations often leads to
intermediate concepts and measures, where biodiversity (an environmental concept) and natural resources
(an economic concept), the ecological function and economic interest coexist but are not assimilated, on
a higher level of integration and full complementarity. Thus, the CBD develops around three fundamental
concepts: biodiversity (as "variability of living organisms from all sources and ecosystems, and the inter-
specific and intra-specific diversity"), biological resources (including genetic resources, organisms or parts
thereof, populations or any other biotic components of the ecosystems of actual or potential usage or value
for humankind) and genetic resources, respectively ("genetic material of actual or potential value").
In combining ecological and economic interests, the Convention states, not just the main
conservation objective, but also the precautionary principle ("wheFe there is a threat of significant depletion
or loss of biological diversity, scientific uncertainty should not be used as a reason to delay the threat
avoidance or mitigation measures"), and that of sustainable use (defined as "use of the biological diversity
components in a way and at a rate that should not determine long term depletion of biological diversity, thus
maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations").
The European Union ratified the CBD on 21 December 1993, and adopted a range of phased
strategies and action plans to meet the objectives committed to. The key legal instruments in applying the
sustain ability principles to ecological diversity are the two relevant directives - the Birds Directive (1979)
and Habitats Directive (1992), respectively, on protecting natural habitats in the Natura 2000 network of
protected areas.
As the proposed objective of stopping biodiversity loss by 2010 was not met, the European Council
approved, on 15 March 2010, a long term strategy for the 2050 horizon and an interim 2010 horizon for
"halting the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services, and restoring them in so far as
feasible, while stepping up the EU contribution to averting global biodiversity loss': A limited number of
quantifiable objectives will be developed using, for example, the reference data for 2010.
A second direction for EU action on biodiversity, following the establishment and sustainable
management of protected areas, is to integrate biodiversity concerns into the sectoral policies for transport,
energy, agriculture, forestry and fishing.

11.
[
 The concern of the international community for the harmful influence on local wildlife and
ecosystems, of the spread of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), that have adapted to the environmental
conditions over time', determined the Conference of Parties to the CBD to negotiate the Protocol on
Biosecurity, adopted in Montreal, on 21 January 2000, and come into force on 11 September 2003, with the
objective of managing the GMO - related risks.
The Johannesburg Summit (2002) set the priority objective of significantly cutting back the rate
of biodiversity loss by 2010, while COP 6 (2002) adopted the "guidelines aimed to identify the steps in the
access and benefit sharing process not covered by the Convention".
COP 7 (February 2004) proposed, inter alia, the building of an Intergovernmental Platform on
Biodiversity (IPBES), approved under the UN General Assembly Resolution of23 December 2010.
The Bonn Declaration (COP9 - 2008) revealed the need for an agreement on the international
access to biodiversity and benefit sharing.
The Nagoya Agreement (30 October 2010), adopted in the context of the International Year of
Biodiversity - 2010 and of COP 10, includes a protocol on access to genetic resources and the fair and
equitable sharing of the benefits from their use, and a New Action Plan to halt biodiversity loss by 2020.
Adoption of this Agreement became necessary when the target for 2010, as established at Johannesburg, a
fost ratata si, eas missed and, as shown in the Global Biodiversity Outlook Report (UNEP, 2010), "Species
extinction contnues at a fast pace, same as the destruction of natural habitats. This development may lead,
in certain ecosystems, to tipping points. It would be difficult to predict, and especially to control, what might
happen beyond these tipping points:' . -
Overlapping, in its implementation, with the EU Biological Diversity Decade (2011 -2020), the
Action Plan sets 20 indicators, targeting specific objectives such as: to halve natural habitat loss and, if
possible, bring it down to zero; to increase the coverage of terrestrial protected areas from 13%, as it is now,
to 17%, of marine protected areas from 1% to 10%, and to restore IS% of the degraded ecosystems.
Indeed, the new developments in CBD implementation at the international level will also be
reflected in the relevant EU strategies and will apply to national programming documents.
In the letter and spirit of the CBD according to which each Party "is to develop national strategies,
plans or programs for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity or adapt existing strategies,
plans or programs'; to date, Romania has adopted two national biodiversity strategies and action plans
(NBSAPs), the first in 1996, and the second in 2000 (this in the context of preparing EU accession and the
adoption of the Acquis Communautaire), so that these documents are now the third initiative in the field.
NBSAP - 3 refers to the 2011 - 2020 period and has been developed in consideration of Decision
VIlli 8 of200S on the guidelines for updating national strategies and action plans.
Developed under the UNDPI GEF Project "Support to alignment ofNBSAP with CBD obligations
and to Development ofCHM", the Project Implementation Body being the Ecological University in Bucharest,
this political programming document attempts to establish the strategic actions and priority targets for the
next 10 years for the conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity in Romania.
As it is, in the opinion of most of those who contributed to its development, the most comprehensive
and detailed strategy in this sector to date, it has attempted to assess the current status of species, habitats and
ecosystems in Romania.Adifficulttask,consideringthequalitativ eand quantitative decline ofrelevant scientific
concern and the fact that, although a scientific assessment of the number of species is available, population
sizes, as a key parameter in establishing practical conservation measures, are only very loosely established.
Moreover, there has been no detailed and consistent classification of the types of ecosystem types
and sub-types in Romania, based on a set of ecologically sound criteria. Knowledge of genetic diversity
focuses on species of plants and animals used in agriculture and aquaculture, with practically no data on the
genetic diversity of wild species.
Relating the state of biological diversity to the bio-productive capacity of the ecosystems was
difficult due to the insufficiency of adequate studies of the economic value of various biodiversity levels.
Such issues will need improving under future initiatives.
The methodology used, in compliance with international standards, including the expert, public
and stakeholder consultation mechanism, has allowed for the identification of direct threats and of the

• 12
 - - that do or may determine loss of biodiversity, with the necessary prioritizations. On this basis, it
- for the establishment of operational objectives involving the setting of legislative, institutional and
,=:;.:::;::n;m'c
proposals with clear responsibilities and with performance and impact indicators,
NBSAP - 3 has been acknowledged to be more comprehensive than the previous issues and to set
_=-":o targets to cover the CBD requirements,
Formally adopted, the strategy and action plan will become the national reference framework in
~ osition of the CBD objectives and principles in Romania for the following decade, 2011 - 2020,
- 0 account of the new developments, especially following the agoya Agreement (2010), it will be
that, by using the Article 6 mechanism, BSAP - 3 should gradually adapt its content and targets
ernational and EU adoption of the new Action Plan - 2020 and the Protocol on Access to Genetic
_ esources progress,
Furthermore, the implementation process will perhaps be even more important. In this respect,
. te the previous efforts, the BSAP Project has also prepared a range of other support materials and
ions for the implementation of the ational Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan in Romania,
Started in March 2008, the DP/ GEF TBSAP Project was completed in March 2011, with the
wing outcomes:
Development and publication of the BSAP document for Romania, for 2011 - 2020 (World Biodiversity
Decade, launched at the COP in agoya, held in October 2010);
Translation into English and publication of the BSAP document, for submission to the CBD Secretariat
and for international dissemination;
Development, uploading and implementation of the CHM system for Romania, in the MEF;
• Translation, adaptation, publication and dissemination of the CEPA Toolkit - Communication,
Education and Public Awareness of the CBD;
Development and publication of a Public Information and Sensitisation Brochure on Biodiversity (in
Romanian and English);
Development and publication of a compilation of Romanian Examples and Case Studies in the use of
ommunication ways and means in promoting biodiversity and the use of CEPA in such campaigns;
Development of a draft CEPA ational Strategy, based on the transposition of the guidelines into an
implementation exercise;
Development and publication of a CHM promotion prospectus for dissemination;
Development of a Training Teeds Assessment Report and proposed Training Portfolio for Building
Human and Institutional Capacity in Romania in BSAP Implementation;'
Training of ten regional and national CHM operators and registration of countless contributors to the
network;
Involvement and assistance in the training often volunteers on biodiversity issues and the implementation
of international projects;
Organisation of three regional CEPA and CHM training sessions (West, Centre and South-East, with
about 150 representatives from 26 counties);
Organisation of a Press Conference and numerous meetings for the celebration of Biodiversity Day and
the Year of Biodiversity;
Participation in a Regional Workshop for Europe on NBSAP assessment and reporting - organised by
the CBD Secretariat, and a CHM Seminar of the European Environment Agency (EU EPA);
• Development of a Country Poster on biodiversity, modelled on CBD International and communication
thereof to the Montreal Secretariat.

