IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Delta - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

Danube Delta

2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

SITE INFORMATION Country: Inscribed in: 1991 Criteria: (vii) (x)

The waters of the Danube, which flow into the , form the largest and best preserved of 's deltas. The hosts over 300 species of birds as well as 45 freshwater fish species in its numerous lakes and marshes. © UNESCO

SUMMARY

2020 Conservation Outlook Finalised on 02 Dec 2020

GOOD WITH SOME CONCERNS

The site’s unique features as the largest continuous marshland in Europe and the second-largest delta remain well-preserved overall, however, detailed up-to-date data are lacking for populations of many species. Concerns exist about ongoing threats from pollution, infrastructure development, illegal human activities and invasive species. Potential threats include those related to climate change and the further establishment of alien and invasive species within the site's . While the management of site shows many effective aspects, there are concerns about a more inclusive co-management, sustainable long- term financing, as well as enforcement, prevention of illegal activities and some other areas. The recently proposed legislative changes that would provide for weakening of existing restrictions on some types of activities in the Delta, are of high concern and if approved, would potentially significantly worsen the overall conservation outlook for this site. However, for now the overall conservation outlook for the site remains positive, mainly due to the overall good status of its values. Increasing management capacity and addressing the areas of concern will be required in the future to address potentially increasing pressures on the site. IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Danube Delta - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

FULL ASSESSMENT

Description of values

Values

World Heritage values

▶ The largest continuous marshland of Europe and the Criterion:(vii) second-largest delta

The Danue Delta is a uniquely dynamic relatively wild ecosystem with a rich diversity of habitats. It is the largest continuous marshland of Europe and it is the second-largest and best preserved delta, which probably includes the greatest stretch of reedbeds in the world. The marsh vegetation is dominated by reeds, which form floating or fixed islands of decaying vegetation. Reeds cover some 1,700 km2 and the floating reed islands (plaur) 1,000 km2, whereas the total area not inundated is only 148 km2 (UNEP-WCMC, 2012, IUCN 2014).

▶ Rare and threatened fauna, particularly avifauna Criterion:(x)

The Danube Delta is a dynamic, relatively wild ecosystem with a rich diversity of wetland habitats, as well as numerous lakes, ponds and marshes, which attract over 300 species of birds and 45 species of freshwater fish. It is the major remaining wetland on the flyway between central and Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean and Middle East and Africa. Of the ca. 312 species of bird that have been recorded, over 176 species breed, the most important being Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Pygmy Cormorant (Microcarbo pygmeus), White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus), which has 50% of the palaearctic breeding population there, and the globally vulnerable (Pelecanus crispus) (UNEP-WCMC 2012, IUCN 2017). There are numerous multi-species heron colonies and raptor species, including the globally endangered Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) and White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla). It is possible that White-headed duck still breed in the area (UNEP-WCMC 2012). Among migratory birds, notable species include several species of swans, both Greater and Lesser White- fronted Geese (Anser albifrons and A. erythropus, the latter globally vulnerable), and large populations of various ducks. The critically endangered Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) was last recorded there in 1989 (Green 1990). A large part of the wintering population of the globally vulnerable Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis) is found in the Danube Delta (IUCN 2017). There are also important populations of threatened mammals, such as the critically endangered European Mink (Mustela lutreola) and the globally near-threatened Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra), as well as of herpetofauna, such as the globally vulnerable Meadow viper (Vipera ursinii); the property harbours some 75 fish species, including Russian (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii), spiny sturgeon (Acipenser nudiventris) and European sturgeon (Huso huso), which are all critically endangered (UNEP-WCMC 2012, IUCN 2017).

Other important biodiversity values

▶ Wetland, river and coastal underpinning World Heritage values

The Danube Delta is inscribed on the World Heritage list under World Heritage criteria vii and x only, not under World Heritage criterion ix. However, its World Heritage values are underpinned by the functioning of wetland, river and coastal ecosystems, which therefore constitute important additional biodiversity values of the property. IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Danube Delta - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

Assessment information

Threats

Current Threats High Threat

Water pollution, illegal fishing, changes of the hydrological regime, infrastructure development and disturbance by unsuitable tourism activities, as well as associated intensification of navigation routes, all represent high threats which justify an overall assessment of current threats as “High Threat”.

