The Legal Status of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reservation

• Author: Florica Brasoveanu
• Position: Assistant Professor, PhD, 'Ovidius' University of Constanta, The Faculty of Law and Administrative Sciences, Romania
• Pages: 337-342

Legal Sciences

337

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The Legal Status of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reservation

Florica Brasoveanu

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Abstract: In recent years the world has become aware that natural r esources are not inexhaustible, that many

species are threatened with extinction and that is is necessary to strive for judicious use of natural resources to

fulfill t he needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs

(principle of sustainable development). To conserve species and hab itats protected areas have been

established worldwide. The protected area is a geographically defined area, with rare natural elements and / or

endangered s pecies, regulated and managed in order to achieve specific conservation objectives. Although

ranked Europe's second in size (after the Volga River) and the 20

th

in the world, because of the rich landscape

and wildlife, with the birds ranked most important, the Danube D elta has a very special interest sc ientifically

as it is a natural laboratory of forming delta, tourism and economic ecosystems, through its r enewable natural

resources of which the most important resources are living aquatic resources.

Keywords: rotected area; environment; sustainable development; legal protection

1. Introduction

Danube Delta was included in the international network of biosphere reserves in the "Man and

Biosphere" to conserve the natural areas, ecosystems representative genetic resources capable of

maintaining and expanding plants and animals endangered or threatened program. Unlike other

protected areas, a Biosphere Reserve is not exclusive for protection but has several purposes, among

which only a few: conservation of ecosystems and balanced use of renewable natural resources, the

preservation of traditional forms of economic activity, which contribute to produce ecological

imbalances, research and continuous monitoring of protected ecosystems components, harmonizing

the interests of local population with the primary purpose of Biosphere-preservation (Gâtescu, &

tiuc, 2006)

In this study, in order to understand the importance of protection and sustainable exploitation of

aquatic resources within a reservation - the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, we presented the

concept of protected areas, types of protected areas and Danube Delta Biosphere Reservevation's place

nationally and internationally.

We know that natural resources are subject to various anthropogenic pressures. No aquatic resource

has escaped the impact of people directly (capture) or indirectly (destroying habitats and breeding

areas by drainage, dams, etc.). We summarized the impact of activities on the Delta over time with

emphasis on the impact on natural resources.

We have paid special attention to preserving the Delta as wetland of international importance that is

part of the Ramsard (Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl

Habitat

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). To conserve the rich biodiversity hosted by the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, the

Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration has developed (periodically) management plans that

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Assistant Professor, PhD, “Ovidius” University of Constanta, The Faculty of Law a nd Administrative Sciences, Romania.

Corresponding author: floriordache@yahoo.com.

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Ratified by Romania by Law no 5/1991 published in Official Monitor, part 1, no 18/26.01.1991.