All these products and services provided by the Project helped meet the Project workplan. More
ortantly, however, the adoption of the National Strategy and Action Plan by the Romanian Government
help strengthen the responsibilities of the institutions and bodies with specific implementation
-- , ot least, the content of some sections of the Plan needs to be continuously adapted to the higher
commitments on the international, European and regional level, without, however, impeding on the current
- lementation stage,

13.
 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

With the ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Romania committed to
meet the requirements thereof and the country obligations in this regard. Such a primary obligation is to
develop a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) in Romania in accordance with and
aligned to the CBD provisions.
While the first document, i.e. the National Strategy, is a choice of a roadmap in meeting the
proposed long-term targets, the second, i.e. the Action Plan is a reflection of the priority directions and
generic measures required for the implementation of the goals and objectives defined in the National
Strategy. These measures are then translated into specific Action Plans, specified for each relevant institution
responsible for the implementation of the national strategy in its particular field.
This issue of the NBSAP starts (Chapter 1) with a contextualisation of the biodiversity issues, on
a global (CBD) and European (EU) level. By then approaching these issues in the Romanian context, the
document reviews the specifics of our country's biodiversity (Chapter 2) pointing out issues of potential
risks and barriers in the protection and conservation thereof (Chapter 3), that will have to be managed
(Chapter 4).
The most serious issues of the increasing human pressure Q!1 biodiversity 'are identified to be:
land use change, infrastructure development, overharvesting of natural resources, inappropriate use of non-
renewable resources, climate change and, more arid more importantly, pollution. They translate into issues of:
- Biodiversity erosion through species extinction,
- Habitat fragmentation resulting inter alia In the blockage or restriction of species migration routes;
- Shrinkage or disappearance of habitat or ecosystem types;
- Excessive simplification of the structure and multi-functional capacity of the ecological functions;
- Destructuring and diminished yield capacity of the biodiversity components

Along these coordinates, the strategic vision regarding Romanian biodiversity, for the 2011 - 2020
horizon is defined as: Biodiversity protection and conservation in all its complexity (including all the key
processes and functions of the ecosystems, the interactions between organisms and their living environment,
and ethno-cultural diversity) is a key point of referencefor the sustainable development of our country, for the
long term socio-economic viability in Romania.

Four directions of action have been identified for the meeting of such goals:
1. Halting the decline of biological diversity of genetic resources and species;
2. Integrating the biodiversity conservation policy into all the sectoral policies by 2020;
3. Promoting innovative traditional knowledge, practices and methods and clean technologies as support
measures for the conservation of biodiversity in the interest of sustainable development by 2020;
4: Improving communication and education in the field of biodiversity by 2020.
These have been transposed into ten strategic objectives:
A. Development of the general legislative and institutional framework and securing of financial
resources;
B. Providing consistency and efficient management of the national protected area network;
C. Providing good species conservation status for protected wildlife;
D. Sustainable use of biological diversity components;
E. Ex Situ conservation;

r • 14
 :::.Control of alien invasive species;
G. Access to genetic resources and fair share of benefits from the use thereof;
~ Support and promotion of traditional knowledge, innovation and practices;
~ Development of scientific research and promotion of technology transfer;
. Public communication, education and awareness raising.

For each individual strategic objective, after a review of the current situation, a set of operational
, [ectives have been established.

The meeting of these objectives during the 2011- 2020 interval is detailed in a Action Plan (Chapter
5), broken down into 15 sub-objectives and a total 170 recommended measures.
The estimated implementation costs for these actions total EUR 1,508,175,000 accessed from
three categories of funding sources: from the implementing institution, from the State Budget and from
external sources (from projects sponsored by international donors, global financial mechanisms and/ or
local support).
Reference for the advanced financial assessments of the strategy included:
- The experience of similar previous actions in the country or abroad;
- Preliminary calculations based on specific technical-economic indicators.
In the implementation of the strategy and action plan, the stakeholders and relevant responsibilities
have been identified, as well as the time frame for implementation. Reporting indicators, organised into 7
groups and 21 classes, have been proposed for the tracking and assessment of success in implementing the
strategy and action plan (Chapter 6).
Finally, the Appendices to the document supplement the reference information with a list of
legislation defining the legal and institutional framework for biodiversity in Romania, followed by References
and a Glossary of Specific Terminology.
As in any such process (of developing and implementing a national strategy and action plan) an
evaluation of measures implementation, of their efficiency and, not least, the updating, adaptation of the
proposed measures and ongoing improvement in their implementation will be required on a regular basis
(annually or every other year).
In parallel with such regular evaluations, further specialist research will also be necessary for a
better quantitative and qualitative assessment of the measures and proposed actions. Moreover, it should be
kept in mind by all the stakeholders that special attention is needed for at least 2 driving directions for the
uccess ofNBSAP implementation:
- Creating the necessary human resources for the relevant institutions, with knowledge of
biodiversity, its components, development trends and importance thereof for the maintenance of living
conditions of the human species;
- Developing performance indicators for the assessment of biodiversity and of the effectiveness of
conservation measures, to match the specific ecosystems in Romania.
In this respect, investment in building individual human and institutional capacity is essential.
Furthermore, development of a strategy and action plan cannot be conceived in the absence of public
information, consultation and involvement.
Therefore, the UNDP/ GEF Project will provide, alongside the NBSAP document, a proposal
for a training portfolio, on biodiversity protection and conservation and resource management, based
on sustainable development principles, as well as a Communication, Education and Public Participation
Toolkit (CEPA) and a Clearing - House Mechanism (CHM), the portal to which has been made available in
the Romanian Ministry of Environment and Forests (MEF).

15 •
 Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Natural Restoration in a Sulfur Quarry, Calimani Mountains (Photo Mircea Verghelet)

17 •
I 1.1. BIODIVERSITY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING IT

The concept of biodiversity, or biological diversity, was first defined in the

context of adopting a new international environmental tool, under the UNCED
Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro in 1992. It stands for the diversity oflife on earth and
involves a four tier approach: diversity of ecosystems, diversity of species, genetic
diversity and ethno-cultural diversity.
From a conceptual point of view, biodiversity has its own intrinsic worth, but
it is also invested with ecological, genetic, social, economic, scientific, educational,
cultural, recreational and aesthetic values.
As a primordial condition for the existence of human civilisation, biodiversity
provides the support system for life and for the development of socio-economic
systems. Natural and semi-natural ecosystems have established intra- and inter-
specific connections that cater for material, energy and informational exchange, thus
I
ensuring their productivity, adap.tability and resilience. Such inter-connections are
very complex.and it is difficult to.estimate the importance of each individual species
in the operation of such systems, and the potential consequences of their depletion
or extinction in ensuring the long-term survival of ecological systems, the main
supplier of resources on which human development and welfare are dependent.
Therefore, the maintenance of biodiversity is essential in ensuring the survival of
any form of life, including that of humans.
The economic value of biodiversity is obvious from the direct use of its
components: non-renewable natural resources - fossil fuels, minerals, etc., and
renewable natural resources - species of animals and plants used as food or for
the generation of energy or the extraction of substances, such as those used in
the pharmaceutical or cosmetics industries. To date, we may not claim that all
the potential of any species and how it might be used or accessed in the future
are known, so that the loss of anyone of them will limit the human development
opportunities and the efficient use of natural resources. The role of biodiversity is
equally important in ensuring ecological system services such as the regulation of
soil and climate conditions, water purification, mitigation of natural disasters, etc.
The costs of biodiversity degradation or loss are very difficult to establish,
but studies conducted worldwide to date have shown that they are substantial
and growing. The first report under the TEEB Project aiming to assess the
ecosystems and biodiversity on an international level, published in 2008, has
estimated that the annual loss of terrestrial ecosystem services is the equivalent
of EUR 50 billion (note that the loss is not related to the GDP, but to welfare,
as many of these benefits are not included in the GDP) by 2050, the cumulative
loss to welfare potentially amounting to 7% of the annual consumption

• 18
by 20501• Although a direct value of biodiversity cannot be established, the economic
value of the goods and services provided by the ecosystems was estimated to be
US$ 16 to 54 trillion/ year [Costanza et al., 1987]. These values were calculated to
include the services provided by the ecosystems: food production, raw materials,
climate and atmospheric gas control, nutrient and water cycles, erosion control, soil
formation, etc.
The average value of ecosystem services - US$ 35 trillion/ year is nearly
double the world gross domestic product, which the same study estimated to be
US$ 18 trillion/ year.
Biodiversity plays an important role in the life of any society, and is reflected
in its culture and spirituality (folklore, art, architecture, literature, land and resource
use traditions and practice, etc.).
The aesthetic value of biodiversity is a basic human need, natural and cultural
landscapes being the foundation for the development of the tourism and recreational
sector.
From an ethical point ofview,each biodiversity component has an inestimable
intrinsic value, and human society has the obligation to provide the conservation
and sustainable use thereof.

1.2. OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPLES OF THE CONVENTION ON •

BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

In 1992, the CBD, which came into force on December 29th 1993,was signed
under the UNCED by 153 states, including the European Union. In early 2010,
the CBD was ratified by 193 Parties and is now the most important international
instrument in coordinating global policies and strategies for biodiversity
conservation. Romania ratified the CB'b, under Law No. 58/ 1994.
The three CBD objectives are as follows:
• Conservation of biological diversity;
• Sustainable use of biological diversity components;
• Fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of genetic resources.