▶ Water Pollution High Threat (Water pollution) Inside site, widespread(15-50%) Outside site Pollution carried downstream from catchment of the Danube upstream of the site represents a high threat with the introduction of pesticides, herbicides fertilizers and nutrients, salt, heavy metals and other pollutants causing negative impacts on the site (UNEP-WCMC 2012). Water pollution and the resulting in and corresponding algal blooms have had significant negative impact on the ecosystem (Euronews, 2013; Török et al., 2017) and species population dynamics, most notably on fish species, but may also affect piscivorous birds.

▶ Tourism/ Recreation Areas High Threat (Visitor accommodation and associated infrastructure) Inside site, localised(<5%) Outside site Increasing tourism in the region has been associated with development of accommodation facilities and other associated infrastructure such as expanded transportation networks. The number of hotels and associated infrastructure in the area has increased with concern arising over the sustainability the types of tourism being promoted (WHC, 2007, IUCN Consultation 2017a, b, UNEP-WCMC 2012)

▶ Fishing / Harvesting Aquatic Resources Data Deficient (Illegal fishing and hunting) Inside site, extent of threat not known Outside site Local, small scale fisheries represent one of the main sources of income for many of the local communities. Infringement of regulations on fishing still occurs despite actions jointly undertaken by various authorities (WHC 2007, IUCN Consultation 2017a, b), and there are concerns over how the fishery is managed (Teodorescu & van den Kommer, 2020). Whilst noted as a threat in this assessment, the lack of fisheries data of relevence to fish populations and ecosystems of the Danube Delta World Heritage site renders this data deficient.

▶ Shipping Lanes High Threat (River canalization and upstream establishment of water Inside site, scattered(5-15%) infrastructure) Outside site

Past canalization work along the relatively untouched river landscape of the Sfântul Gheorghe branch bypassed river and reduced use of lateral channels. The straightening accelerated the water flow, increased pollution and sedimentation, radically altering the pattern of alluvial deposition (UNEP- WCMC, 2012). This and upstream works which change the discharge dynamics of the Danube river are still affecting the functionality of the overall system through altered and siltation (IUCN Consultation 2017b). The relative increase on Southern branches compared to leads to increased rate of sedimentation in lakes (Begy et. al. 2018).

▶ Utility / Service Lines Low Threat (Power lines) Inside site, localised(<5%) Outside site A number of bird species, including endangered and vulnerable species, are at risk from collision with the many kilometres of electricity powerlines in the delta (UNEP-WCMC, 2012; LIFE Danube Free Sky, IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Danube Delta - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

2020), which also affect the aesthetic impression of the landscape.

▶ Tourism/ visitors/ recreation High Threat (Disturbance by tourism activities) Inside site, scattered(5-15%) Outside site Growing visitor numbers have also resulted in increased number of motors boats and other visitation- related disturbances. To prevent the negative impacts, the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority has developed Rules for navigation in the Danube Delta which introduced access and speed restrictions (WHC 2007, 2014, IUCN Consultation 2017a, UNEP-WCMC 2012).

▶ Invasive Non-Native/ Alien Species Data Deficient (Invasive species) Inside site, extent of threat not known Outside site A number of invasive species have been observed in the Danube, including the Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha), the river nerite (Theodoxus fluviatilis), and the Asian Clam (Corbicula flumines), the spread of which is mainly caused by the increasing interconnection of various European water bodies by canals and other waterways (ICDPR, 2014). There have also been reports of introduced, invasive fish species (UNEP-WCMC 2012), and of the crayfish plague, caused by the oomycete Aphanomyces astaci (Schrimpf et al., 2012). However, information is lacking on the current extent of this threat.

