A Ramsar Case Study on Tourism and Wetlands

Wetland Tourism: Romania The Danube Delta

Romania, Birdwatching on the Danube Delta Courtesy of Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority

Romanias Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (DDBR) covers

around 580,000 hectares, where the waters of the Danube enter the Black Sea. It is the second lar est and the best !reserved of "uro!e#s deltas$ its d%na&ic, relativel% wild ecos%ste& su!!orts a rich diversit% of wetland habitats, nu&erous lakes, !onds and over ''0 s!ecies of birds and (5 s!ecies of freshwater fish. )he re ion has a lon histor% and the DDBR includes a nu&ber of Iron * e fortified sites, re&nants of +reek and Ro&an settle&ents, and earl% ,hristian architecture. )he site has been listed as a Ra&sar -etland of International I&!ortance since .//.. * riculture, fishin and forestr% in the reserve

area are a vital !art of the livelihoods of !eo!le livin in the delta re ion, includin between .0 and .' thousand who live in settle&ents within the DDBR. Durin the ./80s, the delta suffered da&a e fro& a series of econo&icall% and environ&entall% disastrous lar e1scale a ricultural and fish far&in develo!&ents s!onsored b% the then overn&ent, which caused de radation and loss of the delta#s wetlands and led to soil salinisation and the virtual e2tinction of wild car! in the re ion. 3ore than .5,000 hectares of the wetlands have now been restored, and &ana e&ent of this vast re ion has develo!ed wa%s to balance !ublic use with conservation, and to encoura e sustainable touris&, !rovidin o!!ortunities to diversif% livelihoods in the re ion.

The Ramsar Secretariat selected 14 case studies for a publication on wetlands and sustainable tourism, to be launched at the 11th Conference of Parties, July 2012 www ramsar or!"tourism

A Ramsar Case Study on Tourism and Wetlands

The DDBR includes 20 strictly protected sites coverin a total of 50,/0(

hectares (8.45 of the Reserve#s surface), areas which contain the ver% best e2a&!les of the Reserve#s natural terrestrial and a6uatic ecos%ste&s. Buffer 7ones coverin 000,//8 hectares ('8.55 of the Reserve#s area) have been established around the strictl% !rotected sites, desi ned to !rotect these sites fro& hu&an activities in ad9acent areas. )he re&ainder of the Reserve consists of econo&ic 7ones, coverin '08,.00 hectares (50.85 of the Reserve#s surface) which include easil% flooded areas, !rotected fishin , fish far&in , a ricultural and forest areas, and areas where ecolo ical restoration has been carried out or is !lanned b% the Danube Delta Bios!here Reserve *uthorit% (DDBR*). )he Reserve is hi hl% diverse : as well as the delta landsca!es, it incor!orates navi able sections of the Danube, flood !lains, the S;r;turile 3uri hiol1 <lo!u brackish lake, the Ra7i&1Sinoie la oon co&!le2, and coastal areas alon the Black Sea which include a touris& resort and coastal waters u! to the 00 &etre de!th contour. * strate % for international conservation assistance was established in .//.with su!!ort fro& I=,>, to create an inte rated !lan for &ana e&ent and restoration of the DDBR. )his !rovided uidelines for forestr%, a riculture, fisheries, and touris&, as well as for i&&ediate !ractical conservation b% individual a encies. )he first 3ana e&ent <lan was !roduced in .//(1 .//5 with in!uts fro& overn&ent a encies, acade&ic institutions, and scientific institutes, includin the Danube Delta Research Institute (DD>I), )ouris& Research Institute, and others. "colo ical restoration of the delta be an to succeed in the &id1.//0s, and b% toda%, &ore than .5,000 ha of abandoned !olders have been ecolo icall% restored to wetlands in ood condition, with su!!ort fro& the -orld Bank <ro9ect ?Danube Delta Biodiversit%# and the overn&ent. Durin 000.10000 the 3ana e&ent <lan was revised and durin 000810004 a second 3ana e&ent <lan was elaborated with the su!!ort of the &e&bers of Scientific ,ouncil of

DDBR*. Durin 00001000' the 9oint &ana e&ent ob9ectives for biodiversit% conservation and sustainable develo!&ent in the nature !rotected areas fro& Danube Delta (Ro&ania1=kraine) and @ower <rut River (Re!ublic of 3oldova) were elaborated, obtainin su!!ort fro& the "= ,o&&ission ()*,IS1,B, <ro ra&). )he DDBR* works in con9unction with other overn&ent a encies to a!!l% an intersectoral a!!roach to &ana e&ent and !lannin on the delta, in order to i&!le&ent ke% "= directives, includin the -ater Ara&ework Directive, Babitat Directive, and Aloods Directive, as well as international a ree&ents includin the Ra&sar ,onvention on -etlands and the ,onvention of Biodiversit%. )his intersectoral a!!roach contributes to cost1effective and sustainable develo!&ent of the re ion. )he &ana e&ent !lans have been !re!ared with in!ut fro& all ke% stakeholders in conservation, recreation and touris& develo!&ent in the DDBR, as well as relevant overn&ent a encies and the ,ount% (Cudets) ,ouncils of )ulcea and ,onstanDa. )ouris& is an i&!ortant and rowin activit% in the Reserve, althou h currentl% it onl% !rovides 9ust over 05 of the re ion#s e&!lo%&ent, co&!ared to 8'.55 for fishin and a riculture. *ccordin to data fro& authori7ed touris& o!erators, 40,'08 tourists visited the DDBR in 00.0, of which 58,058 were fro& within Ro&ania and .8,040 fro& other countries. )he DDBR#s 3ana e&ent <lan 0008:00.0 incor!orates a s!ecial the&e for touris& and leisure, and a ran e of !ro9ects and studies have been conducted in !re!arin the touris& co&!onent. In !articular, these have included a review of the !otential for sustainable touris& develo!&ent in the Reserve, a !ro9ect on an Inte rated ,ulture and )ouris& Strate % for Sustainable Develo!&ent in the Danube, launched with =>"S,E in 0008, and develo!&ent of a Sustainable )ouris& Develo!&ent Strate % in the Danube Delta with fundin fro& the Ale&ish +overn&ent.

The Ramsar Secretariat selected 14 case studies for a publication on wetlands and sustainable tourism, to be launched at the 11th Conference of Parties, July 2012 www ramsar or!"tourism

A Ramsar Case Study on Tourism and Wetlands

The tourism component of the

&ana e&ent !lan sets out ob9ectives for the !eriod, which include i&!le&entation of a visitor &ana e&ent !lan and !ro&otion of the re ion#s traditional local touris&. )he !lan includes a strate % for sustainable touris& and diversification of touris& based on the delta#s landsca!e and habitats, 7onin of touris& in the DDBR, and i&!le&entation of a touris& certification sche&e to ensure the 6ualit% of touris& !roducts and services in the re ion. *s !art of the strate % for touris& and visitor &ana e&ent, the 3ana e&ent <lan establishes ei ht &ain 7ones for touris& and recreation in the DDBR, based on the &ain touris& activities available in each area, areas that are strictl% !rotected and where access is not !er&itted, and !otential to enhance s!ecial character touris&. )he touris& strate % also includes local !artnershi!s between the DDBR*, local &unici!alities, and touris& businesses to enhance touris& !roducts and &arketin , and to establish local re ulations. )his includes !rovidin trainin and ca!acit% buildin for uides and touris& businesses, and hel!in to set u! local touris& associations. *t re ional level, the DDBR* is establishin a brand as !art of coordinated &arketin of the delta and its touris&, and !ro&otes touris& throu h a website, !artici!ation in national and re ional touris& fairs, visitor uides, infor&ation centres and advertisin ca&!ai ns. )he DDBR* has also i&!le&ented a s%ste& of si na e throu hout the Reserve, alon with a series of visitor centres. )his has si nificantl% raised awareness about the Reserve and i&!roved !ublic attitudes towards it. *n *d&inistration ,onsultative ,ouncil was established in 00.. to assist !lannin and decision1&akin for the &ana e&ent of the DDBR. )he ,ouncil includes re!resentatives of local authorities, econo&ic o!erators, and >+Es. Aurther&ore, wider !ublic consultations and debates are or anised to discuss s!ecific !ro9ects in the re ion, as re6uired b% law.

3ana e&ent of the DDBR is su!!orted b% the Danube Delta >ational Institute for Research and Develo!&ent (DD>I), which has been set u! to !rovide scientific su!!ort for decision &akers both in the DDBR* and the )ulcea ,ount% ,ouncil. Aor its ca!acit% to influence !olicies at local and central levels, DD>I was no&inated as F>ational focal !ointG for fisheries and land cover. *t "uro!ean level, DD>I has been desi nated as a ,entre of "2cellence for Deltas and -etlands. )he DDBR#s natural and cultural features are &a9or touris& resources. )he delta offers an al&ost uns!oilt landsca!e of river channels, lakes, reed beds, dunes and forests, beaches on the Black Sea coast and villa e settle&ents with traditional buildin s and a rich culture. )he t%!es of touris& and tourist attractions offered in the Reserve &atch the diversit% of its landsca!es, and are based around the area#s natural and cultural features. )he% includeH rest and rela2ation tours, based in resort hotels and !ensions in the DDBR or on floatin hotels, co&binin tri!s on channels and lakes with beach holida%s alon the Black Sea coast$ discover% touris& in s&all rou!s, or self1 uided, to e2!lore the delta#s wild landsca!es usin boats and ka%aks and hikin beside channels or sand dunes$ %outh !ro ra&s focused on discover%, understandin and a!!reciation of nature$ rural touris&, with tourists bein hosted and uided b% local !eo!le$ ?sun, sea and sand# touris& on the beaches of Sulina, Sf. +heor he$ birdwatchin , !hoto ra!hic safaris, s!ort fishin , e2!lorin the Delta on ka%aks, visitin localities, astrono&ic touris& based on the re ion#s traditional cuisine and food !roducts.

)he touris& activities in the DDBR are authori7ed b% the Re ulation and @icenses De!art&ent

The Ramsar Secretariat selected 14 case studies for a publication on wetlands and sustainable tourism, to be launched at the 11th Conference of Parties, July 2012 www ramsar or!"tourism

A Ramsar Case Study on Tourism and Wetlands

within DDBR*, which also sets re ulations for tourist boats and floatin hotels, includin re6uire&ents for &ana e&ent, collection and dis!osal of all li6uid and solid wastes. Re ulations also !rotect bird colonies and nestin birds and control the co&&ercial and s!ort fishin that is allowed in the Reserve. *ccordin to the new le al fra&ework a!!roved in 00.., huntin is not allowed at all in the Reserve. )ourists !a% an access fee of 5 lei (euro ...5)I!ersonIda%, .5 lei (euro '.(5)I!ersonIweek, or '0 lei (euro 8./0)I!ersonI%ear. Destination of "2cellence, F"D">G) and another in ,hilia Keche villa e. )ouris& activit% in the Danube Delta is develo!ed in co&!liance with the current re ulations and laws which control touris& activities, in order to !rotect the natural herita e. )here are visitor routes and s!ecial rules for touris& activities and access in DDBR, and DDBR* ran ers &onitor and enforce co&!liance with the Reserve#s re ulations. )he DDBR* has established 0( tourist routes within the Reserve, co&!risin .5 routes for boat tri!s and e2cursions and / hikin trails. )hese a!!roved routes have been develo!ed to allow tourists to e2!erience the Reserve#s s!ecial habitats, s!ecies, and bird colonies, as well as its culture and traditions. *cco&odation is available within the DDBR co&!risin a diverse &i2 of hotels, floatin hotels and other t%!es of shi!s, urban and rural !ensions of 0, ', ( and 5 stars, villas, cabins, bun alows, hostels, holida% villa es or ca&!in sites, boardin houses, and %outh ca&!s. Between the&, these !rovide over ',800 bed s!aces for tourists. )he value of the Danube Delta#s natural herita e and the sound &ana e&ent of the DDBR were reco ni7ed in 0000 b% the ,ouncil of "uro!e, which awarded the "uro!ean Di!lo&a of !rotected areas for the Danube Delta Bios!here Reserve. )his award has been renewed in 0005 and 00.0, and the DDBR has also received other awards as well, includin a ?Blue +lobe# award for best &ana e&ent !ractices in wetlands at the .0th &eetin of the ,onference of <arties to the ,onvention on Biolo ical Diversit% (,BD) in Ca!an in 00.0. It has also been desi nated a "uro!ean Destination of "2cellence (F"D">G) and was selected as F@andsca!e of the Lear 00041000/G. Internationall%, the DDBR* coo!erates with the Danube Bios!here Reserve in =kraine, and both are included in the International >etwork of ,ross1border Bios!here Reserves (Ro&ania1 =kraine .///). )he DDBR* is also involved in a !ro ra&&e to enhance sustainable nature conservation and re ional develo!&ent strate ies

