Danube Delta Biosphere

Reserve
Development and Results

By Thomas Gormley, Marvin Kedinga, Joe G. Ono-Raphel, Nditapah Philemon, Maximilian

Schneider and Yari Yogo

JLU – Methods of Regional Analysis and Planning (MP B 145)

Prof. Dr. Reinhard Granke; apl. Prof. Dr. Johannes Harsche

30.01.2020
Structure of the Presentation
1. Background Information
1. Introduction to biospheres
2. Project history and development
3. Actors
2. Ecology
3. Economic Role
4. Socio-economic Dimensions
5. Conclusions

https://sites.google.com/a/miamioh.edu/geo121f13/home/d3-danube-delta-romania
The World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR)

• It is composed of 686 biosphere reserves in 122 Countries including 20 trans-boundary sites

Vision
• It fosters the harmonious integration of people and nature for sustainable development through
participatory dialogue

Mission
• To ensure environmental, economic and social sustainability

Yari Yogo
Characteristics of Biosphere Reserves

The main characteristics of biosphere reserves are achieving the three interconnected functions

Conservation, development and logistic support

Yari Yogo
Biosphere Reserves
• Natural protected areas included in a global
network organized by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO)
• Have global or regional significance for
biological conservation
• One or more core zones
• One or more surrounding buffer zones or
• Transition zones where human communities
utilize natural resources in ecologically
sustainable ways

J.D. Nations,   https://www.teachoo.com/9964/2995/Wildlife-Sanctuary--National-P
International Encyclopedia of the Social arks--Biosphere-Reserve/category/Concepts/
& Behavioral Sciences
, 2001
Joe G. Ono-Raphel
Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve
• One of Europe’s largest remaining natural
wetlands
• Surface area (terrestrial and
marine): 732,219.96 ha
• Rich in biodiversity and home to around 6000
species of flora and fauna
• Divided between Romania (80%) and
Ukraine (20%)
• Boasts an amazing diversity of habitats, from
waterways, reed beds, steppes and dunes to
lagoons, beaches, saltmarshes and forests
• Most of the world’s pygmy cormorants and
the European populations of two pelican
species live here Danube Delta landscape
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere- https://rewildingeurope.com/news/danube-delta-receives-major-
reserves/europe-north-america/romaniaukraine/danube-delta/ grant-to-enable-record-breaking-restoration/
Joe G. Ono-Raphel
Historical Designations
• Proclamation of Letea Forest as a Nature Reserve in 1938 by Council of Ministers Decision 645

• In 1979 it was classified a Biosphere Reserve under the UNESCO Man and Biosphere
programme (MAB)

• In 1990 it was proclaimed a National Biosphere Reserve by Decree 983 (arts 5&6)

• Patrimony of the National Biosphere Reserve was accorded the Delta authority in 1991

• It was pronounced a Wetland of International importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1991

• Designated a Transboundary UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1998 with Dunaisky in Ukraine

• Awarded the European Diploma for Protected Areas by the Council of Europe
Nditapah Philemon
 Actors
• Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority (DDBRA)

• Association of Eco-tourism in Romania (AER)

• Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development

• Ivan Patzaichin-Mila 23 Association

• World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

• Neusiedler See National Park, Austria

• Rewilding Ukraine Danube

• Local Communities
https://www.europarc.org/case-studies/evaluating-carrying-capacity-visitor-management-protected-areas-case-study-danube-delta-biosphere-reserve
/ Nditapah Philemon
https://rewildingeurope.com/news/danube-delta-receives-major-grant-to-enable-record-breaking-restoration/
Environment and Ecology

Flora and Fauna Ecosystem Services

• 955 species of flora • Fish

• 34 habitat types • Fresh water
• 10 amphibian species • Raw materials
• 11 reptile species • Pollination and seed dispersal
• 308 protected bird species • Reproduction
• Endangered mammals • Spiritual, sport/recreation
• 26 protected fish species • Research and monitoring

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalmatian_pelican#/media/File:Pelecanus_crispus-20030720.jpg

Tom Gormley
Challenges

Coordination

Natural

• Continuous reshaping
• Biodiversity

Anthropogenic
• Climate Change
• Navigation
• Hydropower
• Poor regulation
https://www.ontario.ca/page/aquatic-ecosystem-assessments-rivers
Tom Gormley
Results
Restoration and
Recovery
• >15,000 ha
• Habitats
• Reconnecting floodplains
• Embanked areas
• Hydrology

Governance
• Danube Delta Institute
• Cooperation
• Multisectoral
• International
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danube_Delta#/media/File:Denube_Delta_Bank.JP
G
Tom Gormley
Cost & Benefits for the Regional Economy

Max Schneider
Costs & Benefits for the Regional Economy

• Former polder system: low fish productivity and high energy costs for pumping (Staras, 2001)
• Loss of 34 kg/ha (dammed wetland) of commercial fish size per year

• Restoration: benefits for local entrepreneurs in “tourism, fishing and small businesses (!) based on
local products.” (Ionascu et al., 2015)
• Pilot project in Babina-Cernovca: 3680 hectares of new wetlands provide sustainable fishing
activities for 20-25 fishermen (Staras, 2001)

• Eco-Tourism like “Agro-tourist hostels“ as an alternative to decreasing agricultural income (Soare,

Zugravu, & Costachie, 2012)

