Ion Munteanu, Director DANUBE DELTA BIOSPHERE RESERVE ADMINISTRATION Marian Tudor, Operational Director DANUBE DELTA NATIONAL INSTITUTE
Wetland restoration projects in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve/Romania Romanian Ministry of Environment 2014
HUMAN INDUCED CHANGES IN DANUBE DELTA Nitrogen: 300,000-400,000 t/year Phosphorous: 45,000-60,000 t/year Oil: 45,000-50,000 t/year DANUBE TULCEA HABITAT REDUCTIONS HABITAT ALTERATIONS A BY BY B l a c k S e a DAMMING UPSTREAM FLOODPLAIN AND 22% OF THE DELTA AND BUILDING BARRAGES AT KM 942 AND KM 863 FROM RIVER MOUTHS POLLUTION AND DREDGING CHANNELS (after Staras, 2000) LEGEND Damming (22%) Pollution New channels
1 9 4 8 DAMMING FLOODPLAIN UPSTREAM DELTA 18000 16000 14000 12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 Catch sizes in the Romanian Danube Delta and adjacent lakes 1 9 5 0 1 9 5 2 1 9 5 4 1 9 5 6 1 9 5 8 1 9 6 0 1 9 6 1 1 9 6 4 1 9 6 6 1 9 6 8 1 9 7 0 1 9 7 2 1 9 7 4 t o n s x1,000 ha 500 400 300 200 100 0 Damming floodplain area of the Danube river 1949 1952 1956 1960 1962 1966 1975 Siret Cyprinus Carpio Total Damming period Iron Gate I Jiu Iron Gate II before 1960 1960-1965 1965-1970 after 1970 Arges Ialomita Calmatui Olt (after Staras, 2000)
25,340 to 25,631 to 16,548 to 17,576 to 26,000 to
DAMMING AND CHANNEL EXCAVATION Danub e Danub e Legend Excavation period 1880-1902 1903-1916 1930-1940 1941-1951 1952-1960 > 1960 Legend Building period 1960-1970 1971-1980 1981-1989 (after Staras, 2000)
Channels blocking (after Staras, 2000)
CHANGES IN HYDROLOGY AND WATER CHEMISTRY DANUBE RIVER Water inflow (cm/s) P(PO4) (mg/l) N(NO3) (mg/l) P(PO4) inflow tons/year DELTA ECOSYSTEMS Before 1960 1971-1980 1980-1989 309 359 620 <0,01 0,06 0,07 0,4 1,5 1,5 100 700 1400 2003-2005 700 0,05 0,6 1100 N(NO3) inflow tons/year 4000 17000 29300 13500 (modified after Staras, 2000)
CLIMATIC CHANGES AND THEIR IMPACT ON DANUBE DELTA
DANUBE RIVER low water level has a major impact on DANUBE DELTA Water (lacustrine) surface reduction Marsh or lacustrian areas changes into partial or total drained fields
Low water level impact on shoreline vegetation Macrophytes habitat reduction Bushes and reed expansion
DANUBE RIVER low water level has a major impact on DANUBE DELTA Eutrofication Reduction of aquatic species which consist basic food resource of birds Migration from colonies
DANUBE RIVER low water level has a major impact on DANUBE DELTA Easy access of predators (golden wolf, fox, ratoon dog) and hunters to colonies due to lake dry bottom
Fish migration to deeper waters Impact on fishermen's communities Longer distances between localities and fishing areas
And it has hundred of faces over the year (Flooding map in April and August ) April August
Wetland loss and degradation Activities : not necessarily wise or sustainable can lead to loss and degradation Underlying causes : poverty and economic inequality, population pressures from growth, social and political conflicts, sectoral demands on water resources, centralized planning processes, financial policies References : Moser, M., Prentice, C., Frazier, S., 1996
