Danube Delta: A lost paradise

What is a Biosphere Reserve?
The biosphere reserves have been defined as a form of conservation of extended, terrestrial, coast, marine areas or of combinations of these, characterized biodiversity and geodiversity, internationally accepted, where varied activities following a programme that meets certain norms and that is under the sovereignty of the respective state. The biosphere reserves represent quintessence of the most extended conservation philosophy, meaning that it preserves nature without excluding the presence of human society and of traditional forms of exploiting resources. The biosphere reserves have three major functions: the conservation of natural and cultural diversity, the social and economic development, the logistic support for the most diverse activities. At present there are 324 biosphere reservations around the world, which form a world-wide-network.

The reserve - Danube Delta Biosphere. The reservation was founded by the H.G. no. 983/1990 and by the Law no. 82/1993.Carrying out human activities, settling the limits of the functional regions and the setting up of the Scientific Council of the Administration of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve were established by the HG no. 284/1994. The reservation stretches for a total area of 580.000 hectares, including a part of the Danube flood plain upstream of the Ismail islet, the Danube Delta proper, the Razelm-Golovta-Zmeica-Sinoe lagoons and the marine waters adjacent to the deltaic and lagoonal front. On this area, in conformity with international provisions and with the laws in force, three categories of functional zones where marked: entirely protected zones with a total area of 50.600 hectares (8,7% of the total), buffer zones with an area of 223.300 hectares (52,8%) and economic zones with an area of 306.100 hectares. There are 18 entirely protected zones, most of them located on the emplacement of the old reservations set up at the beginning of the '60s by the Commission of the Natural Monuments in the Romanian Academy. They are: Rosca-Buhaiova, Letea, Raducu, Nebunu, Vatafu-Lungulet, Caraorman, Saraturi-Nurghiol, Erenciuc, Popina, Sacalin Zatoane, Periteasca Leahova, Dolosman, grindu Lupilor, Istria Sinoe, Grindul Chituc, Rotundu, Potcoava, Belciug. Access to these areas is strictly forbidden, except the scientific researchers under ARBDD's supervision. Buffer zones play an important part in reducing the effects of human activities on strictly protected areas. Access is permitted here only on the basis of an authorization issued by ARBDD that stipulates the observing of certain behavior norms: camping, fire lighting, noise making, tree felling are forbidden. Economic zones include a great variety of soils: agricultural, piscicultural or forest polders, ecological reconstruction sectors, agricultural crops, grazing fields, human settlements. We inform tourists that any trip to the Danube Delta may be made only on the basis of an ARBDD authorization. ARBDD can also provide the most competent specifications regarding trips to the Delta.