The Earth Summit also adopted the Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration on the
Environment and Development, the Declaration of Forest Principles and the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change, ratified under Law 24/1994. The CBD
Conference of the Parties (COP) also adopted the principles underlying biodiversity
conservation and the sustainable development of the socio-economic system, as
they are presented in the following:
1 TEEB - "The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity An Interim Report", 2008, p.35, http://
www.teebweb.org/LinkClickaspx ?fileticket=u2fMSQo WJfO%3d&tabid= 1278&language=en -US

19 •
 1. The Prevention Principle: biodiversity conservation is efficient if it
eliminates or reduces the effects of potential threats;
2. The Precautionary Principle: lack of complete scientific studies may not be
considered a reason to accept activities that might have a significant negative impact
on biodiversity; .
3. The Polluter Pays Principle: whoever causes the destruction of biodiversity
must pay the costs of prevention, impact mitigation or ecological reconstruction;
4. The Principle of Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to
Justice in Environmental Matters: the public must have access to environmental
information and the right to participate in environmental decision making;
5. The Principle of Good Governance: governance must have eight major
characteristics - to be participatory, quantifiable, transparent, accountable, effective
and efficient, fair and in accordance to the legal norms;
6. The Principle of Sectoral Integration: biodiversity conservation and the
sustainable use of its components must be taken Grtoconsideration in the decision-
making process and in establishing sectoral policies;
7. The Principle of Ecosystem Approach: a strategy for integrated, adaptive
management, based on the application of appropriate scientific methodologies that
take into account the structure and functions of the ecosystems and their support
capacity;
8. The Principle of Ecological Networks: connecting ecological corridors
should be established in order to provide connectivity between components of
biodiversity, landscape, and social structure, centred around natural protected
areas;
9. The Subsidiarity Principle: regulating the exercise of power, with decisions
to be made at the lowest relevant level (local, regional, national);
10. The Compensation Principle: where there is a negative impact, and in the
absence of alternative solutions, compensatory measures should be established for
imperative reasons of overriding public interest.
 1.3. EUROPEAN UNION POLICY AND STRATEGY FOR BIODIVERSITY

The European Union ratified the CBD on December 2Pt, 1993, and assumed
the international leadership in implementing the Convention provisions, by adopting
a number of strategies and action plans aiming to halt the loss of biodiversity by
2010 and beyond, according to Communication from the Commission to the
European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee
and the Committee of the Regions 0.864 final/ 16.12.2008. The Strategic Plan for
the CBD aims to reduce the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional
and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of
all life on Earth, and must be transposed accordingly by the Member States. This
responsibility was focused on the establishment of a European ecological network
including a representative sample of all the species and natural habitats of community
importance, in order to ensure appropriate protection thereof and guarantee their
long term viability. This ecological network - known as Natura 2000 - is opposing
the current trend of natural habitat fragmentation and is based on the actual fact
that development of socio-economic networks may only be based on natural and
semi-natural ecological systems. The legal obligations of the Member States in
regard to nature protection are contained in Council Directives 79/ 409/ EEC on
the conservation of wild birds, amended by Directive 2009/ 147/ EEC (and referred
to as the "Birds" Directive) and 92/ 43/ EEC on the conservation of natural habitats
and wild fauna and flora (referred to as the "Habitats" Directive).
At the Environment Meeting of March 2009, the Council asked for the
development of a new EU-wide perspective and a new biodiversity objective based
on and contributing to the international debates on aglobal biodiversity perspective
beyond 2010, as part of an updated strategy to be adopted for the implementation of
the CBD by the end of,2010. - -
In January 2010, the paper on Options for a EU Vision and Target for
Biodiversity beyond 2010 was adopted under Communication from the Commission
to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social
Committee and the Committee of the Regions No.4 final! 19.01.2010. A review
of the implementation of the EU Strategy on Biodiversity Conservation revealed a
number of positive results, as well as shortfalls.
One accomplishment is the Natura 2000 network, covering 17% of the
EU territory, the largest network of protected areas in the world. An ecosystem
approach underlies the Framework Water Directive (Council Directive 2000/ 60/
EC) and the Framework Directive on the Marine Environment Strategy (Council
Directive2008/ 56/ EC), aiming to produce good ecological state of the ecosystems,

21.
 Box No. 1
Steps of the EU policy and strategy for biodiversity conservation
• 13 June 1992 - signing of CBD
• 21 December 1993 - CBD ratification
• 2002 - NBSAP adoption - COP 6
• Water Directive - 2000/ 60/ EC
• Birds Directive - 79/409/ EEC
• Habitats Directive - 92/ 43 EEC
• Marine Environment Directive - 2008/ 56/ EEC
• European Landscape Convention
• 6th Environmental Action Program 2001 - 2010
• Post -2010 Biodiversity Options

taking into account the cumulated pressures. Other positive results have been
triggered by the implementation of the legislation aiming to reduce certain
pollutants and by other legal documents in favour of biodiversity, by the efforts
to better integrate the biodiversity issues with other areas of policy, as well as by
the common fishing policy after 2002 and the improved financial opportunities in
favour of biodiversity afforded under various EU policies, including the Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP).
A major deficiency was pointed out at the decision making level, with
the current policy not taking into sufficient consideration the value of ecosystem
services that cannot be supported by biodiversity conservation measures alone.
High levels of species and habitat conservation are only one of the key components,
but many services are provided outside protected areas. In the attempt to fill this
gap, the Commission will finalise a preliminary set of ecosystem service maps, while
the European Environment Agency (EEA) will finalise the auditing and evaluation
of the ecosystem services by the end of20IO.
Moreover, while community regulations help guarantee the minimisation
of the environmental effects of infrastructure and land use development in the EU,
improved coordination might produce additional benefits, in accordance with the
subsidiarity principle, by developing a "green infrastructure" and related investments
on the EU territory outside the Natura 2000 network.

.22
 In implementing the EU Strategy for Biodiversity Conservation, an Action
Plan was established with the following priority objectives:
Objective 1. Maintain the diversity of ecosystems, habitats and biota within
the protected areas;
Objective 2. Maintain species diversity by:
2.1 Reducing the decline, restoring and maintaining the state of conservation
of populations of protected species;
2.2 Improving the status of endangered species.
Objective 3. Maintain genetic diversity by:
3.1 Conserving the genetic diversity of cultivated plants, domesticated
animals, species of economic importance, and maintaining the traditional use
thereof by local communities.
Objective 4. Reduce the pressures caused by changes of land use leading to
loss of natural and semi-natural habitats.
Objective 5. Limit the negative impacts of invasive species.
Objective 6. Halt unsustainable uses by:
6.1 Sustainable harvesting of biodiversity components used in their natural
state or as derivative products;
6.2 Managing the production areas in accordance with the biodiversity
conservation requirements;
6.3 An international ban on trade with endangered species of flora and fauna.
Objective 7. Reduce pressures due to climate change, pollution and soil erosion.
Objective 8. Maintain the ecosystems' capacity to provide 'ecological goods
and services and operate as life support systems by:
8.1 Maintaining the support capacity of ecosystems;
8.2 Halting the decline of biological resources, of the traditional knowledge,
skills and practices of local communities that allow for sustainable use and food
security.
Objective 9. Ensure fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of
genetic resources.

The measures established for halting biodiversity loss are contained in

th
the "6 Environmental Action Program" adopted in 2002 by the EU Council and
restated at the Spring European Council in March 2005, in the adoption of the
Lisbon Strategy.
-------------------------------------,F
23 •
 Box No. 2
Objectives of the Action Plan of the EU Biodiversity Strategy
• Maintain ecosystem diversity
• Maintain species diversity
• Maintain genetic diversity
• Reduce pressures of habitat loss
• Limit the negative impacts of invasive species
• Halt unsustainable harvesting
• Reduce pressures due to climate change, pollution and soil erosion
• Maintain the capacity of ecosystems to supply goods and services
• Ensure fait: and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of
genetic 'resources

On a European level, biodiversity conservation has taken a new dimension,

with emphasis recently being placed on understanding and evaluating landscapes, as
dynamic systems subject to natural and societal changes. Landscape means an area,
as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of
natural and/ or human factors.
It has a direct influence on the quality oflife, as a key factor in the achievement
and reflection of social and individual well being, contributing to the formation
of cultures and the strengthening of individual identity. Landscape is, therefore,
a defining element of European and National identity. In order to bring a direct
contribution to landscape conservation the European Landscape Convention was
launched for signing in 2000 and ratified by Romania under Law No. 451/ 2002. It
emphasizes the importance of saving landscapes, not only for their aesthetic value,
but also, primarily, for the quality of human and natural life.
In this respect, the concept of European landscape was extended by a
number of advanced studies conducted by the Landscape Europe organisation, who
launched into the debate the inclusive concepts of Euroscape 2020 and Leisurescape
2020 as a target for the European population in the year 2020, and included them for
debate on the political agenda of the EU governance.