Wetland loss in Europe (1995) COUNTRY PERIOD % LOSS OF WETLANDS Netherlands 1950-1985 55 France 1900-1993 67 Germany 1950-1985 57 Spain 1948-1990 60 Italy 1938-1984 66 Greece 1920-1991 63 References : Commission of European Communities, 1995
Consequences of wetland loss and degradation water flow regulation and flood control ability to retain sediment and nutrients availability of natural wetland products recreation and tourism opportunity socio-cultural significance maintenance of natural systems global regional local levels References : Davies, J., Claridge, G.F.(Eds.), 1993
Restoration Works in the Danube Delta In 1994 - Babina (2,100 ha), - agricultural polder - in 1996 - Cernovca(1,580 ha) - agricultural polder - in 2000 - Popina(3,600 ha) - fishpond - in 2002 - Fortuna (2,115 ha) - - agricultural polder - in 2006 - SF. Gheorghe arm s meanders (687 ha) In 2008 - Holbina - Dunavat(5,630 ha) - fishponds - TOTAL: 15,712
BABINA-CERNOVCA PILOT PROJECT Babina (2,100 ha) Cernovca (1,580 ha) Research 1991-1994 1991-1996 Design 1994 1996 Implementation 1994 1996 Monitoring 1995-2003 1997-2003 Project status Present status fully implemented reverted to wetland since 1994 fully implemented reverted to wetland since 1996 a mosaic of water types, clear to turbid water systems, depending on the connectivity to the river
BEFORE FLOODING
2 YEARS AFTER FLOODING
AGRICULTURAL POLDER IN DANUBE DELTA
Babina-Cernovca area (satellite images) 1993 1993 1996 1996
BIOLOGICAL FILTERING CAPACITY OF THE PALUSTRIAN AND AQUATIC VEGETATION
CONTACT OF CLEAN WATER FROM RESTORED AREA WITH DANUBE WATER RICH IN SEDIMENTS
CONTROL FISHING RESULTS IN RESTORED AREAS INDICATES THE PRESENCE OF BOTH REPRODUCERS AND YOUNG FISHES
860641 Popina Canal S = 3,600 ha, fish ponds -Research: 1996-1999 -Implemented since 2000 -Status: permanent wetland connected to the river POPINA PROJECT POPINA I Dâmbei Road CHILIA Arm 433283 EC 21 Popina Brook O p e n in g M o n k EC 22 Musura Branch Canalul Cardon Cardon Canal
FORTUNA PROJECT S = 2,115 ha -Former polder for forestry -Research: 2000-2002 -Present status: implemented Fortuna Lake Danube
HOLBINA-DUNAVAT PROJECT S = 5,630 ha, former fish farms Research: 1993-1996 Result: Restoration strategy Implementation status: investment funds available since 2003 Evolution: water system reverted from turbid plankton - dominated state to clear macrophytes - dominated one (!)
Hydrological connectivity restoration MEANDERS PROJECT S= 687 ha 3 islands - created as a result of rectification of Danube arm - were proposed to be connected to river
BENEFITS OF ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION BABINA&CERNOVCA PILOT PROJECTS - S=3,600HA UNSUSTAINABLE / ABANDONED POLDERS WETLAND REHABILITATION ECONOMICAL RESULTS FILTERING ECOLOGICAL VALUES FISH: 34 KG/HA/YEAR REED: 1-2 TONES/HA/YEAR PASTURE: 0,5 UVM/HA/YEAR 50-100 EURO/HA/YEAR with low costs instead subsidies NUTRIENT REMOVAL - 15 KG PHOSPHORUS/HA/YEAR - 335 KG NITROGEN/HA/YEAR SEDIMENT RETENTION - 11 TONES/HA/YEAR HABITAT FOR BIRDS AND FISHES AESTHETIC VALUES WATER STORAGE
ECONOMICAL INDICATOR: MAXIMUM COST/BENEFIT RATIO BABINA&CERNOVCA PILOT PROJECTS - S=3,600HA COSTS: RESEARCH, DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION: 100,000 EURO BENEFITS: FISH YIELD: 3,600HA x 34KG x 0.5EURO/KG = 60,000EURO/YEAR REED HARVEST: 3,600HA x 1T/HA x 16EURO/T = 60,000EURO/YEAR TOURISM: 10TURISTS x 100DAYS/YEAR x 10EURO/DAY = 10,000EURO/YEAR CATTLE: 100HA x 0.5UVM/HA x 100KG x 2EURO/KG = 10,000EURO/YEAR TOTAL VALUE : 140,000 EURO/YEAR at low labour costs
AWARDS & DANUBE DELTA BIOSPHERE RESERVE AUTHORITY
CONSTRAINTS POLITICAL DECISION PUBLIC AWARENESS ECONOMIC INTEREST LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK STAKEHOLDERS PARTICIPATION WATER QUALITY WETLAND RESTORATION FUNCTIONAL INTEGRITY IRREVERSIBLE MAN MADE CHANGES GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE (after Staras, 2000)
(after Staras, 2000)
ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PROGRAMME 2005 2015 - part of the Master Plan for sustainable development of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve - Foto: Erika Schneider WWF Germany
1 5 3 2 4 1 6 2 4 3 ţ ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PROGRAMME 2005 2015 Stage I - 2005-2008 7 Task 1 Desiltation works L=195 km Civil works 1994-2004 Restored areas 1. A.A. Babina S= 2.100ha 2.A.A. Cernovca S= 1.580ha 3.A.A. Fortuna S= 2.115ha 4.A.P. Popina S= 3.600ha Total S= 9.395ha Task 2 Wetland restoration Polder Fish Pond Total S = 5,876 ha Total S = 13,940 ha
1 7 5 3 2 4 1 6 2 4 3 ţ ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PROGRAMME 2005 2015 Stage I - 2005-2008 1.Carasuhat S= 2,863 ha 2. Murighiol-Dunavăţ S= 2,538 ha 3. Sulina S= 475 ha 4. Chilia I + II S= 2,950 ha 5. Murighiol S= 2,260 ha 6. Ceamurlia I S= 2,900 ha 7. Holbina-Dunavaţ S= 5,630 ha Civil works 1994-2004 Restored areas 1. A.A. Babina S= 2.100ha 2.A.A. Cernovca S= 1.580ha 3.A.A. Fortuna S= 2.115ha 4.A.P. Popina S= 3.600ha Total S= 9.395ha Polder Fish Pond Total S = 5,876 ha Total S = 13,740 ha Total Stage I : S= 19,616 ha
PARDINA S=27.032 ha 3 1 2 4 ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PROGRAMME 2005 2015 ţ Stage II 2009-2015 Task 1 Desiltation works L = 70 km Restored areas 1. A.P. Babina S= 2.100ha 2.A.P. Cernovca S= 1.580ha 3.A.P. Fortuna 4.F.P. Popina S= 2.115ha S= 3.600ha Total S= 9.395ha Task 2 Wetland restoration Polder Fish Pond Total S = 32,512 ha Total S = 13,570 ha
PARDINA S=27.032 ha 3 1 2 4 ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PROGRAMME 2005 2015 ţ Stage II 2009-2015 Polder Total S = 32,512 ha Restored areas Fish Pond Total S = 13,570 ha 1. A.A. Babina S= 2.100ha 2.A.A. Cernovca S= 1.580ha 3.A.A. Fortuna S= 2.115ha 4.A.P. Popina S= 3.600ha Total S= 9.395ha Total Stage II : S= 46,082 ha
SIREASA 2010 ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PROGRAMME 2005 2015 Stage II 2009-2015 Polder Total S = 32,512 ha Fish Pond Total S = 13,570 ha Total Stage II : S= 46,082 ha
THANK YOU
Marian Tudor OPEARTIONAL DIRECTOR Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development 165 Babadag street 820112 Tulcea / ROMANIA Phone 0040 240 524546/232 Fax 0040 240 533547 Contact: mtudor@indd.tim.ro