Danube Delta

CASE description

The coast of Danube Delta (Romania) comprised between Musura branch and Midia cape in South (166 km) is characterized by sandy beaches and low altitudes less steep underwater slopes.

ICZM phase

Establishment

Sakhalin island (Author:Paul Goriup)

Main coastal issues

• Habitat (anthropic and natural) degradation

• Loss of biodiversity

• Global Changes impacts on population livelihood and wellbeing

• Coastal/Sea Spatial Planning

Relation between the Coastal issue and the ICZM protocol principles and articles

The tendency of overexploitation of the natural resources, that brought about important changes in the delta subsystems, has caused the derangement of the natural equilibrium: the disappearance of some zones of fish natural reproduction and of other animal species, the clogging of natural streams and characteristic landscapes, the cutting of some oversized channels. Negative effects generated by the human activity inside the delta, as well as those much more intensely generated in the hydrographic basin have influenced the balance of the natural ecosystems. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures for reducing those effects, recovering the affected zones and protecting the existent ones with special value.
The above-presented situation was an important reason for declaring the Danube Delta a biosphere reserve, which should fulfil the following conditions:

• It must preserve characteristic ecosystems by strictly protected areas without excluding the traditional use of the fish and reed resources;

• It must be a zone for monitoring, research, education and instruction regarding the environment protection;

• It must be a place where government and regional decision people, scientists and local people co-operate in order to achieve an administration model, so that they should meet the human necessities, in accordance with the preservation of the biological resources and natural ecosystems.

Relevance of the coastal issue

Black Sea as a big hydrographic basin and unique ecosystem is extremely sensitive and exposed to serious threats as pollution, habitats degradation, biodiversity decline, overexploitation of resources, coastal erosion, etc. Thus, within this activity were identified main regional indicators: physic-chemical indicators, indicators for marine living resources and general coastal zone impact indicators (population, land use, agriculture, tourism, coastal erosion).

Objectives

- Improvement of coastal ecosystem knowledge

- Biodiversity conservation

- Regulation of economical activities on ecological bases

- Protection and rehabilitation of habitats and ecosystems

Pelicans in Razim Lake, Kiss Janos Botond

End Products

- Creation of a database for ICZM

- Development of thematic maps

- Organisational design in the field of maritime spatial planning

- Elaboration of a preliminary ICZM strategy

- Project proposal for new funding

PEGASO tools developed and used

Indicators - LEAC - Scenarios - Participatory methods.

Other tools to be applied

SketchMetch method (Spatial planning tool)

Training needs

LEAC - Scenarios

CASE Responsible

Iulian Nichersu - Danube Delta national Institute for Research and Development, Tulcea - email: iuli@indd.tim.ro

Elaboration: Stefano Soriani, Fabrizia Buono, Monica Camuffo, Marco Tonino, University Ca’ Foscari of Venice.