Representatives of the Nordic Embassies in Romania, the Nordic Investment Bank, private companies, research institutes, local authorities and non-governmental organisations met in Tulcea to receive information and discuss possible projects in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (DDBR).
The main objective of the meeting was to present the project "Support for sustainable development in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve". The proposed project would support the activities included in the following components:
1. Improve the monitoring system of the Danube Delta ecosystems using the modern facilities of satellite survey.
The monitoring system of the Danube Delta is presently performed by DDBRA in co-operation with several other specialised institutions(water quality, water management, air and soil quality, the impact of the economic activities, navigation especially, on the natural ecosystems and habitats). Having in view the size of the area, about 5,800 km2, it is very difficult to perform a real survey of the area without using more efficient survey systems, based on the satellite support.
2. Improve the public utilities infrastructure, transport and communication in view to reduce the pollution, isolation of human communities to increase the level of life standard.
The component will provide funds to implement the investments for improving the public utilities infrastructure, including drinking water supply, canalisation and wastes collection that play an essential role in developing the economic activities and in increasing the level of life standard in the villages with high tourism potential in some of the most attractive human settlements for tourism in the Danube Delta:
- Sf. Gheorghe village: improve the existing drinking water supply and canalisation system and the system of collecting and processing the wasters;
- Mila 23 village: improve the existing drinking water supply through building the network of water distribution in the village, improve the canalisation system and the system of collecting and processing of the wastes;
- Dunavatul de Sus: civil works for restoring the former natural connection of the village with the close vecinity of the wetlands in view to restore the tourism potential of the village, presently isolated in within a polder for agriculture;
- Sulina town: civil works for restoring the connection between the town with the close vecinity of the wetlands, in view to develop new tourism and recreation routes for the visitors of the area, presently isolated in within a polder for agriculture.
3. Support the development of the alternativ traditional economic activities in view to reduce the presure on the fish resource.
This component would promote the development of the economic activities, mainly the tourism, considered as of a great potential for the local communities in view to create alternative/ supplementary sources of income.
- The component would include a small and cheaper credit system for the local inhabitants (small privat entrepreneurs, associations and small farms, in view to support their economic activities that use the natural resources from the DDBR, other than fish: reed, willow, bulrush, timber, small organic farms, aqua-culture, souvenirs and the tourism activities as well. Farmers and the entrepreneurs who borrow under the Project would be offered training in these techniques. The credit package would be administrated by DDBRA. The mechanism for the loan support, including identification of the projects, screening for eligibility, would be developed during preparation.
- Sulina- Sf. Gheorghe tourism route: restore the connection between the Danube Delta and the Black Sea useful both for improvement of the ecological condition and to facilitate the tourism navigation between the two aquatic (fresh water and marine water) systems.
4. Support the conservation of the local traditions in using the natural resources, and the local traditions in house building(village landscape), promoting as well the non-conventional energies(wind mills, solar cells, electric powered navigation, etc).
The component will establish a consulting office in Tulcea, managed by the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority, in view to provide information in various ways concerning the implementation of the local, traditional, technologies on using the natural resources from DDBR, other than fish resource and to promote the local traditions (local architecture) for house building and ecological solutions for navigation, heating, lightening, etc. The component will include, also, a data base system of the local traditions and the new ecological technologies, as well, that can be applied locally, for a widely distribution in within the DDBR.
5. Restore the functions of the natural ecosystems and the natural habitats of endangered species in the Danube Delta.
The component would include studies and civil works, according with the objectives of the Management Plan of DDBRA in view to:
- Develop the transborder cooperation along the Lower Danube River, in the Danube Delta and Lower River Prut, in view to evaluate and promote the potential wetland restoration projects to improve the natural capacity of the area on nutrients, sediments and pollutants removal;
- Develop the training actions in the wetlands restoration and wetlands management on the national level and the regional level, as well, establishing, in the DDBR, the National training centre on wetland restoration and wetland management;
- Restore the natural forests along the aforested Danube River and chanel branches.
- Restore the habitats of several endangered species in the DDBR: Pelicans, European mink, White tailed eagle, Sturgeons, etc.
For further information, please contact;
Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority
Str. portului 34A, Tulcea
Tel: +40 240 518 945
Fax: +40 240 518 975
E-mail: arbdd@ddbra.ro