, ',..
 1.4. ROMANIAN POLICY FOR BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity conservation activities in Romania have a long history, as

they developed in step with human concerns, with the first regulations on nature
rotection included in Romanian law ever since the 15th century. They evolved until
the 19th century, ensuring good preservation of the natural resources, as legislation
that included a number of strict rules and measures. After the signing the Treaty
of Adrianopolis in 1829, trade became liberalised, favouring the growing of grain
or export, and causing an expansion of farmland at the expense of unprecedented
deforestation leading to large scale degradation of soils.
Direct concerns for nature protection especially emerged in the early 1900s.
An intensive movement for the protection of nature took place in the period from
1922 to 1928, championed by leaders in the field of biology, geology, geography and
forestry. In 1930, the first Law on the protection of natural monuments marked the
beginning of a new phase in nature protection in Romania. The first Commission for
the Protection of Natural Monuments was created based on this piece of legislation.
Its activity focused on scientific research, as reflected in the publication of many
studies, notes and papers underpinning the legal protection of valuable items
classified as natural monuments: 15 species of plants and 16 species of animals and
36 nature reserves covering about 15,000 ha, including Retezat National Park were
thus protected. Later, the legislative and institutional system continued to develop
up to the end of World War II, only to steadily decline during the communist period.
After 1990,biodiversity conservation activities have-been resumed and strengthened,
by the development of new regulations and the crea,tion of appropriate institutional
structures.
The strategic reference documents ensuring both horizontal promotion of
biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of its components and the funding
of projects in this field, based on the national and European policy, include:
• Romania's EU Accession Treaty, signed on 25th April 2005 and the Protocol
regarding the concrete commitments of Romania to transpose, implement and
enforce the application of the entire environmental Acquis Communautaire
and providing certain transition periods in the implementation of some
environmental obligations (by 31.12.2015, for industrial facilities under
Council Directive 96/ 61/ EC on integrated pollution prevention and control, by
31.12.2016 for municipal landfills, by 31.12.2018 for the requirements regarding
urban wastewater collection and treatment systems).

25 •
• The National Development Plan for 2007 - 2013 (NDP), the strategic planning
and multi -annual financial programming document that provides guidance and
incentives for the country's economic and social development in accordance
with the principles of the EU Cohesion Policy. The plan sets as a global objective
the speedy filling of the gaps in Romania's socio-economic development in
relation to other countries and the other EU Member States and details the
specific objectives of the process along 6 priority directions which directly
and/ or indirectly integrate the requirements of biodiversity conservation and
sustainable development in the short and medium term:
- Improved competitiveness and the development of knowledge-based
economy must include one of the main sub-priorities, i.e. improving energy
efficiency and use of renewable energy resources in order to reduce the
causes leading to climate change and their effects;
- Bringing the basic infrastructure up to European standards focusing on
sustainable development of the infrastructure' and means of transportation
by reducing their environmental impacts;
- Maintaining and impro;,:"ilJgthe quality of the environment should be a
priority leading to improved living standards based on provision of public
utility services, especially in the management of water and waste;
- Improving sectoral and regional environmental management systems;
- Biodiversity conservation and ecological reconstruction;
- Risk prevention and response in case of natural disasters;
- Development of rural economy and increased output in the farming,
forestry and fishing sectors to be based on the rational use of the land
stocks, rehabilitation of degraded land, food safety, animal welfare, the
encouragement of aquaculture in coastal areas;
- Filling the development gaps between regions and within each region
should consider improvement of administrative performance and local
public infrastructure, protection of the natural and cultural heritage as part
of integrated rural development, rehabilitation of urban areas affected by
industrial restructuring, strengthening of the business environment and
promotion of innovation.
• The National Strategic Reference Framework 2007 - 2030 (NSRF), approved by
the Commission on 25th June 2007, sets the priorities for intervention of the EU
Structural Instruments (the European Fund for Regional Development - EFRD,
the European Social Fund - ESF,and the Cohesion Fund - CF) in the economic
and social cohesion policy and makes the connection between the priorities

• 26
 of the National Development Plan for 2007 - 2013 and those of the EU as set in
the Strategic Direction for Community Cohesion 2007 - 2013 and the revised
Lisbon Strategy. In implementing the strategic vision of the NSRF under the
cohesion policy, the EC has allocated to Romania, for the 2007-2013 period,
a total amount of about EUR 19.67 billion, of which 19.21 billion or the
Convergence Objective (with an estimated national co-funding worth EUR 5.53
billion, consisting of public sources up to 73% and private sources 27%), and
EUR 0.46 billion for the European Territorial Cooperation Objective.
• The Romanian National Strategy for Sustainable Development, Horizons 2010
- 2020 - 2030 sets concrete objectives for the transition, within a reasonable
and realistic time frame, to a high value added generating development model
directed toward the ongoing improvement of the quality of human life, in
harmony with the natural environment. The objectives formulated in the
strategy are designed to maintain, strengthen, extend and continuously adapt
the structural configuration and functional capacity of biodiversity as a basis for
maintaining and enhancing its support capacity in relation to the foreseeable
impacts of climate change. The main directions of action in the implementation
and application of the sustainable development principles are as follows:
- Rational correlation of the development objectives, including investment
programs, with the biodiversity support potential and capacity;
- Speedy modernisation of the education and vocational training and public
health systems, taking into account the poor demographic trends and their
impacts on the labour market;
- Use of the best available technologies, from an economic and ecological
point of view, in decision making on investments of public funds and
simulating such decisionsin the private sector, firm introduction of eco-
efficiency criteria in all the production or service activities;
- Anticipation of the effects of climate change and development of both
long term adaptation solutions and inter-sectoral contingency plans, to
include portfolios of alternative solutions for critical situations generated by
natural or man-made events;
- Ensuring food safety and security by capitalising on Romania's
competitive advantage in regard to developing agricultural production,
including of ceo-products, correlation of quantitative and qualitative
increase of agricultural production in order to provide food for humans
and livestock and meet the demand for higher bio-fuel production, without
compromising the requirements to maintain and increase soil fertility,
biodiversity and environmental protection;

27 •
 - The need to identify additional funding sources, in sustainable conditions,
in order to implement large scale projects and programs, especially in the
infrastructure, energy, environmental protection, food safety, education,
health and social services sectors;
- Protection and enhancement of the cultural and natural heritage.

111.5. NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGIES AND ACTION PLANS DEVELOPED

IN ROMANIA TO DATE

As a signatory of the CBD, Romania has the obligation to enforce Article 6

stipulating that the Parties should ''develop national strategies, plans and programs
for biological diversity conservation and sustainable use of its components, or adapt
the existing strategies, plans or programs in this regard".
Two NBSAPs have been developed to date, the first in 1996, two years after
•
Romania ratified theCbl), and the second in 2000, following the decision to join the
EU and adopt-the Acquis Communautaire. -
The third NBSAP targets, the 2011-2020 period and has been developed
under the UNDP/ GEF Project: "Support for the Compliance of the National
Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan with the CBD and the Development of a
Clearing - House Mechanism (CHM)'~ The content and implementation were
established in consideration of Decision VIII/ 8 of 2005 on the Guidelines for the
Review of NBSAPs.
The development approach was based on a detailed analysis of the existing
situation in order to assessthe current state ofbiodiversity conservation at the national
level, the identification of direct threats and the causes that mayor do determine
loss of biodiversity, as well as on a review of how the legal and institutional system
meets the requirements in this area. The obligations, threats and obstacles have
been prioritised and the strategic and operational objectives have been identified.
A set of actions was established for each operational objective, and for every action
a deadline, responsible authorities, an estimated budget and funding sources were
set, along with the priority and reporting indicators. The budget for each action
was estimated based on its specifics, on previous financial studies and assessments
to include the costs of staff/ consultancy, equipment, works, etc. Prioritisation of
the actions was established based on the severity of the threats, the vulnerability
of biodiversity components and on how stringent it should be to comply with
international and community requirements for biodiversity conservation.
The first stage included the setting up of a conceptual framework and
directions for action and the selection of an expert group to draft the document, for

• 28
individual areas of competence. For the sake of consistency and precise identification
of the baseline and barriers, after a first review step, the document was subjected to
public debate, and disseminated to all the stakeholders in an introductory meeting.
The second step was to outline the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action
Plan, a document which was again subjected to public debate in a national working
meeting attended by the stakeholder representatives.
After a review of the comments received, the final draft of the NBSAP was
submitted to the central environmental public authority for the acceptance and
adoption of this strategic document via a Government Decision.
The drafting process of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
was based on the participatory mechanism, as shown by the following numbers:
• Three national level debates: one on the description of the baseline and the
outlining of strategic action directions; the second on the debate of a first set of
proposals for the Action Plan; a third on the consolidated NBSAP document as
a whole. All these events consisted of the dissemination of project documents to
nearly 3,000 institutions, included the Project database, uploading on the UNDP,
UEB and MEF websites, and the organisation of open working meetings, with
an enlarged scope of public consultation for the last one, after posting a notice
on the CHM and other institutional websites, and publishing it in the media
with an invitation to express opinions;
• Meetings of the Group of experts: one or two every month, during the Project
initiation and national debate period, and up to three a month during the last six
weeks of drafting the final document. Moreover, ever since the Project inception,
an online working framework was created for current consultation and exchange
of data and information between experts; _
• The total number of p artlcip ants in the public debate meetings: 48 in the first, 89
in the second, and 210 in the third;
• The total number of comments during in the public debate meetings: 128;
• Number of written inputs/ observations/ comments received: 16;
• Number of drafts submitted for public debate: 1;
• Total number of revised alternatives of the successive drafts: 6.

The NBSAP document was also subject to CAT review, under the SEA
procedure, and it was concluded that it did not require this process, as it was not
directly related to investment projects.

