BIOSPHERE RESERVES IN ROMANIA

Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve

Retezat National Park

Rodna National Park

Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve is the largest and least damaged wetland complex in Europe, covering a total area of 580,000 ha. The significance of the biodiversity of the Danube Delta has been internationally acknowledged. It was declared a Biosphere Reserve in September 1990, a Ramsar site in May 1991, and more than 50 % of its area was placed on the World Heritage List in December 1991. One of the most extensive reed bed systems in Europe lies within its boundaries. The Danube Delta has considerably more breeding species than other south European deltas; including a major portion of the world population of pygmy cormorant, half of the Palearctic breeding population of white pelican and 5% of the world breeding population of Dalmatian pelican. It is likely that the Delta is one of the last European refuges of the European mink and there is also a number of other important small carnivore species living in the Danube Delta.

A number of 18 strictly protected areas with a total surface of 50,600 ha were delineated within the reserve. The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve is the only protected area in Romania with an administrative structure, a management plan and its own law.


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Retezat National Park, located in the western part of Romania, is the oldest national park, being established by law in 1935. The park has a surface of 54,400 ha, 1,800 ha of which have been declared as strictly protected area called "Gemenele". The universal value of the park was recognised by the UNESCO "Man and Biosphere" Programme in 1979 through its inclusion in the international network of biosphere reserves. In the lower part of the park there are deep narrow valleys, while the higher parts consists of glacial plateaux with more than 80 glacial lakes.The largest single area of pristine mixed forest in Europe covers the lower levels of the strictly protected area. The vegetation is rich, and because of its location between different vegetation zones, 5.2% endemic plant species are present, among them Draba dorneri, which can be found only on a small area. The Retezat Mountains are considered to be the European genetic centre for Poa and Hieracium. Viable populations of large mammals, including brown bear, wolf, lynx, wildcat, wild boar, roe and red deer, and chamois populate the area, together with a large number of small carnivores including at least 8 species of mustelids (badger, otter etc.).

Rodna National Park represents the largest protected area located in the northern group of the Eastern Carpathians, covering a surface of 56,700 ha. In 1980 it was declared a Biosphere Reserve under the UNESCO - MAB Programme. The massif is dominated by metamorphic formations belonging to the Precambrian or Palaeozoic periods with slopes reaching 20 - 350. The carst from the northern part of Rodna Mountains is one of the few places in the Romanian Carpathians where typical exocarstic forms occur. These forms of morphostructural conditioning bestow uniqueness to the limestone surfaces here. The flora is significant due to the presence of the local and Carpathian endemic species together with glacial relicts. The vertebrate fauna is extremely diverse, including large birds, such as black grouse, capercaillie and eagles, as well as large carnivores (lynx, brown bear and wolf). There are nine reserves (IUCN category I and IV) and one natural monument located within the boundaries of the Park.

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