Max Schneider
Socio-economic Challenges
• In 1970 there were 21,657 inhabitants in the Danube Delta, in 1990 there were only 15,590. Today, five
towns are virtually non-existent, because the number of inhabitants is less than 25. Of the 28 existing
towns, only five possess their own water supply (IUCN,1992)

• Ageing and migration of population (especially from rural areas) to better job opportunities are the main
societal challenges (IJCS,2016)

• In several towns there are no more schools, because the number of pupils has diminished

• Rural communities ,with a better environmental status, experience social issues, and urban areas, with a
better socio-demographic status, face environmental impacts. (Petrisor, Petre and Meita ,2006)

• Unemployment

Marvin Kedinga
Socio-economic Outcomes (Long/Short Term)

• Developed and strengthened partnerships between the DDBRA, local municipality and local tourism
entrepreneurs

• Produces significant income on the local level and enhanced use of local services

• Dynamics affecting negatively the area were urbanization, abandonment of agricultural land, floods,
deforestation, and desertification during 1990-2000, and urbanization and deforestations during 2000-
2006 (Petrisor, Petre and Meita ,2006).

• High and efficient use of tourism infrastructure

• Increased diversification, specialization and quality of tourist services

• Developed traditional markets alongside traditional products

Marvin Kedinga
Conclusion on Socio-economic Impacts
• Integrated approach: economic, societal, and environmental issues, granting them equal priorities.
• Durable administration, promotion and controlling of development of tourism
• Conservation policies can fulfil ecological and economic aims
• “Carefully selected tourism offers and development of proper infrastructure” (Mila,
2014)

• Consider needs of local population

• Raising education & environmental awareness
• Countervail “hostile” and “careless” attitude of local population because of economic
restrictions related to nature protection (Soare, Zugravu, & Costachie, 2012)
• Traditions & practices → integrant part of the development strategies

• Recreation of growth of natural resources (e.g. fishery)

Conclusion on the Environment

• Sustainable socio-economic outcomes only with

sustainable environmental practices

• Improved governance structures and cooperation

• Restoration and recovery of species numbers and also

topological improvements

https://visit-transylvania.co.uk/europe-luxury-resort-vacations-danubedelta/fishing/2x.jp
g
 References
Cernea, M., & Schmidt-Soltau, K. (2003, May). Biodiversity conservation versus population resettlement: risks to nature and risks to people.
In International Conference on Rural Livelihoods, Forests and Biodiversity (pp. 19-23).

DDBRA (2020a) ‘International Cooperation’ Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority [online] Available at
http://www.ddbra.ro/en/danube-delta-biosphere-reserve-authority/international-relations/international-cooperation-a919 (Accessed 8 January 2020)

DDBRA (2020b) ‘Monitoring’ Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority [online] Available at
http://www.ddbra.ro/en/danube-delta-biosphere-reserve-authority/monitoring (Accessed 8 January 2020)

DDBRA (2020c) ‘Development/Investments Program’ Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority [online] Available at
http://www.ddbra.ro/en/danube-delta-biosphere-reserve-authority/development-investments-program/development-investments-program-a561 (Accessed
10 January 2020)

Ecopotential (n.d.) ‘Danube Delta’ [online] Available at https://ecopotential-project.eu/site-studies/protected-areas/33-danube-delta.html (Accessed 8

January 2020)

IUCN East European Programme. (1992). Environmental Status Reports: Conservation status of the Danube Delta (Vol. 4). IUCN.

IUCN; UNEP-WCMC (2017) ‘Danube Delta’ International Union for Conservation of Nature and UN Environment World Conservation Centre [online]
Available at https://yichuans.github.io/datasheet/output/site/danube-delta/ (Accessed 8 January 2020)

Ionascu, A., Negrei, C., & Tudor, M. (2015). BENEFITS OF THE ECOSYSTEMS RESTORATION IN THE DANUBE DELTA – THEORETICAL APPROACH.
In Competitiveness of Agro-Food and Environmental Economy (S. 107–114).

Mila, I. P. (2014). Danube Delta National Research and Development Institute. 49.

The Open University (2016) ‘Understanding Environmental Governance in the Danube Delta’ [Video], DU311: Earth in Crisis: Environmental Policy in an
International Context. Available at https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=846313&section=4 (Accessed 30 January 2017)

Petrisor, A. I., Petre, R., & MEIŢĂ, V. (2016). DIFFICULTIES IN ACHIEVING SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY IN A BIOSPHERE RESERVE.  International
Journal of Conservation Science, 7(1).
 References
ROS (2008) ‘Danube Delta Natura 2000 site, Romania: Inadequate Implementation of the EU Nature Directives is Resulting in Site Deterioration and
Species Disturbance’ Romanian Ornithological Society, September 9 [online] Available at
https://www.rspb.org.uk/globalassets/downloads/documents/campaigning-for-nature/briefing-note-on-danube-delta-natura-2000-sites-romania.pdf
(Accessed 8 January 2020)

RSPB (n.d.) ‘Danube Delta’ Royal Society for the Protection of Birds [online] Available at
https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/our-positions-and-casework/casework/cases/danube-delta/ (Accessed 11 January 2020)

Soare, I., Zugravu, G. A., & Costachie, S. (2012). The Repercussions In The Process Of Transformation, Redefinition And Proposition Of The Identity Of
The Danube Delta Through The Valorization Of The Tourist Potential. Revista de turism-studii si cercetari in turism, (14), 78-85.

UNESCO (2017) ‘World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR)’ United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation [online] Available at
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/world-network-wnbr/ (Accessed 13 January 2020)