by Administration of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve
INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION Since the declaration of the Danube Delta and its geo-morphological appendages as a Biosphere Reserve in 1990, specialist environmental protection institutions from abroad have displayed interest in developing collaborative relations with the Administration of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. The interest of international specialist institutions in including the DDBR in various networks of natural areas with similar problems is also demonstrated by the recognition since 1990 of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve by the most important environmental networks: The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands www.ramsar.org UNESCO World Heritage http://whc.unesco.org/en/about/ UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) www.unesco.org/mab/ As well as the inclusion of the DDBR in the information and exchange programmes of these networks, since its establishment the DDBR has become a member of the following international organisations: EUROSITE www.eurosite.org EUROPARC www.europarc.org Since its establishment, the DDBR has signed co-operation agreements with other similar wetland regions: 1. The Protocol regarding Twinning and Technical Co-operation between the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (Romania) and the Marquenterre Nature Association (France) (1991-1994, 1995-1998). 2. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of the Environment (Romania) and the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management (Holland) (1995-2000) regarding co-operation in the field of integrated water management, respectively co-operation in the field of ecological and hydrological research for reconstruction and management of the water systems and wetlands of the Danube Delta and Holland. 3. Memorandum of Understanding between the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (Romania) and the Committee for Ecology and Natural Resources of the Astrakhan Region (Russian Federation) (1996). 4. Memorandum of Understanding between the Biebosch National Park (Holland) and the Administration of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (Romania), (1995-2000, 2001-2006), regarding co-operation in the field of environmental management, information, research and ecotourism in the Danube Delta and Biesbosch. 5. Memorandum of Understanding between the Administration of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, the Danube Delta National Research and Development Institute (Romania) and the Administration of the Dunaiskiy Plavni Nature Reserve (Ukraine), (1996-1999), regarding co-operation in the field of personnel training, studies into biodiversity, management, ecological reconstruction and public awareness in the two wetland regions. 6. The Lower Danube Euro-Region In August 1998, the Lower Danube Euro-Region was established, setting out to promote, among other things, environmental protection, biological diversity and sustainable development. Recently, both experts and the local population have become convinced that environmental problems cannot be solved in isolation. The borders between countries cannot stop the spread of disasters cause by ecological accidents.The Lower Danube Euro-Region comprises the counties of Galaţi, Brăila and Tulcea (Romania), Cahul county (Republic of Moldova), and the Odessa Region (Ukraine). 7. The Danube Green Corridor In 1999, the Danube Green Corridor came into being, at the initiative of Romania, through the signing of a protocol between the Ministries of the Environment in Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine, creating a system of protected areas along the Lower Danube, including the Danube Delta. 8. Co-operation for a Cross-border Protected Natural Area in the Danube Delta and the Lower PrutIn June 2000, the Ministries of the Environment of the Republic of Moldova, Romania and Ukraine signed the Accord to Establish a Protected Natural Area in the Danube Delta (the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve in Romania and Ukraine) and the Lower Prut (the Lower Prut Scientific Reserve in the Republic of Moldova). 9. Twinning and Partnership Accord (2002) between the Administration of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve and the Po Delta Regional Park of Emilia Romagna (Italy), regarding co-operation in the field of information, scientific research and monitoring for common management of coastal areas in the Po and Danube deltas. 10. Signing (2002) of the Statute of the Delta chiama Delta Association, members: Po Delta (Italy), Ebro Park (Spain), Briere Regional Park (France) and the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (Romania). 11. Signing (2002) of the Statute of the Association of Mediterranean Deltas, members: Po Delta (Italy), Rhône Delta (France), Ebro Delta (Spain), the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (Romania), the Guadalquivir Estuary (Spain), the Nile Delta (Egypt), Evros Delta (Greece), Albufera de Valencia (Spain).The objectives of the Association are to constitute a permanent forum for analysis, discussion and dialogue on problems specific to natural coastal environments, economic production, and social issues as regards the Mediterranean deltas, in particular with a view to attaining sustainable development. 12. Memorandum of Twinning between the Torre Guaceto Nature Reserve and the Brindisi Protected Marina (Italy), the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve and the Miramare Natural Marine Reserve, Trieste Bay (Italy). Within the framework of this accord for collaboration, signed in June 2005, the administration organisations of the nature reserves involved, supported by the Italian Ministry for the Environment, will plan actions together with the aim of strengthening conservation of natural heritage by increasing the involvement of local communities, enhancing concentration on sustainable tourism, and other beneficial activities. INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS IN PROGRESS: 1) LIFE NATURA project (LIFE05NAT/RO/000169) Save the crested pelican in the Danube Delta The project runs from 2005 to 2009. Beneficiary: the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. Partners: the Romanian Ornithological Society and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.Objectives: to maintain and protect numbers of Pelecanus crispus in the Danube Delta; to designate five locations as Special Birdlife Protection Areas; conservation measures to improve nesting conditions. 2) Integrated system for monitoring environmental factors, biodiversity and natural resources in the Danube Delta Cross-border Biosphere Reserve (Romania/Ukraine), running 2006-2008. The main objective is to improve the level of cross-border integration in the frontier regions (biosphere reservations) in order to establish good bases for sustainable economic development by developing cross-border infrastructure systems.In achieving these goals, the project sets out to improve management of the process (actions) of environmental protection in a cross-border context. To this end, it aims to elaborate and implement an integrated monitoring system. This system will be supported by a common monitoring programme, by a common working group, a shared database, a mobile laboratory, with the help of which common surveillance expeditions will be organised and the samples necessary for ascertainment of environmental factors collected. The project will stimulate both internal and cross-border regional co-operation within the Lower Danube Euro-Region, as well as bilateral co-operation between Romania and Ukraine. 3) Danube Delta: Landscape of the Year, 2007/2009 run by the ADDBR in partnership with International Friends of Nature (Austria), Romanian Friends of Nature, and the Tulcea Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development.The Landscape of the Year project, organised by Friends of Nature, together with representatives of local associations, organisation and representatives of local administration, sets out to bring the region to European attention, to support, elaborate and implement projects of sustainable development and future initiatives, respectively to finance already existing projects.The official launch at a European level took place in Tulcea on 2-3 June 2007, with various events and displays.
by Administration of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve
by Administration of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve