Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

A high level of diversity of habitats reflects a high diversity of flora and fauna species, including 3,795 species and subspecies of vascular plant [ ] 188 Expanding the National Ecological Network of protected areas Significant progress has been achieved in the implementation of the national targets for biodiversi- ty, objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020, including, expanding the National Ecological Network of protected are- as (PAs) including Natura 2000 sites and improving their management. At the time of adoption of the new protected areas law in 2000, the provisions for designation of new PAs and IUCN categories become available which made the process of designation very clear and easy to understand. This has resulted in a very dynamic process of designation, with more than 120 new PAs, included in all IUCN categories. This process decreased in the late 2000s, mainly because of the entering into force of Natura 2000, which became a priority. Nevertheless, the period saw the desig- nation of three PAs of national inter- est: Cefa Natural Park (category V); Prundu cu Păsări Island; and Ceaplace Island — both inside the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve and category Ia. All of these PAs were the results of two conservation projects. The total of national PAs declared by Romania are: the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve; 13 national parks; 15 natural parks, of which are two geo-parks; and 925 scientific reserves, natural reserves and natural monuments. As a Member State of the EU, Ro- mania has to establish and strengthen the Natura 2000 network on its own territory. Natura 2000 areas cover 22.7 per cent of Romanian territory, 383 sites of community importance and special scientific interest, and 148 special protection areas designated at national level. One of the most important achieve- ments of the current reporting period is the strengthening of the management system in Natura 2000 sites. Even if the capacity of public authorities are decreasing, especially in terms of staff, the management of PAs has been improved by involving administrators and custodians. These are represented by various stakehold- ers, and have an obligation to ensure the management of PAs according to legislation and draft management plans. At the end of current reporting period, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change had signed 43 contracts and 289 custodian conven- tions for the administration of PAs with various custodians and admin- istrators. R omania is located in Central Europe, in the Danube watershed and Black Sea basin, equidistant from both the North Pole and the Equator and from the Atlantic Ocean and the Ural Mountains. The diversity and relatively balanced proportional distribution of the forms of relief — 28 per cent mountains, 42 per cent hills and plateaus, and 30 per cent plains — are unique features for Europe and rare at the global level. The territory of Romania includes Continental, Alpine, Pannonian, Black Sea (Pontic) and Steppic (only present in Romania) biogeographic regions. The Black Sea bioregion includes not only the coastal platform but also the Romanian territorial waters plus the exclusive economic area, under the EU Framework Marine Strategy. Romania also includes 54 per cent of the Carpathian Mountains range, while 97.8 per cent of the national river system drains into the Danube. @ Razvan Voiculescu, Romania Romania Romania