Tourism services and facilities in

the Reserve are !rovided and &ana ed b% !rivate touris& co&!anies, while the Danube Delta Bios!here Reserve *uthorit% authori7es which t%!es of touris& activities are allowed, deter&ines where the% can take !lace, sets re ulations for visitor &ana e&ent, !ro&otes education and infor&ation throu h infor&ation centres, and &onitors touris& activities and their effects on the Reserve. )he ,ount% ,ouncil of )ulcea and Ro&ania#s >ational )ouris& Infor&ation ,entre J 'D ,entre also !ro&ote touris& in the Reserve. )he 'D ,entre is a &odern visitor centre built b% the )ulcea ,ount% ,ouncil based on a cross1 border coo!eration !ro9ect financed b% the "= with a view to !ro&otin the values of the natural herita e of the Danube Delta shared b% Ro&ania and =kraine. )he centre includes &a!s, infor&ation, and diora&as re!resentin the natural habitats, landsca!es and cultural herita e of the area and a6uariu&s with the &ost i&!ortant fish s!ecies includin the stur eon, the bi est and endan ered s!ecies in Danube Delta. )he DDBR* has also established Infor&ation, Docu&entation and "colo ical "ducation ,entres to !rovide visitors and local !eo!le with infor&ation about the Reserve and to raise awareness about its ecolo ical i&!ortance and wildlife, and the role of visitors and of the local !o!ulation in achievin the ob9ectives of environ&ental &ana e&ent of the natural herita e. )he centres are located in )ulcea, ,risan, Sulina, 3uri hiol, and St. +heor he, and two &ore will co&e into o!eration durin su&&er 00.0, one in +ura <ortitei resort (a "uro!ean

The Ramsar Secretariat selected 14 case studies for a publication on wetlands and sustainable tourism, to be launched at the 11th Conference of Parties, July 2012 www ramsar or!"tourism

A Ramsar Case Study on Tourism and Wetlands

in flood!lains and wetlands alon the Danube and to encoura e cross1border collaboration and networkin . )he DDBR* !artici!ates in various !ro ra&&es funded b% the "uro!ean ,o&&ission or other donors to e2chan es e2!eriences and e2!ertise with other wetland sites. It is !art of D"@)*>"), a rou! of ei ht "uro!ean estuaries and deltas with si&ilar characteristics, !roble&s and o!!ortunities.

Sources: Infor&ation !rovided b% Dr +ri ore Baboianu, De!ut% "2ecutive Director, Danube Delta Bios!here Reserve *uthorit%. *nnual Re!ort for the Danube Delta Bios!here Reserve in 00.., elaborated b% DDBR* 3ana e&ent <lan for Danube Delta Bios!here Reserve for 0008 : 00.0, elaborated b% DDBR* $e%elopment of the potential for sustainable tourism in &atura 2000 wetlands area' the $anube $elta case study <etre +astescu, +ri ore Baboianu, 00.. : Danube Delta Bios!here Reserve Kisitor#s +uide )ulcea ,ount% ,ouncil, 00.. : )ulcea ,ount% )ourist +uide (aster Plan ) Support for sustainable de%elopment in $anube $elta *iosphere Reser%e, elaborated b% DD>I, 000' Transboundary cooperation in nature protected areas in $anube $elta and +ower Prut ) (ana!ement ob,ecti%es for biodi%ersity and sustainable de%elopment ()*,IS : ,B, <ro9ect) "colo ical restoration in the Danube Delta Bios!here ReserveIRo&ania, Babina and ,ernovca islands, .//4 @aw nr. 80I.//' for the establish&ent of the Danube Delta Bios!here Reserve, revised b% @aw nr. .'8I00.. )he Decision of Ro&anian +overn&ent (B+) nr. 0(8I.//( for establish&ent of the strictl% !rotected areas and the or anisation of Danube Delta Bios!here Reserve *uthorit%, revised in B+ nr. '84I0000 Ro&anian +overn&ent Erdinance (E=+) nr. 54I0004 concernin the establish&ent and &ana e&ent of !rotected areas, a!!roved b% @aw nr. (/I00..

The Ramsar Secretariat selected 14 case studies for a publication on wetlands and sustainable tourism, to be launched at the 11th Conference of Parties, July 2012 www ramsar or!"tourism