Home to 12 species that are globally threatened, Romania had to designate nature conservation areas to protect birds when it joined the European Union in 2007, but “has still not delivered on a number of commitments regarding nature conservation,” the EC said. The Danube Delta alone hosts more than 320 bird species.

Over one million hectares initially pencilled in for protection have still not received the legal designation they require, nor have warning letters had the desired effect, according to the Commission.

“Birds are a barometer for biodiversity – so adequate protection of their habitats is vital. Biodiversity is a precious resource, and we squander it at our peril. I therefore urge Romania to make good these shortcomings and bring in the necessary protection immediately,” EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas said in the statement.

Romania has failed to classify a sufficient number of special protection areas for wild birds, which is obliged to do under the Birds Directive, one of the centrepieces of European nature protection legislation.

Romanian authorities designated 108 such areas after receiving a first warning from the Commission in October 2007, but 21 other areas were excluded. Additionally, the areas were much smaller than initially identified.

“The Commission sent Romania a second and final written warning in September 2008. Romania has made no formal commitment in reply and has still to complete the designation of protected areas. It is therefore being called before the European Court of Justice,” the EC said.

Under article 226 of the Treaty of Rome governing the way in which the EU functions, the EC can take legal action against a member state that is not respecting its obligations. The infringement procedure is started with the letters of formal notice, the first step, requiring a member state to submit its justifications by a specified date, usually 60 days. It is followed by the second and final warning, the “reasoned opinion”, after which the EC can take its case to the European Court of Justice.

The official stressed that the new police force will be established through a Minister’s Order, “will be subordinated neither to Tulcea County Police Inspectorate, nor to the General Inspectorate of the Border Police, but directly coordinated by the Chief of the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police exactly because this is an extremely important action, of elimination of this criminal poaching in the Danube Delta and it needs coordination and measures at the highest level”.
Dan Nica also said that in a first stage the new structure will include 100 staff from the Romanian Police and the Border Police, with stations on each Danube Delta branch, Chilia, Sulina and Sfantu Gheorghe, which will be equipped with 15 fast boats and with night equipment including thermal vision and night filming, “to be able to discover all those who act criminally, robbing this invaluable rich place, the Danube Delta”.
The Vice-premier said that the measure of setting up a new police force was determined by the fact that, in the past 3 months, the Border Police and the Romanian Police have carried out numerous controls in the Danube Delta, discovering a lot of poachers who used monophilament fishing nets and confiscated thousands of kilometers of such nets and a large number of electrical devices used for fishing.

Financiarul

Radu Suciu, researcher of the Danube Delta National Institute, said that this system will be also used in the case of other four sturgeons, to be attached with satellite transmitters next week and afterwards released in the Danube.
The 20 satellite transmitting devices to be mounted on the sturgeons till the end of next year will offer the possibility to Romanian and Norwegian researchers to benefit of the first information on the sturgeons itinerary.
“In the framework of a project funded by the Government of Norway, with one million euros and co-financed by the Ministry for Environment in Romania, an ultrasound video camera will be also purchased, which will transmit sturgeon populations images. The project is wished to serve as a start for the type of tourism practiced on the western coast of the USA, so that people aboard ships can follow the sturgeons”, said Suciu.
The sturgeon is the biggest fresh water fish species in the world, but the number of the migrating marine sturgeon species has followed a downward trend in the past decades as a consequence of the intensive fishing, as well as of pollution and eutrophication of the river and sea environment.
For these reasons, starting 2006, commercial fishing of sturgeon has been banned on a 10- year period, concurrently with this measure the national authorities allocating two million euros for populating the Danube with artificially reproduced sturgeon larvae.

FINANCIARUL

Out of the total 1.3 million euros, the European Union (EU) contributes 979,000 euros and WWF Austria another 150,000 euros. Each of the other partners finances the project, which will last until December 2012.

Both species are in danger of extinction at international level and Romania is home to the largest number in Europe. It is estimated that less than 39,000 pairs of red ducks and fewer than 18,000 small cormorants still live in on the continent and almost one third of them can be found in Romania and a few thousands in Bulgaria.

The two species are protected within the perimeter of the Danube Delta, but the bird population spread along the Danube, in Romania and Bulgaria, continues to be under threat by human activity. Waste disposal along water flows, the excessive use of fertilizers in fisheries and large-scale tourism impacts on the quality of the habitats.

The main aim of the transnational project Life Nature, implemented in Romania and Bulgaria, is to ensure favorable conditions to preserve the two species.

The WWF Danube-Carpathian program aims to preserve nature and ecological processes in Romania and in the Danube and Carpathian mountains areas by initiating, developing and supporting projects for maintaining biological diversity, wildlife and natural ecosystems.

NEWSIN

MEPs Victor Bostinaru, Daciana Sarbu and Adriana Ticau of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) organised these days in the Danube city of Tulcea the third edition of a wide -ranging Danube Delta promotion project started in Brussels where invited to attend were European Specialist MEPs and Francine Cousteau, widow of renowned French oceanographer Jacques Yves Cousteau, who received the diploma of Danube Delta ambassador.