29 •
 Chapter 2

BIODIVERSITY IN ROMANIA

Eurasian Eagle-owl - Bubo bubo (Photo Peter Lengyel)

31.
II OVERVIEW

Romania is located in Central Europe, equally distant from both the North
Pole and the Equator and from the Atlantic Ocean and the Ural Mountains, in the
Danube watershed and Black Sea basin. Covering a surface area of 238,391 km2 and
with a population of 21,584,365 (on 1 July 2007, NIS) it is considered a medium
sized European country and accounts for 6% of the total surface area of the EU and
for 4% of its population.
The diversity and relatively balanced proportional distribution of the
forms of relief - 28% mountains, 42% hills and plateaus, and 30% plains - are
unique features for Europe and rare at the global level. The territory of Romania
includes the following bio-geographic regions, as established at the European level:
continental, alpine, Pannonian, Pontian (the Black Sea) and steppic (only present
in Romania). The Black Sea bio-region includes not only the coastal platform but
also the Romanian territorial waters plus the.exclusive economic area, under the EU
Framework Marine Strategy (Directive 2008/ 56/ EC). Romania also includes 54%
of the Carpathian Mountains range, while 97.8% of the national river system drains
into the Danube.
Brown bear - Ursus arctos (Photo Mircea Verghelef)

• 32
 2.1. DIVERSITY OF ECOSYSTEMSAND HABITAT
I
The geographical location, physical-geographic, lithological complexity and
the radial distribution of the natural gradients of the forms of relief create a great
diversity of meso- micro-climate and soil conditions. This variability of substrate
composition and structure and of the abiotic conditions determines the richness,
distribution and level of representation of the types of ecosystems and natural
habitats across the Romanian territory.
Natural and semi-natural ecosystems account for about 47% of the national
surface area, with 45% represented by agricultural ecosystems, and the remaining
8% buildings and infrastructure. The major categories of ecosystem types reviewed
include: forest ecosystems, meadow ecosystems, fresh and brackish water ecosystems,
marine and coastal ecosystems and subterranean ecosystems.
Box No. 3
Major categories of ecosystem types reviewed

• Forest Ecosystems
• Meadow Ecosystems
• Fresh and Brackish Water Ecosystems
• Marine and Coastal Ecosystems
• Subterranean Ecosystems

Forest Ecosystems
Of the total 3,869,455,000 ha covered by forests. on a global level,
1,035,344,000 ha are located in Europe and 6,448,000 ha of these are present in
Romania. Between 1990 and 2008, the surface area of our country covered by forests
increased Significantly,by about 30,000 ha, due to afforestation work conducted on
land outside the forest stock. From 2000 to 2004, the surface area covered by forests
increased by about 16,000 ha, due to afforestation of land not used for agriculture.
Nationally, most forests lie in mountain and hill areas (89.1 %); with about
53% thereof consisting of woodland with protective functions, as illustrated in Fig. 2.1
by structure. The 55 plus functional categories were grouped into 6 functional types
based on the intervention types allowed in forest uses: all harvesting is forbidden in
functional type I (of special protective functions and subject to a protection regime),
while only slight intervention is allowed in type II forests (with special protective
functions under a conservation regime). In types III and IV, (where the harvesting
of main produce is only allowed under special restrictions on the intervention
types) only cutting allowing for natural regeneration is allowed. In types V and VI,
wood harvesting and forestry intervention may be done on a current basis, with

33. 'i'
 Fig. 2.1. Map of Romanian forests and river system

_ protection against external factors with negative impacts

_ forests with a recreational function
_ forests of scientific interest located in natural protected areas
_ soil protection
_ protection of surface waters

10% 31%

5%

Fig. 2.2 - Distribution of forest types with protection function

• 34
observance of the sustainable forest management imperatives.
Conifer forests account for 30.4% of the total forest cover, while deciduous
forests account for 69.6% Most forests are beech (31.1 %), followed by spruce (22.9%),
various species of oak (18.2%), fir (5%), pine (2.1 %), other conifers (0.9%) and other
deciduous species (0.5%). Apart from the national forest stock, forest vegetation
covers a further 319,000 ha. 31% of the forests are included in the national network
of protected areas.
A special particular of Romanian biodiversity is the existence of old growth
forests. According to a study developed by lCAS in 2005 with Pin Matra funding,
their surface area was estimated at about 225,000 ha.
Another very different element is the presence of the last intact forest
landscape (lFL) in the temperate climate zone of Europe. According to the study
lCAS conducted in 2007, the lFL surface area was estimated at 97,926 ha, of which
18,046 ha were old growth forests.

Meadows
Of the total 10,542,000 km2 covered by meadows worldwide, 7l5,000 km2are
located in Europe and 17,486 km2in Romania (7.32% of the national territory). 2,000
km2of the meadows are included in the national network of protected areas (11.43%).
Arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas as defined under the UNCCD
represent 30% of the national territory.
More than 74% of the meadows lie in hill and mountain areas, 4% of them
in alpine and sub-alpine zones. The remaining 26% lie in plain areas, predominantly
in the steppe zone. -o

35 •
 Freshwater and Brackish Water Ecosystems
The following categories of aquatic systems have been identified in Romania:
• Permanent rivers - 55,535 km, accounting for 70 % of the total watercourses;
non-permanent rivers - 23,370 km, accounting for 30 % of the total
watercourses;
• Natural lakes - 117 with an area of more than 0.5 krri', of which 52 % in the
Danube Delta;
• Reservoirs - 255 with an area of more than 0.5 krrr';
• Transitory waters - 174 km (river 46 km and marine 128 km).
The river network of our country is of a radial pattern, with 98% of the rivers
springing from the Carpathian Mountains and flowing directly or as tributaries to
other rivers, into the Danube. The Danube, the second longest river in Europe (2,860
km), of which 1,075km on the Romanian territory, flows into the Black Sea through
3 arms (Chilia, Sulina, Sfantu Gheorghe), that form a Delta. The Danube Delta
ranks third in Europe in size (after the Volga and the Kuban) and 22nd world-wide.
It is also the largest area of compact reeds in the world, and the more than 5,400
species of flora and fauna and 30 types of ecosystems make it rank 3rd in point of
biological diversity globally (after the Great Barrier Reef and the Galapagos Islands).
Currently, the Danube Delta has a multiple protection status, having been declared a
Biosphere Reserve, a Ramsar Site, a World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site, a Site
of Community Interest and a Special Bird Protection Area.

Eastern Hermann's Tortoise - Testudo hermanni (Photo Dorin Pop)

• 36
 Marine and Coastal Ecosystems
The Romanian seashore, exclusively located in the Pontian bio-geographic
region, is 244 km long, plus the marine part itself, as defined for the Black Sea bio-
region, and including associations of costal, sand dune and marine ecosystems. The
marine component covers and area of about 5,400 km', if only territorial waters are
included. 24.5% of this area has a natural protected area status. In the coastal area,
of the total 244 km of the Romanian seashore, about 68% are located in protected
areas.

Subterranean Ecosystems
To date, "Emil Racovita" Speological Institute has registered 12,500, caves in
Romania, accounting for an area of 4,400 krrr', and of which 134 have been declared
protected natural areas, i.e. 1.07% of the total number. In the discovery, exploration,
mapping and inventorying thereof, a significant contribution was made by the cave
research organisations.
Remarkable among them is Movile Cave - the only ecosystem in the world
that operates exclusively based on chemosynthesis, and which has an impressive
diversity, of more than 35 unique species.

Natural and Semi-Natural Habitats

The EU has developed a classification system for the European natural
habitats, including those in Romania. The concept of "natural habitat" as defined in
the Habitats Directive, No. 92.43/ EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and
wildlife refers to terrestrial or aquatic areas distinguished by fully natural or semi-
natural geographical, abiotic and biotic features, Jargely similar- to the ecosystem
concept. Natural and semi-natural habitats encountered at the national level are
characteristic of the aquatic, terrestrial and subterranean environment. These are
aquatic - marine, coastal and fresh water habitats, terrestrial - forest, meadow and
brush, peat bog and wetland habitats, steppe and forest steppe habitats, underground
- cave habitats.
Several systems of habitat type classification have been accepted in Romania,
with no single system in place. Based on the studies carried out under the CORINE
Biotopes Program, 783 types of habitats have been identified in 261 areas cross the
national territory (Table 2.1).
In 2005-2006, in their paper on "Romanian Habitats': Donita et al. have tried
to establish the similarities between these different classification systems. Thus, they
established and described 21 sub-classes of habitats and 357 types of existing habitats

37. T
I
in our country, many of which have equivalents in the main classification systems
used at the European level:
• 199 .habitats have an equivalent in the Natura 2000 classification system;
• 213 habitats have an equivalent in Emerald habitat classification system;
• 170 habitats have an equivalent in Corine habitat classification system;
• 367 habitats have an equivalent in Palearctic habitat classification system;
• 263 habitats have an equivalent in EUNIS habitat classification system;

Main types of habitats Number %

Coastal habitats 13 5.0
Wetlands 89 34.1
Meadows 196 75.1
Forests 206 78.9
Shallow Marsh - --- 54 20.7
-Cliffs/ Sands - 90 34.5
Farming. , , 135 51.7
Table 2.1. Main types of habitats in Romania and their respective share

Padina lui Calinet, Piatra Craiului National Park (Photo Mircea Verghelet)

