Fourth National Report to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity

The length of the major rivers is 5,702 km, of which the Danube covers 1,075 km (18%).

The hydrological network has a total length of 65,000 km.

The total area of inland waters is 4,913 km², of which 1,991 km² are rivers and canals, 1,327 km² are represented by natural lakes and 1,594,8 km² by reservoirs.

The main water resource consists of the interior rivers (Table 2)

Along with the Carpathians and Black Sea, Danube represents one of the major components of the natural environment of our country.

Danube’s course may be subdivided in four sectors: Baziaş – Porţile de Fier (Iron Gates) sector; Porţile-de-Fier–Călăraşi sector; Călăraşi–Brăila sector; Brăila – Black Sea sector.

Being the second largest river in Europe, after Volga, Danube is a water source for different uses, food (fish fauna) and cheap energy, by means of the hydroelectric power plants from the Iron Gate I and II.

The Danube is building when meeting the Black Sea, one of the most beautiful wet areas in Europe, namely the Danube Delta, distributed on the territory of two neighbouring countries: Romania (82%) and Ukraine (18%).

The Black Sea offers a variety of conditions for harnessing the underground riches (petroleum, natural gas), aquatic (the fish fauna) and land ones (tourism and leisure). There are over 3,450 lakes in Romania.

The total surface of the lakes is of approximately 2,620 km², which means 1.1% of the entire surface of the country.

Generally, the lakes have small surfaces, as approximately 91.5% of them have below one km². The lakes are represented by: natural lakes – the most important are those lakes risen from former lagoons on the shore of the Black Sea (Razim 425 km², Sinoe 171 km²), then those formed along Danube’s banks (Oltenia 22 km², Brates 21 km²), the glacial lakes in the Carpathian Mountains (Bucura Lake, having a surface of 10.8 ha, is the largest of them) and anthropical lakes, created for improving the hydroelectric potential for water supply, irrigations, fish breeding and leisure.

A special category of the underground riches consists in over 2,000 mineral water springs. More than a third of the mineral waters in Europe are encountered in Romania. Some of them are simple, others hot and radioactive.

Globally, water is a revivable natural resource, vulnerable and limited; therefore, it is treated as a natural patrimony that needs protection..

Waters are part of the public domain of the state.

Monitoring the quality of the waters means an activity of standardized and continuous long-term observations and measurements, aiming at knowing and evaluating the characteristic parameters of the water in order to manage and define the state and evolution tendency of their quality as well as to emphasize the state of the water resources permanently.

The main natural lakes from Romania are shown in Table 3.

In Romania, the quality of the waters is followed according to the methodological structures and principles of the Integrated Monitoring System of Waters in Romania (S.M.I.A.R.), restructured according to the requirements of the European Directives.

The national system for water monitoring consists in two types of monitoring, according to the legal requirements in the field: surveillance monitoring with the aim of evaluation the state of all the bodies of water within the hydrographical basins and operational monitoring for the bodies of water which fail to accomplish the objective of water protection.

Depending on the qualitative characteristics of the bodies of water different types of monitoring programs have been achieved: Surveillance Program (S), Operational Program (O), Investigation Program (I), Reference Program (R) and Best Available Section Program (CBSD), Potabilization Program (P), Inter Calibration Program (IC), the Monitoring Program for the Vulnerable Areas in the nitrites pollution, the Monitoring Program for the Ichthyofauna (IH), the Habitats and Species Protection Program (HS), the Program for International Conventions (CI) and the Highly Modified Bodies of Water Program (CAPM).

S.M.I.A.R. encompasses 6 components (subsystems), out of which 5 refer to the natural sources: - surface running waters; - lakes (natural and reservoirs); - transitory waters (fluvial and lacustrine); - coast waters; - underground waters, and one, to the pollution sources: - used waters.

The attributions of water quality monitoring, with respect to the pollution degree fall on the National Authority “Romanian Waters”, whereas the monitoring of drinking water quality coming from surface and underground sources is the task of the Public Health Authority with its territorial structures.

Reported to the total of watercourses of 78.905 km, not taking into account the pollution caused by the natural fund and considering the fact that the unsupervised watercourse length has a 1st 2nd quality water, it results that 1.2% fall within the 5th class, 2.4% in the 4th class, 7.1% in the 3rd class and 89.2% fall within the 1st 2nd classes.
2.3 Soil quality and impact of mining activities
On Romanian territory and according to the geotectonic evolution there are platform and orogen units.

The platform units are: Moldova Platform, on the north-eastern side of the country, Moesic Platform (Walachia Sector) from the northern part of Romania, including South Dobrogea and the Scythian Platform.

The country territory is represented 67% by two orogen units: the Carpathian Orogen and the Dobrogea North Orogen, the last one with a side and insular low altitude position and small surface, occupying the northern third of Dobrogea. Through the complexity of the geologic structure, the Oriental and Middle Carpathians show different conditions for accumulating useful mineral substances. These are: mineral deposits, mineral fuel deposits, salt and salts deposits, useful rocks.