Attending the conference on the conservation of the Danube Delta through European Union regional and environmental protection policies were local government officials the governor of the Danube Delta, Environment Minister Nicolae Nemirschi and state secretary with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (MAPDR) Catalin Rosculete. MEP Sarbu told the conference that Romania no longer needs a country brand because the Danube Delta already is a brand that waits to be put to good use and kept intact.

She asked the officials of the Socialist MEP group on the environment and the development committees of the European Parliament to support Romania’s approach of this matter, saying that Romania does not belong to Romania only, but to the European Union as well.

Bostinaru pleaded for an integrated action of the projects that regard the Danube Delta, which he said is the quintessence of policies for this region. ‘Territorial approaches will lead to static projects only and not to the mechanisms for horizontal engagement that can provide answers to the Danube Delta issues. The only chance for the Delta projects to succeed is to approach them within an integrated policy,’ said Bostinaru.

Ticau reviewed some European regional transport and infrastructure projects, pointing out that there is no river transport development without consolidating parallel infrastructures. She also argued that economic development must take into account environmental rules, tourism has to be developed in a sustainable manner, pesticides should be barred from farming, while the fishery policies should limit illegal activities.

The Danube Delta can become Romania’s symbol in the world thanks to its uniqueness, as it is the most dynamic European project created at the end of the longest river of the European Union, coordinator of the Socialist MEP group for regional development matters in the European Parliament Constanze Krehl told the conference on Tuesday.

Krehl said she was pleasantly impressed by the beauty of the Danube Delta, which she toured these days, but unpleasantly surprised by the quantity of plastic bottles and trash there. She argued that greening up the Danube Delta could be part of a wide-ranging operational programme for environmental protection started off in Romania with support from the European Union for the Danube Delta.
Minister Nemirschi said he belongs to the hardliners’ wing in the fight for the Danube Delta, not because he is now a minister, but also because he was born in the region and loves its places.

‘The Danube Delta is one of my main priorities because it has a special significance to Romania and Europe. Some are fighting over oil, and my conviction is that in not too distant a future this place would be as if oil were flowing here,’ said Nemirschi.

Danube Delta Governor Grigore Baboianu said sustainable development is a basic concept underpinning the concept of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, arguing for the importance of cross-border cooperation in this area.

The Dutch representative of the Socialist MEP group on the development committee Dorette Corbey said she was impressed by the beauty of the Delta, which she toured aboard a motor boat with her MEP colleagues and pledged full support for the area before the European Parliament.

Francine Cousteau, the widow of famous French oceanographer Jacuqes-Yves Cousteau, promised her full support for the promotion of the Danube Delta in the world. On her firs tour of the Danube Delta, Francine Cousteau, who is already promoting the importance of the Danube Delta in the world, said she was impressed by the beauty and uniqueness of the Delta.

Financiarul

‘The Danube Delta is the final chapter of the Danube’s trajectory in Europe. It has been scientifically proved that natural resources are undergoing quantitative and qualitative degradation and the time has come for us to take some measures to fight against this phenomenon,’ Nemirschi said in his speech to the opening session of the symposium.
The minister mentioned among the measures increasing the size of natural areas, implementing Natura 2000 projects, securing management for protected natural areas, furthering research and making people aware of the need to protect the Danube Delta. He also introduced a report on the latest developments in the implementation of European Union environmental requirements, mentioning that the visit of the European environmental commissioner is expected in June.
The symposium is organised by the Regi-Envi joint Socialist group and moderated by Romanian Social-Democratic MEPs Daciana Sarbu and Victor Bostinaru. There are two sections of the event, one for the capacities of the local administration to absorb European funds, challenges and opportunities in using European grants, and the need for a cross-border approach of pollution curbing.
At the end of the symposium, Francine Cousteau, the widow of renowned French oceanographer Jacques Yves Cousteau, will hand in the prize that the Romanian Social Democratic MEPs decided on December 2008 to award each year to the most active organisation that protects the remarkable biodiversity of the Danube Delta, in order to support initiatives that positively impact the area.
Agerpres

Francine Cousteau received the diploma of ambassador of the Danube Delta from Environment Minister Nicolae Nemirschi, who said he is quite moved by this moment, because he can remember nostalgically about the TV reports of the big explorer, scientist Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the husband of Francine.

I have been happy that Francine has written about the Danube Delta, from what he has learnt from his husband, taking this happy message to Europe, ‘ said Nicolae Nemirschi.

At her first visit to the Danube Delta, Francine Coustteau, who is promoting internationally the importance of the region, has said she is impressed with the beauty of the region.