• 38
No. Sub-Class No. of types of habitats
present in Romania
1 Marine communities 7
2 Sea arms and shores 1
3 Swamps, steppes, brush -land and halophile forests 33
4 Seaside dunes and sand beaches 11
5 Fresh standing water 13
6 Saline and brackish standing water 3
7 Brush -land and woodland meadows in the 33
temperate area
8 Xeric and Calcicole steppes and meadows 21
9 Xeric silicon meadows 3
10 Alpine and sub-alpine meadows 19
11 Wet meadows and tall grass communities (sub- 16
alpine moorland)
12 Mesophile meadows 4
13 Temperate deciduous forests: 65
14 Temperate conifer forests 18
15 Forests and brush-land of floodlands and swamps 23
16 High peat bogs (moors) , < 2
17 Riparian vegetation 12
18 Swamps, peat bogs, springs and streams _ - 23
•
-
19 Screes 15
20 Continental cliffs and outcrops 23
21 Chinophile vegetation 6
22 Continental sand dunes 5
23 Caves 1
24 Ruderal communities 6
TOTAL 357
Table 2.2. Subclasses and types of habitats present in Romania

39 •
II 2.2. DIVERSITY OF SPECIES

Diversity of ecosystems / natural habitats is complemented by a remarkable

diversity of species. To date, 3,795 species and subspecies of higher plants (623
cultivated and 3,136 wild species) have been identified [Ciocarlan, 2009], as well
as 965 species of bryophyte (moss) [Stefanut, 2008; Sabovljevic et al., 2008], 8,727
species of fungi (mushrooms), more than 600 species of algae of which 35 are marine.
37% of the plant species are found in meadow habitats, and more than 700 plant
species are located in marine and coastal areas. 4% of the plant species are endemic,
75% of them found in the mountain area.
In regard to fauna, 33,802 species of animals have been identified, 33,191
of which are invertebrate and 611 vertebrate. Of the vertebrates, 103 species of fish,
19 species of amphibians, 23 species of reptiles, 364 species of birds (of which 312
are migratory species) and 102 mammal species have been identified (Romanian
Vertebrate Red Book).
_ The presence of large carnivores in a good state of conservation is
representative for Romania, according to the data presented by the environmental
authorities. Thus, the wolf population (Canis lupus) is an estimated 3,800 individuals,
i.e. nearly 40% of the population roaming the EU territory, the lynx population
(Lynx lynx) is an estimated 1,900 individuals, while brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos)
numbers at approximately 6,600 individuals, i.e. more than 60% of the European
population. These three carnivore species are a symbol as well as an indicator of the
wild state of the habitats. The maintenance of stable and viable populations of large
carnivores in Romania might be a source of repopulation in other areas of Europe,
where such species are endangered.
Of the insect group, 227 species are adapted to life below ground, 97% of
them being endemic. Of all the fauna species nationally, more than 1,000 species are
considered to be endemic, but the geographical distribution of most of them is little
known .

• 40
 2.3. GENETIC DIVERSITY

The genetic diversity of species is extremely important in assessing the

extent of genetic erosion and includes, as applicable, the genetic diversity of the
natural populations, sub-species, breeds or hybrids, strains or stems. Knowledge of
intra-specific genetic diversity is important in identifying the evolutionary, adaptive
potential of different populations belonging to the same species in the context of
environmental condition changes. It may also contribute to the identification
of species centres of origin. In the case of such breeds and strains, maintenance
of genetic diversity may be a key factor in selecting the forms that can cope with
environmental changes.
Genetic diversity of micro-organisms includes the genetic diversity of the
stems of species of viruses, archebacteria, bacteria, fungi, and other types of sub-
microscopic organisms originating in natural habitats, plus micro-organisms in
public or private collections consisting of stems of indigenous or alien origin. As
micro-organisms are maintained in collections, in isolation, we could also include
here the collections of plant and animal cell and tissue cultures in public or private
research laboratories.
The genetic diversity of plant species includes all the wild species having their
natural habitat on the national territory (in situ) plus wild species maintained in
collections (ex situ), as well as all the strains and hybrids belonging to the improved
plant species used in agriculture nowadays.
In 200S, a catalogue of the plant varieties (strains) cultivated on the Romanian
territory was developed and adopted under Order of the Minister of Agriculture
and Rural Development No. 427/ 200S. According to this Catalogue, the number
of plant varieties is 2,11S. 37 (5.9%) of the plant species are currently cultivated in
Romania for potential human fooa., and represent the selection oasis (ancestors) for
indigenous varieties.
Currently, grains (wheat, barley, oats, rye, sorghum), industrial oil producing
plants (sunflower, rape) soybean, potato, vine, and fruit trees (apple, plum trees) are
of outstanding economic importance to Romania.
The genetic diversity of animal species includes all the wild species of
animals found on the Romanian territory in specific habitats (in situ) plus wild
animals maintained in collections (ex situ), as well as animals improved over time.
The genetic diversity of the Romanian livestock is of significant importance, same as
the wild species of sustainable use obtained from fishing, hunting or:trapping. There
is no centralised record to date regarding all the animal breeds raised nationally, but
there are clear records for various breeds of the species with the highest contribution
to human food (swine, sheep, cattle, horses, etc.).

41.
 Chapter 3

DIRECT THREATS
TO BIODIVERSITY
IN ROMANIA

Haywaggon (Photo Peter Lengyel)

43 •
I DIRECT THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY IN ROMANIA

The main anthropogenic factors that have, in recent decades, induced the
change of ecological composition and structure and of the yield and support capacity
of the Romanian biodiversity were identified in the objectives of socio-economic
development strategies and in the means chosen to implement them during 1950-
1989. They generated imbalances and discontinuities that have only partly been
corrected, under the spontaneous push of the market mechanisms, during 1990-
2007:
• Expansion and intensification of agricultural production systems by transforming
certain natural or semi-natural ecosystems into arable land and developing it or
the application of intensive production technologies (20-80% of the floodlands
of the main rivers and especially the Danube plain were dammed and turned
into intensive agricultural systems; much of the steppe vegetation grasslands
and wetlands were turned into arable land, forestry screens and many woodland
bodies in the plain zones or expansion riverbeds were-cleared, etc.):
• Fast"lndustnalisation through the development of production infrastructure
in large units, primarily in the ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgical sectors,'
of chemical and petrochemical industry, and machine building, triggered an
increased consumption of non-renewable (mineral and energy) resources from
domestic and foreign sources, and had a massive contribution to the pollution of
air, surface and ground waters and soils, compounded by the direct and indirect
pollution caused by poor operation or even absence of the control installations
in the production units of large scale industry, including in cement, chemical
fertiliser and pesticide manufacturing;
• Uncontrolled harvesting of natural forests, resulting in ecological imbalances in
many mountain watersheds;
• Implementation of large scale hydrotechnical works to create water reservoirs
and provide flood control;
• Increased electricity output capacity, including in large thermopower plants
using low grade coal;
• Urban development and transfer of population from the rural environment,
accompanied by the destruction of ecosystems in urban areas (reduced green
areas, building on greenfield, tree cutting, destruction of nests, etc.) and
insufficiently adequate measures for waste and wastewater collection and
treatment;
• Development of the transport infrastructure, focused on rail, river and maritime
transport, in parallel with maintaining an obsolete and old stock, including off-
road vehicles;

.44
 Expansion of open cast mining activities and extension of mining waste land-
filling areas without rehabilitation;
• Overuse of renewable and non-renewable natural resources feeding the
production processes of the economy;
Use of precious metal extraction techniques with a significant negative impact
on the environment as a whole, on human health and nature (e.g. the use of
cyanide in gold extraction);
Deliberate or accidental introduction of alien species into the natural or
agricultural ecosystems;
• Removal of certain plant species (lentils, millet, chick peas, etc.) from human
food consumption and focus on mono-crops, on extensive fields.

In the long process of transition towards democratic governance and a

functional market economy, political objectives and management types belonging
in the old and new development cycles have co-existed in various shares: state
and private property, centralised and decentralised administration, intensive and
ubsistence farming systems. Therefore, the following threats are predominant
now.

Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus (Photo Mircea Verghelet)

 3.1. CHANGE OF LAND USE

Change of land use for the development of urban, industrial, agricultural,

tourist or transport infrastructure is the main cause of the loss of biodiversity,
leading to t~e degradation, destruction and fragmentation of habitats and hence to
the decline of natural populations.
While the main threat in the past was the change of different types of habitats
into farmland for mono-crops, including the destruction of important areas of
wetland in the Danube Delta, nowadays, the change of natural habitats continues as
a direct threat, especially visible in the following situations:
• Drainage of wet meadows and change to arable land or grazing meadows, even
supported with environmental funds;
• Riverbed development and destruction of alluvial ecosystems, even supported
with environmental funds;
• Afforestation of low yield meadows and Steppe habitats, sometimes excessively
considered by the authorities to be "degraded land";
• Destruction of brush v~getation to extend grazing areas or develop tourism;
• Abandonment of meadows and grasslands, especially in elevated, less accessible
areas, to be invaded by forest vegetation.

II 3.2. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

Intensification of investments for infrastructure development (road, rail and

river transport, tourism, energy production and transport, etc.) without appropriate
biodiversity impact mitigation/ control measures may be considered an activity that
impacts biodiversity, in the context of the current economic development.
An acute problem relates to the development of wind farms, that may affect
the population of migratory species (birds and bats) if they are poorly located, in the
absence of detailed maps of the species migration corridors and of the areas of wind
energy potential. A particular case is that of Dobrudja, an area of very high wind
power potential, also crossed by the main migration routes of birds nesting in the
Danube Delta or transiting the area.