▶ Other Ecosystem Modifications High Threat (Land use changes) Inside site, scattered(5-15%)

Agricultural transformation throughout the lower delta as a whole by the subversion of watercourses through dykes and subsequent impacts of flood regime is of concern (WWF, 2019). In the absence of policies and financial mechanisms for wetland restoration and for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, the trend of increasing the agriculture land will have a significant negative impact on the natural processes in the Danube Delta, water regime and aquatic biodiversity (IUCN Consultation, 2020). Land use changes have already led to a decline in many important ecosystem services provided by Danube Delta and restoration efforts are required to reverse this trend (Gomez-Baggethun et al. 2019).

Potential Threats Low Threat

Climate change is one of the most serious threats to the site’s biodiversity, together with invasive species whose further spread would pose a serious threat to the native fauna of the Danube Delta. Further intensification of navigation – together with alterations of the flow regime - also represent potential threats to the site’s integrity. It is not possible to precisely predict the magnitude of these threats including their interactions, but emerging literature about the region including Danube Delta provides indirect proofs.

▶ Habitat Shifting/ Alteration, Droughts, Temperature Low Threat extremes Inside site, localised(<5%) (Climate change) Outside site

Possible consequences of climate change - frequent floods, long periods of drought, deteriorating water quality can have significant impact on the site’s biodiversity (WWF, 2013). Recent literature about the effects of climate changes in Eastern Romania (Minea, 2020) and in particular in the County (Prăvălie et al., 2020), to which Danube Delta belongs, demonstrates changes in the water balance and its impact on the vulnerability of water resources and on the primary production. In summer 2020, the first complete drought of a 800 ha lake has been registered (Nuntași lake). The particular position of the reserve in the Danube catchment may limit the impact to areas with low hydrological connectivity.

▶ Invasive Non-Native/ Alien Species High Threat (Additional invasive species) Inside site, extent of threat not known Outside site With increasing navigation and travel, there is# a significant but, as yet, difficult to quantify risk that IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Danube Delta - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

additional invasive species might be introduced.

▶ Shipping Lanes Data Deficient (Further river canalization) Inside site, extent of threat not known Outside site There is a potential threat from planned or proposed construction projects to ease navigation along the lower Danube, such as the Bystroe Canal, which was discussed heavily in the 2003-2008 period (UNEP- WCMC 2012). These might alter the hydrological regime and the functioning of the ecosystem on which the World Heritage values of the site depend.

Overall assessment of threats High Threat

Water pollution, illegal fishing, changes of the hydrological regime, infrastructure development and disturbance by unsuitable tourism activities, as well as associated intensification of navigation routes, all represent high threats to the integrity of the Danube Delta. They might be exacerbated by additional potential threats, in particular by climate change.

Protection and management

Assessing Protection and Management

▶ Management system Mostly Effective

The World Heritage site is managed by the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority under the coordination of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (State Party of Romania, 2014). A new management plan was approved in 2015 (IUCN Consultation, 2017b). While the management system of the site appears adequate and is being implemented (State Party of Romania, 2014), certain improvements to the governance of the system would further strengthen it, including a change of the decision-making process for the wider Danube Delta, including the clarification of the roles and responsibilities of different authorities and adequate consultation with main stakeholders, including local communities (IUCN Consultation, 2017; Tănăsescu and Constantinescu, 2020).

▶ Effectiveness of management system Some Concern

Whilst the management system is mostly effective, its effectiveness is somewhat impaired by concerns with regards to sustainable long-term financing and staffing, capacity development among staff, as well as the effectiveness of enforcement and prevention of illegal activities (IUCN Consultation 2017a, b).

▶ Boundaries Highly Effective

The boundaries of the site are adequate (State Party of Romania 2014). While extensive areas previously forming part of the Danube Delta were lost or degraded in the 1970s and 1980s (UNEP- WCMC 2012), no concerns in this regard have been expressed in the more recent past.