The intermountain depressions are represented by the depressions in the area of the Oriental Carpathians (Borsec–Bilbor, Jolotea, Gheorghieni, Ciucului, Comăneşti, Bârsei), depressions from the area of the Middle Carpathians (Loviştei, Petroşani, Caransebeş–Mehadia), depressions within the Eastern Carpathians (among which Bozovici or Almajului depression) and depressions in the area of the Western Carpathians (Brad– Săcărâmb, Zlatna– Almaş, Roşia Montană). There are also internal depressions -Transilvaniei depression, Panonic and Şimleul Silvaniei depression.

On this territory there are geologic reservations, like: Lacul Roşu – Cheile Bicazului, Piatra Teiului, Pietrele Doamnei, Sfânta Ana Lake, Valea Iadului.

Out of the total surface of the country of 238,391 km², 61.71% is represented by the agricultural surface, 28.43% being forests and 9.81% the waters and other surfaces.

The pedoclimatic resources of Romania are a renewable potential represented by fertile soils: chernozems from the Romanian Plain, West Plain, Moldova’s Plateau, Transylvania’s Plain, Dobrogea and other area (26.7% of the soil coating).

The agricultural soils take 14.7 million ha (0.65 ha/place), the tillable ones being of 9.26 million ha (0.41 ha/place) and the forest ones around 6.7 million ha (0.3 ha/place).

Soil erosion produced by water affects 6,3 million ha out of which 2,3 million are object of some anti-erosional measures. This type of erosion, together with the land sliding (approximately 0,7 million ha) lead to a soil loss of 41,5 t/ha annually. Soil erosion produced by wind is a characteristic for 0,4 million ha with the risk that the surface to increase due to the disappearance of protection curtains.

Soil salinisation affects 0,6 million ha predominantly on the irrigated or drained lands. Soil deterioration and compaction takes place on 6,5 million ha of arable land. Primary compaction is present on approximately 2 million ha while the tendency of crust formation can be observed on a surface of approximately 2,3 million ha.

The main actions will be directed towards the extension/completion of the waste management systems in those counties where the existent, updated investments are limited to a new landfill, non selective collection and transport.

The purpose is the creation of a modern waste management that should contribute to the minimization of waste that will be landfiled by creating some adequate operational systems for each type of waste with the view of environmental protection.

Apart of this, the rehabilitation of the contaminated historical sites it’s foreseen in several priority areas with the aim of reducing the negative impact on the environment and human health.

The protection and rehabilitation of the south coast of Black Sea aims at stopping the costal erosion, the increasing of the investment value in this area as well as the safety of the dwellings.

The significant variety of the flora and fauna in Romania derives from the complexity of the relief. Romania’s flora and fauna are harmoniously divided and form a highly valuable rich, based on the controlled and rational exploitation. Romania is a country with a great biological variety and a high percentage of natural ecosystems.

The Romanian forests cover 28.44% of the country’s surface and is preserves a genofund of great diversity. In order to preserve this valuable natural capital and to ensure a favourable conservation status for natural habitats of great natural and community importance, Romania has taken important steps, by implementing the legislative elements specific to the European Union, as well as of some programs and projects dedicated to preserving the biodiversity.

In Romania there are protected areas comprising of 79 scientific reservations, 13 national parks, with the largest one named Domogled-Valea Cernei, 190 natural monuments, 659 natural reservations, 13 natural parks, 13 national parks and 3 biosphere reservations (Danube Delta, Retezat and Rodna).

While virtually all the changes to the landscape and ecosystems in Romania are and have been made for local economic gain, their cumulative impacts are disrupting major ecological and physical systems to an extent detrimental to the economy and well being of the people.

Romania lies at the geographic centre of Europe and includes five of the ten biogeographic regions (BGR) officially recognized by the EU: alpine, continental, panonic, pontic (euxinic), and steppe. Romania has the greatest biogeographic diversity compared to EU countries.

As a consequence of its geographical location, Romania is a country with unique and high ecosystem, species, and genetic diversity. Romanian ecologists have identified 758 terrestrial ecosystem types.

The EU CORINE Biotope Program has identified 783 habitat types in 261 areas throughout the country.

The extensive range of ecosystem/habitat types in Romania is largely the result of the influence of climate and elevation. Of major importance are the Carpathian Mountains, 60% of which are in Romania, and the Danube Delta, 75% of which is in Romania. In total 17 major terrestrial ecosystems exist, including the major ecosystem types existing in Europe.

There is also a rich diversity of aquatic ecosystems including the Black Sea, rivers, floodplains, glacial lakes, subterranean karst cavities and caves, coastal wetlands, bogs, and mountain rivers.

While grasslands account for a large number of ecosystem types, they no longer cover a large amount of Romanian land due to encroachment by agricultural development.

Among the 783 habitat types, 94 have been designated as special conservation areas, while 25 of these are priority habitat types.

