Ecological Restoration in the Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park

- LIFE05NAT/RO/000155 -9-11

May, 2012

The Lower Prut Floodplain The Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Natural ParkPark––

8247 ha8247 ha

It covers the administrative territory of nine settlements;

Forms the frontier with the Republic of Moldavia;

It is an area of 8247 ha surface and a length of about 145 km;

Includes more types of natural or improved aquatic ecosystems:

-4925 ha ponds, lakes, swamps-2627 ha forests and wet pastures-other small areas.

Represents a gate to the Biosphere Reserve Danube Delta;

It is part of the route of three major migration corridors of the birds hatching on the Eurasian territory;

The Lower Prut was proposed to be included in the program the Lower Danube Green Corridor, carried out with the support of WWF;

It is a potential Ramsar Site

2

Ecological restoration of the Lower Prut Ecological restoration of the Lower Prut Floodplain Natural ParkFloodplain Natural Park

(LIFE05NAT/RO/000155)(LIFE05NAT/RO/000155)Name of applicant: Regional Environmental Protection

Agency Galaţi

Name of partners:(1): University of Bucharest –

Centre for Environmental

Reserach and Impact Studies (CERIS)(2): Romanian Ornithological Society (ROS)(3): Galaţi Forestry District

(GFD)

Co-financiar: County Council Galaţi

Project start date:01/11/2005 Project start date:01/11/2005 Project end date:30/10/2010Project end date:30/10/2010

PROJECT OBJECTIVEPROJECT OBJECTIVE

The projectThe project’’s objective s objective waswas

to improve the conservation status to improve the conservation status of aquatic bird species in the Lower Prut Floodplain Natural of aquatic bird species in the Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park, through a series of strategic interventions involvingPark, through a series of strategic interventions involving::

••

scientific inventory, scientific inventory,

••

monitoring activities, monitoring activities,

••

sites restoration, sites restoration,

••

raising awareness activities,raising awareness activities,

••

implementation of the park management plan andimplementation of the park management plan and

••

ddesignatingesignating

Special Protected Areas Special Protected Areas --

Romanian Romanian NaturaNatura

2000 2000 sites.sites.

(LIFE05NAT/RO/000155)(LIFE05NAT/RO/000155)

MAIN THREATS TO THE HABITATS/SPECIES TARGETED MAIN THREATS TO THE HABITATS/SPECIES TARGETED

WITHIN THE SITES INVOLVED IN THE PROJECTWITHIN THE SITES INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT

The lack of adequate measures for species conservation as a resuThe lack of adequate measures for species conservation as a result of lt of poor data existing related to the habitats, plant and animal spepoor data existing related to the habitats, plant and animal species in the cies in the areaarea,,LLackack of a unitary administration of the Lower Prut Floodplain Naturaof a unitary administration of the Lower Prut Floodplain Natural l ParkParkLack of Lack of ParckParck zoningzoning,,Extensive use of biocides and fertilizers in agriculture and wasExtensive use of biocides and fertilizers in agriculture and wastes from tes from agricultureagriculture,,Human disturbances during birds breeding season, Human disturbances during birds breeding season, DDegradationegradation of of hydrotechnicalhydrotechnical structures, structures, LLackack of public awareness regarding the importance of NATURA2000 of public awareness regarding the importance of NATURA2000 sites,sites,IIneffectiveneffective control of the economic activities (fishing, agriculture, control of the economic activities (fishing, agriculture, tourism), tourism), IInappropriatenappropriate management of the water resourcesmanagement of the water resources

The projectThe project’’s major objective was accomplished bys major objective was accomplished by::

Inventorying the ecological potential of the LPFN ParkInventorying the ecological potential of the LPFN Park

Results:o

Inventorying Report of non-biota resources

from the LPFN Park,o

Inventorying Report of the flora and vegetation

from the Lower LPFN Park,o

Inventorying Report of the birds population

from the LPFN Park, o

Inventorying Report of the fauna

from LPFN Park, o

Identifying the sites

possible to be included in the NATURA 2000

Network, according to the Format standards of the European Commission (NATURA 2000 Standard Data Form),

o

Report on the support and regeneration capacity

of the natural systems,o

Red List of the plant and animal species

from LPFN Park

Establishment and implementing a Geographic Information System Establishment and implementing a Geographic Information System for the Lower for the Lower Prut FloodplainPrut Floodplain

Results:o

training courses for the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) system using the Manifold products

o

GIS was designed to ensure the spatial unitary representation of

the ecological elements from the Lower Prut Floodplain

The projectThe project’’s major objective was accomplished by:s major objective was accomplished by:

Socio-economic evaluation of Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Parkof the Prut and environment impact assessment of activities achieved in this area

o

Report regarding socio-economic assessment of the rural settlements from the Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park,

o

Report on the environmental impact assessment of the activities / arrangements from the wetland area or its proximity

Establishment an integrated management plan in Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park, in accordance with requirements of the Romanian legislation, Habitat Directive and Birds Directive.

Restoration of aquatic birds sites in the natural protected arealocated in Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park (Vlăşcuţa Lake, Pochina Lake and Maţa Lake)

Restoration of aquatic birds sites in the natural protected area located in Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park

(Vlăşcuţa

Lake, Pochina

Lake and Maţa

Lake)

Site 1: Vlăşcuţa Lake

MAŢA LAKE

POCHINA LAKE

VLĂŞCUŢA LAKE

366m

176m

The two channels for Vlăşcuţa

Lake (in total length of about 542 m) were reshaped and consolidated, so that they assure the supply and the evacuation from/to lake/river

Prut, subject to necessary water level of the lake. The channels were provided with gates for water retention or evacuation, so that to be activated when the level water of the lake is required. Small bridges to pass from one side of the channel to other ones were mounted on each channel.