▶ Integration into regional and national planning systems Data Deficient

No specific information is available on the site’s integration into regional and national planning systems, including sea/landscape connectivity. There has apparently been cooperation with the management authorities of neighbouring and ecologically connected reserves in , but not in (UNEP- WCMC, 2012). European Structural Funds have been made available to aimed at achieving European standards on the environmental protection and economic development for the broader Danube Delta area, however challenges in remain and the effectiveness of schemes funded through these means could be further optimised (Bostan et al., 2019). IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Danube Delta - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

▶ Relationships with local people Mostly Effective

According to the past Periodic Reports, local communities have some input into discussions relating to management but no direct role in management (State Party of Romania, 2014). A need for more adequate consultation with main stakeholders has been noted (IUCN Consultation, 2017a) within the complex governance arrangement that occur throughout the Delta (Teampău et al., 2020).

▶ Legal framework Serious Concern

The legal framework governing the management of the Danube Delta includes Law 82/1993, completed by Law 454/2001, regarding the establishment of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, as well as Governmental Decision 248/1994, completed by the Governmental Decision 367/2002, regarding the implementation of the Law 82/1993, including zonation of the reserve, the Statute of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve and the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority. The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve is divided into strictly protected areas, surrounded by buffer zones. These two types of zones (with a total area of 273,900 ha) are part of the World Heritage site. The existence of a dedicated legal basis has been highlighted as a strength of the management of the site (IUCN Consultation 2017a). However, recently concerns have been expressed about attempts to change the legislation (The Danube delta law) in order to suit different unsustainable economic interests, with possible legislative changes being currently discussed by the Parliament, which would allow tourism in strictly protected areas and provide for some other potential land use changes, as well as possible provide for organic agriculture, including use of some chemicals, which is currently completely prohibited in the Danube Delta (IUCN Consultation, 2020).

▶ Law enforcement Mostly Effective

Capacity to enforce legislation and regulations in the World Heritage property was positively evaluated in the most recent Periodic Report (State Party of Romania 2014). However, the need for a more effective implementation of laws and management plans in Danube Delta together with a clarification of institutional responsibilities has been noted since (IUCN Consultation, 2017).

▶ Implementation of Committee decisions and Highly Effective recommendations

No decisions or recommendations to be implemented by the State Party have been taken since 2009 (WHC 2017).

▶ Sustainable use Some Concern

The main current benefits of the World Heritage site are related to tourism income (IUCN Consultation 2017b). However, concerns have been expressed previously regarding the extent of tourism impacts (World Heritage Committee, 2007), with a lack of strategic coordination at governmental and regional level in developing the industry sustainably (Postelnicu & Dabija, 2016). More rigorous regulation of tourism development in the area is needed to ensure its sustainability. Small scale fisheries are also an important part of many local economies surroundg the site , however challenges remain in their regulation (Teodorescu, D., & van den Kommer, 2020). Reduction in traditional grazing has led to changes in biodiversity in some land uses (White, 2019), whilst agricultural land transfromation in the wider Delta has caused issues with water flow and flooding regime (WWF, 2019).

▶ Sustainable finance Mostly Effective

The available levels of funding were assessed as "acceptable" by the 2014 Periodic Report (State Party of Romania, 2014). The funding mainly comes from governmental sources, with some additional income from individual visitor charges and international projects (State Party of Romania, 2014). A further increase in funding is needed to fully meet management needs, particularly adequate financial allocations directly for conservation measures in the delta (including the wetland restoration) (IUCN Consultation 2017a, b). IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Danube Delta - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

▶ Staff capacity, training, and development Some Concern

Available human resources were assessed as "below optimum" by the most recent Periodic Report, which rated staff availability as “fair” for most competence areas, but as “good” for conservation and administration and as “poor” for tourism (State Party of Romania, 2014). The overall need for improved staff training has been confirmed by the IUCN Consultation (2017a), although more recent information is not available.