II 3.3. EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

Nowadays, it is thought that about 6.5%of the country territory is allocated to

housing developments. Habitat fragmentation occurs when there are large housing
agglomerations, but also with remote housing, as this requires additional building

• 46
of roads and utilities. Chaotic development, with no respect for a consistent and
oherent urban development strategy, leads to a misguided use of built-on areas and
their expansion against natural areas.
Uncontrolled urban and peri-urban development and transfer of population
from the rural environment, accompanied by the destruction of ecosystems in
urban areas (reduced green areas, building on greenfield, tree cutting, destruction of
nests, etc.) and insufficiently adequate measures for waste and wastewater collection
and treatment have considerable negative impacts on biodiversity and the quality of
life.
A very important pressure is exercised on the biodiversity of protected areas,
of coastal and mountain areas of tourism potential, where residential development
accompanied by the development of buildings of seasonal use.

3.4. HYDRO TECHNICAL WORKS

II
The large Iron Gates Hydropower dam, its head breakers, and lock walls,
had a major negative impact on the species of migratory fish or fish that used to
have their breeding grounds upstream of the dam, cutting the sturgeon numbers 50
times.
Danube flood control works, bank reinforcements, caused the destruction of
reeding grounds for species of fish such as carp, which prefer shallow, clear waters
of higher temperature, with the result of reducing their numbers 10 times.
Currently, there are no planned developments of large scale hydrotechnical
vorks, but the trend is still to solve flood problems by reinforcing the dikes and
building new ones, against maintaining and reconstructing the transition areas and
banning the development of-human settlements in areas of high flood risk.
Hydrotechnical works implemented in harbour areas have resulted in the
discharge of large quantities of sediments into coastal waters, and the siltation of
andy or rocky bottoms, leading to the depletion of entire benthic associations,
habitats for species of high ecological as well as economic value.

3.5. OVER-HARVESTING OF NATURAL RESOURCES

II
Forest management, as currently practiced, is based on the principle of
ustainable use of resources. However, uncontrolled wood harvesting and illegal
cuttings are a threat to biodiversity. Such situations are more frequent in forest
stocks recently returned to their original owners and that are not currently managed.
Uncontrolled harvesting causes habitat fragmentation and causes soil erosion and I'

landslides.
I
-------------------------------------------47--1I----~f
I
I Overgrazing has a significant negative impact on plant associations, causing a
decline of vegetable biomass and of the number of species of food value. As livestock
numbers have declined considerably since 2004, and the poverty level of the rural
population has increased, overgrazing has become an isolated problem.
The most affected plant species include species of special protection status
that contain active components and are used for cosmetic, pharmaceutical, food or
decorative purposes, and that are illegally harvested and traded.
Over-culling of species of hunting, economic or cultural interest is mainly
caused by the overestimation of population numbers or by poaching.
Poaching of game species or species of economic interest occurs in two
specific situations:
• On the one hand, it is caused by the poverty of the local population in certain
areas, where such animals are used for private consumption, which does not
entail a significant impact on the state of conservation of the respective species;
• On the other hand, poaching is caused by the wish to hunt! capture/ harvest
strictly protected species of high black market value. This situation generates
- significant adverse effects on the state of conservation of the targeted species.

A particular situation is that of fish poaching along the Danube and in the
Danube Delta. The most dangerous of the methods used is electric fishing, which
not only destroys a large number of young individuals, but also causes sterility in the
I surviving mature individuals.
In the Black Sea, intensive fishing practised in the 1960s caused the depletion
of large migratory fish species. Moreover, this resulted in the disturbance of marine
ecosystems, especially due to the use of bottom trawling, which resulted in adverse
functional effects on the live marine resources and their specific habitats, from
stirring of sediments and disturbing of organisms that populate the sea bottom.
Although such practices have now been banned, illegal fishing is still a problem that
affects both fish populations and benthic communities.
About 7% of the cavities are subject to degradation due to unsuitable tourism
and pollution from rural households. For the past 15 years, several cavities have
become irreversibly degraded as a consequence of illegal activities conducted by
treasure hunters and fossil traders. The impact of forest operations and farming
in karst areas has not yet been assessed. Such phenomena are on a growing trend,
although most habitats are located within protected areas.
I

• 48
 3.6. INAPPROPRIATE USE OF NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES

Ballast and sand extraction from interior riverbeds causes the degradation
of aquatic habitats and destroys wetlands, affecting the species that reside in such
areas.
Extraction of mineral resources affects biodiversity, either by the total
estruction of habitats due to land stripping, or by expansion of tailings and
.aste rock landfills. In quarries, open pit mining is practised, also requiring soil
stripping.
Fossil fuels (coal) are extracted from the ground or from the surface, requiring
stripping in the case of open cast mining, and causing pollution of surface waters
ed in floatation, in both cases. Mine drainage from abandoned galleries, most
often acidic and loaded with heavy metals, reach surface waters and affect their biota.
Crude extraction operations may cause accidental oil spills, affecting the
vegetable cover as well as the fauna over the medium and long term.
The use of thermal springs for either district heating or spa purposes
may affect the biota of the receiving waters on discharge, due to the difference in
emperature.

3.7. INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES

Invasive species may cause major loss of biodiversity, and may sometimes
determine the removal of native species that occupy the same ecological niche. When
depleted species are of economic concern, such loss of biodiversity is accompanied
y substantial economic losses.
Intentional introduction of aliens for economic reasons has significant
egative impacts. The bestknown case is that of Chinese carp replacing the native
opulations. The impact is higher as cyprinids account for 85% of the national fish
stocks. Intentional introduction of exotic fish species in private aquaria may be a
risk where such fish may end up in inland waters.
Apart from intentional release, invasive alien species may reach the inland
waters of Romania by the natural migration routes, facilitated by habitat changes due
o both human intervention and climate change. A real danger is that of Amorpha
fructicosa, a species that has invaded the floodable areas of the Danube Delta,
replacing the indigenous species.
As water is a very good medium for seed dispersal, the watercourses and
wetlands are very vulnerable to the penetration of alien invasive species.

49.
 The over-harvesting of Black Sea fish resources and the penetration of new
species have caused a deep change of the pre-existing associations of organisms.
In some cases, the changes have been reflected by the economic environment -
dramatic depletion of harvest able fish stocks, practically cutting the fishing industry
down to zero in some sectors of the Black Sea. Currently, only 5 species of fish can
still be harvested on an industrial scale in the Black Sea, compared to the 26 in the
early 1980s.
3 of the invasive marine alien species are considered to have a major impact.
The ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi has caused major and direct disturbance in the
pelagic and even in the benthic ecosystem, with fish populations (especially anchovy
species) going into actual collapse during the periods of explosive ctenophore
development, both because the latter feeds on their larvae and juveniles, and because
this migrant is a strong competitor to the feeding of plankton-eating fish. The snail
Rapana venosa has determined the collapse of native oyster populations, while
the Mya arenaria dam caused, the destruction 'Of-biota of the sandy bottoms of the
north-western Black Sea area. Not only has the association ofthe Lentidium bivalve,
considered the most productive of the Black Sea, been extremely affected, but the
intrusion of the North American bivalve also involved other negative effects: valve
size and calcium crystallisation patterns determine, in the long term, the change of
beach quality on the northern stretch of the Romanian seashore.

II 3.8. CLIMATE CHANGE

Data of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) show that the average
Earth temperature has increased during 1901 - 2000 by 0.6°C. For Romania, according to
INMH - Bucharest, this increase is of 0.30C, higher in the southern and eastern regions
(0.8°C) and lower in the intra-Carpathian regions (0.1DC).Climate warming has become
stronger after 1961 and especially after 2000 (2003, 2005) as the frequency of tropical
days (daily maximum> 30°C) has increased alarmingly and the number of winter days
(daily maximum < OOC) has substantially decreased. As a consequence, several regions
of our country are at high draught and desertification risk, especially where the average
annual temperature is higher than lOoC;the sum of annual atmospheric precipitations
is less than 350 - 550 mm; precipitations during April- October are less than 200 - 350
mm, and the a - 100 ern soil water reserve on 3ptMarch is less than 950 -1500 m3/ ha.
Underthe UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UN CD D), the aridityindex
(annual quantity of precipitation/ potential evapo-transpiration - PET) for dry areas,
deserts, is 0.05 and for sub-humid dry areas of 0.65, a threshold beyond which a territory
may be considered close to normal. According to this Convention, the PET is 400 - 900
mm of water for steppe and forest steppe and 300 mm of water for the mountain areas .