‘I am proud to receive this prize, in the same way in which Jacques-Yves Cousteau was proud by his work of promotion of the environment, which I continue today. He worked with much application in order to convince the United Nations that there is no no mission more important than that of the continuation of life on earth, and that water is what we need, ‘ said Francine Cousteau, who added that she will take further the message of his husband. I need you, and you need me, ‘ she told the minister of the Environment, the local authorities, the Romanian social-democrats, and the Socialists in the European Parliament, with whom she is promoting a comprehensive programme of promotion of the Danube Delta internationally.

Francine Cousteau has come to Romania, at the invitation of MEP Victor Bostinaru and Daciana Sarbu. She attended a conference on ‘Conservation of the Danube Delta through regional policies of environment protection of the European Union. AGERPRES

The Floating Reed Islet, as one the most representative delta’s formation stays as a dense knitting of rhizomes and aquatic plants roots, vegetal rests and alluvia ooze. It is wide spread in lakes as Matita-Merhei and Rosu-Puiu.

As an apart unit can be considered the sea sands, where the vegetation is graded from the beach sand with Cakile maritime, Salsola ruthenica , to the high dunes with Elymus sabulosus, Artemisia maritima etc.
The terrestrial vegetation occupies reduced areas and it appears only on high sand banks, as: Letea, Caraorman, Chilia, Stipoc and various fluvial banks. It is represented by mixed forests, willow water meadows and pastures. The mixed forests are populated by white and black poplar Populus alba and nigra , oak, Quercus robur, white willow, Salix alba , elm trees, Ulmus levis etc.., as well as a serie of bushes (hazel tree, sweet briar, etc.). A characteristic of these forests is the presence of hanging plants, as lianas, Periploca grace, the wild grape ( Vitis silvestris ). The willow water meadows are met on the high banks along the river and the pastures occupies reduced areas.

The little church burnt around the 1840s, the sultan Abdul-Medgid (1839-1861) from Constantinople approved to the building of a new church. Thus, in 1846, the first church was built, with “The Assumption of the Holy Virgin” as its dedication day and a chapel with “The Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel” as its dedication day.

After a short time, the monks were moved to Saon, where they built another monastery. At Celic Dere the monks were replaced by nuns. In time, the hierarchs of Lower Danube supported the efforts of the nuns and thus, in 1901 the bishop Partenie Clinceni started to build the monumental church with semi-basement. For some time this served as a winter chapel. The construction, whose architect was Toma Dobrescu, was only completed in 1932, and was dedicated on the 22nd of October of the same year. The interior was painted by Gheorghe Eftimiu, and the altar screen covered in gold, was done by Ion Dinea.
During the next years, a studio for religious painting, a primary school for adults under the age of 40, a workshop for rugs and traditional sewing, were founded under the care of bishop Nifon.

The icon that cleans itself

Pilgrims come to this place to bow with great hope in God’s power.
One of the most important icons is the one representing our Lord Jesus Christ, brought here around 1806 – 1812. It can be seen in the Chapel Church and bears the name of “The icon that cleans itself” because at one point the icon was blackened by the passing of time but then, as a miracle, the Savior’s face lightened.
The legend says that the icon was brought by a soldier. He told the monks that even though it looked like that, one day it would clean itself, and the eyes of Christ would open. After almost 200 years from that day, more than half of this icon is now lightened.

The icon of the Virgin Mary Nerosaiskaia

There is also an icon of the Virgin Mary about which has been said that it survived two arsons. It initially belonged to a family living in the Nerusai Commune from Basarabia. After the arson the only thing left was the blackened icon. The owners kept the icon with piety in their new house but, after they passed away, the descendants wanted to replace it. Not knowing what to do with the icon, they threw it into the fire but the flames burst out of the fireplace and the icon remained intact. Starting to fear, the people have decided to place it in a location of faithfulness in a clean room. It is also said that one year, around Easter’s Eve, the owner went into the room to get the azyme for the following Easter ceremony. He was stunned by the radiant light coming from the icon and heard the Virgin Mary saying “Take me from here to where the virgins are gathered for I wish to go with them for obedience in Turkey”. And so, the icon arrived to the Heruvima Church where young women wanted to dedicate themselves to monastic life. After the liberation of Dobrogea from the Turkish reign, accompanied by pilgrims, the icon was brought to Celic Dere Monastery. Here, the archimandrite father, Athanasie, a group of priests and numerous faithful people greeted the icon. It is said that two of the monks were ill but the moment the icon passed over their heads, they instantly recovered.
Because of the war in 1916, the nuns had to seek refuge so they hid all their priceless possessions in cave inside the monastery grounds. During their first night in the recourse, the nun Singlitichia, the sexton on duty, dreamt of a voice coming from the icon telling her: “Take me from where you have hidden me for I am the one to protect you”. Thus, the nuns returned to the monastery and placed the icon back in the church. In the following two years, there were no incidents, in spite of the Bulgarian army occupation. Contrariwise, the icon was taken in numerous processions in neighboring villages and people would get help from the Virgin Mary.