▶ Education and interpretation programs Some Concern

A number of education and interpretation programmes exist, but further improvements need to be made to ensure better presentation and interpretation of the Outstanding Universal Value of the property (State Party of Romania 2014).

▶ Tourism and visitation management Some Concern

An overarching strategy for sustainable tourism development is needed to help prevent impacts from inappropriate tourism infrastructure development and uncontrolled tourism activities (IUCN Consultation 2017b).

▶ Monitoring Some Concern

The most recent monitoring report on the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve’s website (in Romanian) is from 2015 (Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve 2015). However, this report does not include detailed information on the status of bird populations and it is not clear to what extent this reports critical information on the state of World Heritage values, threats and management. Bird and fish populations are well studied in the Danube Delta (eg. Marinov et al. 2019). Detailed hydrological studies are present for some of the main branches (e,g. Duțu et al. 2018), and some inner areas (Venturini et al. 2018), but are missing inside most of the Delta. However, studies such as these do not consitute a comprehensive monitoring program, which precludes the effective establishment of management plans and systems, with current efforts at the protected area scale being based on scarce data (Hanganu et al., 2018).

▶ Research Mostly Effective

According to the State Party, scientific knowledge about the values of the World Heritage property is sufficient for most key areas but there are gaps; there is considerable research but it is usually not directed towards management needs and/or improving understanding of Outstanding Universal Value (State Party of Romania, 2014). The 2014 Periodic Report lists a number of relevant scientific publications from this work, some of them in English. In the last five years the number of quality publications has increased, but with a general focus on structural aspects, and less on the processes supporting the production of ecosystem services and societal benefits (IUCN Consultation, 2020).

Overall assessment of protection and management Some Concern

The protection and management of the site includes many positive elements, including recent efforts towards balancing the complex governance systems and land use patterns throughout the Danube catchment, which inevitably effects the ecosystems conserved within the site as well as a wealth of research into the values themselves. However, concerns remain with regards to key areas of the management of the site, i.e. relationship with local people, integration into regional and national planning systems, monitoring, sustainable use, tourism management, and enforcement. More sustainable financing has been a long-standing need to address these aspects of management, however recently established funding and projects (eg. Rewilding Europe) seek to do so. The recently proposed legislative changes which would loosen restrictions regarding activities such as tourism in the strictly protected area are of high concern and if approved, carry the potential to negatively impact the values of the site. IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Danube Delta - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

▶ Assessment of the effectiveness of protection and Some Concern management in addressing threats outside the site

There are strategic efforts to link the Danube Delta problems management with the upstream floodplain and catchment, but with mixed results. Restoration examples of Danube’s islands upstream of and inside Danube Delta are very few (Mansourian et al., 2019). However recent funds and prjects have been established towards these goals (Rewilding Europe, 2018; Bostan et al., 2019).

State and trend of values

Assessing the current state and trend of values

World Heritage values

▶ The largest continuous marshland of Europe and the Low Concern second-largest delta Trend:Stable

The site’s unique features as the largest continuous marshland in Europe and the second-largest delta remain well-preserved in general, but the continued impact of a number of threats is cause for some (low) concern.

▶ Rare and threatened fauna, particularly avifauna Data Deficient Trend:Data Deficient

No significant changes in populations of key indicator species have been reported since the site’s inscription on the World Heritage List. However, this may be a result of a lack of systematic monitoring, as monitoring reports of the Danube Delta biosphere reserve do not report trends in bird abundance and species richness. The “Saving Pelecanus crispus in the Danube Delta” LIFE Project has led to some positive results, including stabilized breeding populations in some sites (Project layman report, 2009). However, a mass mortality event due to H5N1 avian influenza killed 108 Dalmatian pelicans in 2015 (Kiss et al. 2016). A new breeding species (Ruddy Shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea) was reported by the same authors, and some other locally rare species were confirmed to have established breeding populations in the site. As for freshwater fish species, industrial fishing has had a dramatic impact on certain species, such as sturgeon. Despite the introduced fishing ban for these species, a number of species remain under threat, However, detailed information is also not available (UNEP-WCMC 2012, Euronews, 2013).