Restoration of aquatic birds sites in the natural protected areaRestoration of aquatic birds sites in the natural protected area located in Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park located in Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park

((VlăscuVlăscuţţaa

Lake)Lake)

Vlăscuţa

Lake

channels

–

before

works Vlăscuţa

Lake

channels

–during

works

MAŢA LAKE

POCHINA LAKE

VLĂŞCUŢA LAKE

365m

235m

Pochina

Lake

channels–

before

works

During the

works

Completed works

Restoration of aquatic birds sites in the natural protected areaRestoration of aquatic birds sites in the natural protected area located in Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park (located in Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park (PochinaPochina Lake)Lake)

The ecological reconstruction works made in 2009 consisted of the rehabilitation of the two channels, witch connect Pochina Lake and Prut River, respectively the water supply channel (362 m) and evacuation channel (235 m) and removal of mud the lake. In order to maintain water levels have been achieved water gate for lake’s water level maintenance and one small bridge for pedestrians.

q protected area located in Lower Prut Floodplain protected area located in Lower Prut Floodplain

Natural Park Natural Park (Mata Lake)(Mata Lake)

MAŢA LAKE

POCHINA LAKE

VLĂŞCUŢA LAKE

During the works

The rehabilitation works of Maţa

Lake, consisted

of filling with soil and gravel and compacting the gaps that appeared in the dykes, was done for the separation dyke (1800 m) between Maţa

area and

Cârja

pond (Vaslui County), and the

dyke from east Maţa

area, (3600

m).

Results of the restoration worksResults of the restoration works

The restoration works provided in the project for Maţa, Pochina

and Vlăşcuţa

lakes allows enlarging of the water

surface necessary for feeding and nesting of birds for a long period of the year. The main results achieved are:

better conditions for the birds population,increasing the number for aquatic bird species (especially those listed in Annex I of Birds Directive, Bern Convention and in ORNIS lists),improve the trophic state and saprobity of the target aquatic systems,allowing the water oxygenation of the lakes through the input of the fresh water from the Prut River,including the monitoring birds’ protocols in the adaptive Management Plan of Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park.

www.luncaprut.ro12

LOWER PRUT FLOODPLAIN NATURAL PARK LOWER PRUT FLOODPLAIN NATURAL PARK –– in Natura 2000 Networkin Natura 2000 Network

Gomphus flavipes

Callimorpha quadripunctaria

Emys orbicularis

LOWER PRUT FLOODPLAIN NATURAL PARK LOWER PRUT FLOODPLAIN NATURAL PARK –– in Natura 2000 Networkin Natura 2000 Network

„Habitat”

Directive „Birds”Directive

Annex 1: Natural habitat types of Community

interest whose conservation requires the

designation of special areas of conservation

8 habitat types Annex 2: Species of Community

interest whose conservation requires the designation of special

areas of habitat1 mammlian species3 amphibian and reptile species9 fish species1 invertebrate species

Annex 2:

Species subject to special conservation measures concerning

their habitat to ensure survival and reproduction in their area of

distribution65 bird species

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Success factors of LIFE project Success factors of LIFE project –– LIFE05NAT/RO/000155LIFE05NAT/RO/000155

Highly engaged key actors: mayors of the villages from LPFN Park vicinity, county council president, representatives of interest groups, consulting offices, working groups,

Increasing interest shown by local authorities for the area Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park,

Forming a positive attitude to children and residents on the environment (although the area is relatively poor, the information panels and watch towers, made in the frame of the project were not damaged or destroyed by the local people),

Encouraging the involvement of local people in the environmental conservation activities carried out in the target area.

Potential and expectationPotential and expectation

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Priorities for socio- economic

development of

the localities from

the

vicinity of Park Lower Prut Floodplain are:

supply the potential of fisherie resources,

using the potential of providing services for turism and recreation

in a sustainabl

e manner that will not ff

i

d

www.luncaprut.ro

Prut River -

RAMSAR SITE

SURFACE: 20370 ha

LOCALIZATION:Iasi, Vaslui, Galati

The micro delta features, with inner lakes, canals and dead river branches support high diversity of plant and animal species.Being a component of the East-Elbic

migration route, the Prut

Floodplain represents an important staging area for most of migratory species.

during

migration in spring and autumn, over 20000 birds can be recorded.

227

bird species, from the total of about 500 European bird species, inhabit in the site, breeding, nesting, wintering or in

migration.

Benefits of Ramsar DesignationBenefits of Ramsar Designation

Increased Funding Opportunities

-

Ramsar designation helps with grant applications and other funding requests for land acquisition, restoration, and education initiatives.

Support for Protection of the Site and Surrounding Area

- Ramsar designation can make acquisition of surrounding lands easier, can encourage partnerships that focus on watershed conservation efforts, and can be useful in dealing with off-site development that could threaten the site.

Increased Science and Tourism

-

Ramsar designation typically leads to increased attention to a site, which can lead to increased interest by the scientific community. Public awareness of a site’s Ramsar designation can highlight the site’s importance, leading to an increase in tourism.

THANK YOU !