• 50
 The 4th Report (2007) of the Inter-governmental Panel for Climate Change
}PCC) for 2020 - 2030 compared to the year 2000 estimates, in an optimistic scenario,
O.5°Cglobal rise of the average temperature and l.SoC, in a more pessimistic scenario,
.rhile for 2030 - 2100 the increase under the two scenarios would range between 2.0oC
d S.OoC,which is quite extreme. If we considered the year 2070, with only a 3°C
. crease compared to the current level, than 68 % of the Romanian territory, below 500
:n elevation, would be subject to desertification, i.e. a more than double the area of the
current mountain zone.
An increase of the average air temperature by only 3°C by 2070, according to
me forecasts, would cause more than 30% of the country territory to be affected by
desertification and about 38% strong aridisation, to encompass all our plains, up to 85%
of the hill region and nearly 20% of the foothills and lower mountain ranges.
A forecasted global warming by 3°C in our country would create major
disturbances in the distribution of vegetation tiers by elevation in the Carpathians,
causing an increase of the upper reaches for spruce by 600 m, and the gradual
isappearance of the sub-alpine (dwarf pine) and alpine tiers. The maximum yield of
torests and natural meadows now located at elevations of 1,000 - 1,200 m asl, will rise
-0 1,600 - 1,800 m elevation after the global warming.

European bison - Bison bonasus (Photo Dorin Pop)

III 3.9. POLLUTION

The constant decline of the industrial sector after 1989and the harmonisation
of domestic and community regulations with regard to pollution control, have
gradually reduced the threat of pollution, and occur punctually, in the vicinity of
industrial areas that are in the process of complying with the European environmental
standards. 358 significant point form sources of water pollution and 255 areas
vulnerable to nitrite pollution from agricultural sources have been identified to date.
A special mention is necessary of the rivers that spring from or cross mining
areas, and that are naturally loaded with heavy metals and mineral salts.
Accidental spills are relatively numerous, especially along the Danube and in
the Black Sea, due to uncontrolled spillage from boats and/ or naval accidents.
The contribution of Significant pollution sources to the total point form
discharges inventoried is about 80%. Diffuse pollution sources mainly include
chemical fertilisers used in agriculture, pesticides used in pest control and human
agglomerations in the rural and urban -environment considering the small
. percentage of household connection to the sewerage network and to wastewater
treatment plants (34.9% in ZOOS).
Most groundwater drainage from karst areas with localities is biologically and
chemically polluted. The main karst areas affected include the Apuseni Mountains
and Banat Mountains. Pollution is caused by untreated municipal water discharges
from localities, illegal solid household and animal waste dumps.
According to the inventories, during 1992 - 1998, about 5,000 ha were
affected by pollution with farm waste. As a consequence of livestock decline, the
quantities of pollutants from farming has decreased, and transition to animal farming
from large complexes to individual households has reduced, to some extent, the
concentration of waste in some points and dissipated it over larger areas, at lower
loads. Preliminary data from the latest inventory of polluted lands shows that only
an area of 4,973 ha is still affected by animal waste.
The growing volume of industrial and municipal waste raises special
problems, related to both the coverage of important land areas, and to the concerns
for human health and the environment. The operational tailings dams may affect the
surrounding lands, in case of dam failure, in contaminating them with heavy metals,
floatation cyanides, other elements in excess (as in the case of Baia Mare, in recent
years). The same effect may be caused by tailings dams under conservation (e.g. at
Balan Mine - Fagul Cetatii Dam, in Harghita County, where heavy metal polluted
soils are actively grazed).
It is appreciated that pollution with waste and inorganic residues affects 844
ha, of which 360 ha are excessively affected. The largest areas so affected are in the
counties where mining and metallurgical activities, such as Dolj - 150 ha, Galati -
I. 177 ha, Mararnures - 103 ha, Timis - 106 ha etc.

• 52
 Around some industrial areas, such as non-ferrous smelting units
(Romplumb Firiza S.A., Phoenix Baia Mare, Sometra Copsa Mica, Iron and Steel
Complexes in Galati, Hunedoara etc.), air pollution with suspended particles and
aas contaminants occurs, and the impacts of some of these sources are felt even
after closure (the case of Ampellum Zlatna S.A.). Important areas are also affected
y emissions from fertiliser and pesticide plant sites and oil refineries, as in the case
of Bacau County, where 104,755 ha of farmland are slightly-moderately affected, or
:rom binder and asbestos-cement manufacturing plants. In the case of non-ferrous
.:netallurgy (Baia Mare, Copsa Mica, Zlatna) 198,624 ha were affected in different
egrees by the heavy metal content and sulphur dioxide emissions, causing disease
in humans and animals in surrounding areas, on a 20 - 30 km radius. Soils are
. pacted by acidification, causing depletion of nutrients, by de structuring, slope
~rocesses (erosion and landslides), vegetation drying, etc.
Air pollution with acid rain-generating substances (S02' NOx, 03' CO2, etc.),
such as in the area of chemical fertiliser plant sites, thermopower stations, etc, affects
air quality, especially in the case of non -ferrous metallurgy, which contributes to soil
cidification in various degrees, causing vertical leaching of soil bases and a strong
ecrease of nutrient quantities, especially of mobile calcium and phosphorous.
Another type of pollution with suspended particulate matter is caused by
. inder and asbestos-cement manufacturing complexes which contaminate the air
d cover the plants with calcium -containing dust, which, in the presence of water,
forms calcium hydroxide, and causes derangement of the leaf system.
Windblown ash from the landfills of coal-fired thermopower plants
contaminate the air, settle onto soil and "enrich" it witli alkaline and alkaline-earth

Rodnei Mountains (Photo M!rcea Verghelet)

53 •
 metals that may end up in the groundwater, when such landfills are located over
II shallow aquifers.
According to the preliminary data available to the NEPA, radioactive matter
pollution affects 566 ha, of which 66 ha are excessivelyaffected. This type of pollution
is manifest in the counties of Arad, Bacau, Brasov, Harghita, Suceava.

Major biodiversity impacts are reflected by a number of significant qualitative

and quantitative changes of the ecosystem structure and functioning. From the point
of view of the principles and objectives of biodiversity component conservation and
sustainable use, the main relevant consequences are:
• An active process of biological diversity erosion, expressed by the extinction of
some species;
• Habitat fragmentation for many species and breaking of connectivity
longitudinally (by the damming of watercourses) and laterally (by the diking of
flood areas, blocking or severely restricting fish migration routes and access to
breeding and feeding grounds); -~'
.• Restriction or removal of some types of habitats or ecosystems from transition
areas (forest screens, treelines, wetlands within large farm complexes or large lotic
systems) with severe negative impacts on biological diversity and on the control
of diffuse pollution, soil erosion, surface spills and the progress of flash floods,
the biological control of pest populations in crops, recharging of groundwater
reserves and water bodies;
• Extensive change, sometimes beyond the critical point, of the structural
configuration of river basins and watercourses, associated with a significant
reduction of the capacity of aquatic systems to absorb the pressure of
anthropogenic factors operating in the river basin and an increase of their
vulnerability and that of the socio-economic systems depending on them. Many
river basins have been affected by runoff erosion;
• Excessive simplification of the structure and multi-functional capacity of the
dominant ecological formations or of those made up of intensive farming systems
exclusively, and increased dependence on commercial inputs of materials and
energy;
• Destructuring and reduced yield capacity of the biodiversity components in
the farming sector.

I Special attention must be given to the impacts on landscape in each of its

3 components: cultural elements (settlements, infrastructure, buildings, human
activities), biodiversity, the geo-morphological structure (relief, geological,
hydrological features). Human interventions with adverse impacts on the landscape,
in the order of severity, include:

• 54
 • Destruction - significant loss in all the three landscape components. This is
primarily caused by intensive urban development unsuited to the environment
and to the local architecture, changes of land use, forest clearing, radical change
in the traditional community structure (inter-building, demolitions, changes of
use);
• Degradation - strong changes in the components, that do not, however, change
its consistency. These are caused by: deterioration of biodiversity (development
of urban green spaces using alien species, neglect and abandonment of public
spaces in favour of road traffic), cultural loss (change of constructive elements
with derogation from the legal provisions in force, intensive, unsustainable
urbanism, not based on strategic planning, suburban districts lacking identity, II
infrastructure and integration with the town body, abandonment of traditions),
pollution (waste accumulation, air, water and land pollution);
• Aggression - point-form action with a major impact on all the components.
These are caused by business and tourism activities such as quarries, ballast plants,
forest operations, ski slopes, etc. - implemented in an unsustainable manner and
causing changes in the forms of relief waste accumulation, ecosystem imbalance,
lack of continuity in the land use development policies.

The whole of the structural changes that have occurred over a long time,
primarily as a result of diversification and increase of human pressures, and have been
eflected in the current configuration of the ecological structure of the Romanian
atural assets has also caused a diminished yield 'and support capacity for resource
and service demand on the part of the national socio-economic system. This has
thus increased tile vulnerability of the Romanian territory. to geo-morphological,
ydrological and climate hazards.
The bio-productive capacity of Romanian biodiversity, in its current
structure, expressed as equivalent global productive area per individual (kg x ha/
. d) is estimated to be 2.17 kg x ha/ ind, i.e. slightly more than half the estimated
~otential of 3.5 - 4 kg x ha/ indo This major decline reflects the changes that have
occurred and accumulated in all the categories of biodiversity components, and
especially in the agriculture and forestry sectors. Currently, the bio-productive
capacity is surpassed by the footprint of the socio-economic system, assessed for
004 as 2.45 kg x ha/ ind and for 2006 as 2.7 kg x ha/ indo The gap tends to widen
vith a number of sectoral programs targeting conflicting objectives that might run
ounter to the tenets of sustainable development, generating negative impacts on the
structure and support capacity of biodiversity, with major consequences on human
development and welfare.

55 • r~
I