Summary of the Values

▶ Assessment of the current state and trend of World Low Concern Heritage values Trend: Data Deficient

The site’s unique features as the largest continuous marshland in Europe and the second-largest delta remain well-preserved overall, with low concern. The site’s biodiversity appears to be relatively intact, but systematic monitoring data to assess its conservation state and the multiple threats to which they are likely subject to are unavailable.

▶ Assessment of the current state and trend of other Low Concern important biodiversity values Trend: Stable

The wetland, river and coastal ecosystems underpinning World Heritage values of the Danube Delta appear in acceptable state generally, but there are some concerns regarding impaired ecosystem IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Danube Delta - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

function as a result of pollution, erosion, land use change, and siltation.

Additional information

Benefits

Understanding Benefits

▶ Fishing areas and conservation of fish stocks

Fishing represents an important source of income for local communities. However, better enforcement of fishing regulations is needed (IUCN Consultation 2017a, b). Factors negatively affecting provision of this benefit : - Pollution : Impact level - High - Overexploitation : Impact level - High, Trend - Increasing

▶ Outdoor recreation and tourism

The site is major tourism destination for national and international tourists (WHC 2014, IUCN Consultation 2017a, b). Factors negatively affecting provision of this benefit : - Pollution : Impact level - Moderate - Overexploitation : Impact level - Moderate, Trend - Increasing - Habitat change : Impact level - Low

▶ Sustainable extraction of materials (e.g. coral, shells, resin, rubber, grass, rattan, etc)

Reed as building material is an important benefit for local and national beneficiaries (IUCN Consultation 2017a). Factors negatively affecting provision of this benefit : - Habitat change : Impact level - Low

▶ Wilderness and iconic features, Cultural identity and sense of belonging

The Danube Delta provides ample cultural services and has supported the production of numerous works of art (IUCN Consultation 2017a). Factors negatively affecting provision of this benefit : - Pollution : Impact level - Moderate - Overexploitation : Impact level - Moderate - Habitat change : Impact level - Low

▶ Importance for research

The delta also is a pilot area for research and education (IUCN Consultation 2017b).

▶ Carbon sequestration, Water provision (importance for water quantity and quality)

The Danube Delta contributes to purification of water, carbon sequestration and climate regulation (IUCN Consultation 2017a) IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Danube Delta - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

Factors negatively affecting provision of this benefit : - Pollution : Impact level - High - Overexploitation : Impact level - Moderate - Habitat change : Impact level - Low

Summary of benefits

The landscapes and ecosystems of the Danube Delta provide a wide range of supporting, provisioning, regulatory and cultural ecosystem services, which offer ample benefits to local and national inhabitants as well as international visitors, in terms of food and building materials, tourism and recreation, the production and dissemination of art and knowledge, as well as the maintenance of a healthy living environment.

Projects

Compilation of active conservation projects

№ Organization Brief description of Active Projects Website

1 Danube Delta Data Deficient www.ddni.ro National Institute for Research and Development

2 Romanian Data Deficient www.sor.ro Ornitological Society

3 WWF Romania Data Deficient

4 Rewilding Europe 'Working with partners, the rewilding team is working to significantly https://rewilding improve the ecological integrity and natural functioning of 40,000 europe.com/area hectares of wetland and terrestrial delta habitat, using rewilding s/danube-delta/ principles at on a landscape scale.' IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Danube Delta - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

REFERENCES

№ References

1 Begy, R. C., Simon, H., Kelemen, S., & Preoteasa, L. (2018). Investigation of sedimentation rates and dynamics in Danube Delta lake system (Romania) by 210Pb dating method. Journal of environmental radioactivity, 192, pp.95-104.

2 Bostan, I., Lazar, C. M., Asalos, N., Munteanu, I., & Horga, G. M. (2019). The three-dimensional impact of the absorption effects of European funds on the competitiveness of the SMEs from the Danube Delta. Industrial Crops and Products, 132, pp.460-467.