In the more humid regions at lower altitudes (up to 300 m), broad-leaved forests are predominant. In the less humid climates there are steppe grasslands, and in between the two regions there is a zone of silvostepe containing a mix of forests and grasslands.

The elevation change brought about by the Carpathian Mountains brings an abundance of bio-geographic zones which include four main types: nemoral (broad-leaved forests); boreal (primarily coniferous forests); sub-alpine (shrubby conifers, azalea, blackberry and others); and alpine (containing grasses, sedges, dwarf shrubs and a dwarf pine(Pinus cembra) unique to the Carpathian Mountains).

Since almost half of all forests in Romania (13% of the country) have been managed for watershed conservation rather than production, Romania has one of the largest areas of undisturbed forest in Europe.

The natural integrity of Romanian forest ecosystems is indicated by the presence of the full range of European forest fauna, including 40% of all European brown bears 30% of wolves, and 25-30% of lynx. Europe's second largest wetland, the Danube Delta, also lies predominantly in Romania.

Major grasslands, caves, and an extensive network of rivers, add to ecosystem richness.

The south region of Romania is dominated by an area of steppes, steppe woodlands and termophilous oak forests interspersed with wetlands. This mosaic of wetlands is the main reservoir of biodiversity in the region but it is endangered by agricultural fertilization, application of pesticides, mechanization, and engineered drainage.

These wetlands are remnants of an aged natural area, which hundreds of years ago connected the Carpathian and Balkan Mountain Ranges.

The alluvial zones of the Danube basin constitute a unique heritage, which is necessary for the quantitative and qualitative maintenance of groundwater reserves, and consequently to the quality of drinking water. These alluvial wetlands zones are the richest natural regions in Europe in terms of biodiversity and biological productivity.

The alluvial ecosystems are closely linked to the seasonally flooded areas of the Danube. Worldwide, these alluvial ecosystems play a crucial role in the physical and biological functioning of the great rivers and their regulation. In the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve there are 30 types of ecosystems and more than 5000 flora and fauna species, of which 1839 flora species and 3590 fauna species:

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  Most of the European population of common pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus and dalmatian pelican Pelecanus crispus;
  
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  60 % from world population of pygmy cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmaeus;
  
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  50 % from world population of red breasted goose Branta ruficollis (during winter season);
  
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  The universal value of this reserve was recognized by the Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme of UNESCO in 1990, through its inclusion in the international network of biosphere reserves;
  
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  The DDBR is listed as a wetland of international importance especially as waterfowl habitat under the Ramsar Convention;
  
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  Inclusion of the strictly protected areas in the World Heritage List under the World Cultural and Natural Heritage Convention;
  

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  Strictly protected areas (18 sites and cover a total of 50 600 hectares)- include relatively unspoilt places with excellent examples of terrestrial and wetland ecosystems and generally support the most sensitive species found in the DDBR;
  
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  Buffer zones (13 zones and cover a total of 223 300 hectares)- include areas with biological characteristic, likely the previous ones, mitigate the impact of the human activities on the strictly protected areas;
  
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  Economic zones (cover a total of 306 100 hectares)- include areas where traditional allowed activities are undertaken, in the limits of the support capacity;
  
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  Area for ecological restoration – where Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority carries on activities for ecological restoration;
  

The main objectives of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve for the management of the Biosphere Reserve are:

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  Conservation and protection of the existing natural heritage;
  
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  Encouragement of sustainable use of the natural resources;
  
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  Provision of support, based on the results of research, for management, education, training and services.
  

The latter two semi-natural systems are both being affected by human activities other than traditional harvesting, such as road building, industrial development, and urban sprawl.

Romania is rich in bogs, with the more than 430 catalogued covering a surface of 7,000 ha. These bogs produce rich topsoil and provide unique habitat for different species such as Sphagnum spp., Drossera rotundifolia, Betula nana and the glacial relics Viola epipsila and Salix myrtilloides. The most important are Poiana Stampei-Casoi (Suceava County), Luci (Harghita County and Mohoş-Tuşnad Băi (Harghita County). Others are located in Poiana Brazilor-Oaş (Maramures County), Găina (Suceava County) and the Apuseni Mountains (Cluj County).

The karst surface area of Romania covers 4,400 km². This puzzling geological structure is clearly displayed by a large variety of cave morphology and mineralogy. Romanian caves provide an invaluable record of quaternary geology in this part of the world.

Today, more than 10,000 caves are known, 8,000 of which are located in the southwest.

The longest cave in Romania is Peştera vântului in the Pădurea Craiului Mountains (34 km).

Topolniţa cave in the Mehedinţi Plateau is 15 km long and the cave from Zapodia in the Bihor Mountains measures 10.9 km.

The deepest cave is Tăuşoare cave in the Rodna Mountains with an elevation change of 465 m.

Despite the poor conditions offered by the cold dark climate, life is flourishing in many Romanian caves. Where water persists in karst cavities, some 450 species of new invertebrates have been discovered, of which 356 are endemic.

Bat diversity is high in Romanian caves. Seven different bat species can be found, sometimes in colonies of thousands.