3 Conservation Measures Partnership (2013). Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation. Version 3.0 / April 2013. CMP. Accessed on 26 August 2017 at http://cmp-openstandards.org/wp- content/uploads/2014/03/CMP….

4 Domisch, S., Kakouei, K., Martínez-López, J., Bagstad, K. J., Magrach, A., Balbi, S., ... & Hermoso, V. (2019). Social equity shapes zone-selection: Balancing aquatic biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services delivery in the transboundary Danube River Basin. Science of the Total Environment, 656, pp.797-807.

5 Duţu, F., Panin, N., Ion, G., & Tiron Duţu, L. (2018). Multibeam Bathymetric Investigations of the Morphology and Associated Bedforms, Channel, Danube Delta. Geosciences, 8(1), pp.7.

6 Euronews 2013. Danube Delta’s unique habitat under threat, say experts. News item, accessed on 29 August 2017 at http://www.euronews.com/2013/12/19/danube-delta-s-unique-ha….

7 European Commission 2009. “Saving Pelecanus crispus in the Danube Delta”. Project layman report of LIFE project. Accessed on 30 August 2017 at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index….

8 Green, R. 1990. The Ornithological Importance of the Danube Delta and -Sinoie. Draft prepared for international mission 1990.

9 Gómez-Baggethun, E., Tudor, M., Doroftei, M., Covaliov, S., Năstase, A., Onără, D. F., ... & Teodorof, L. (2019). Changes in ecosystem services from wetland loss and restoration: An ecosystem assessment of the Danube Delta (1960–2010). Ecosystem Services, 39, 100965.

10 Hanganu, J., Constantinescu, A., Doroftei, M., & Tošić, K. (2018). Investigation of the effects of multiple pressures in the lower Danube basin. Water and environment journal, 32(2), pp.217-228.

11 Hockings, M., R. James, S. Stolton, N. Dudley, V. Mathur, J. Makombo, J. Courrau, J. Parrish (2008). Enhancing our Heritage Toolkit. Assessing management effectiveness of natural World Heritage sites. Paris: UNESCO. 108 pp. Accessed on 29 August 2017 at http://whc.unesco.org/en/series/23/.

12 ICDPR 2014. Accessed on 30 August 2017 at http://www.icpdr.org

13 IUCN 2017. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2017-1. Accessed on 29 August at http://www.iucnredlist.org/search.

14 IUCN Consultation 2017. World Heritage Outlook Consultation form, Respondent 1. World Heritage Site: Danube Delta. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.

15 IUCN Consultation 2017. World Heritage Outlook Consultation form, Respondent 2. World Heritage Site: Danube Delta. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.

16 Kiss, B. J., V. Alexe, A. C. Doroşencu, T. Ceico, N. B. Kiss, M. E. Marinov 2016. Recent data on the Danube Delta (Romania) avifauna from the 2014 and 2015 summer seasons. Acrocephalus 37 (168/169): 85–92. IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Danube Delta - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

№ References

17 LIFE Danube Free Sky. (2020). [online] Available at: https://www.danubefreesky.eu/ [Accessed 29 November 2020].

18 Mansourian, S., Doncheva, N., Valchev, K. and Vallauri, D. (2019). Lessons Learnt from 20 Years of Floodplain Forest Restoration: the Lower Danube Landscape. [online] Paris: WWF France, WWF report, Field series, Experiences in Forest Landscape Restoration, 40 pages. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Daniel_Vallauri/public… (Accessed on 12 August 2019).

19 Marinov, M., Dorosencu, A., Alexe, V., Bolboaca, L. E., Kiss, J. B., Nanu, C., ... & Tudor, M. (2019). Recent data regarding colonial waterbirds in Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (Romania). Journal of Environmental Protection and Ecology, 20(1), pp.276-284.

20 Minea I. (2020) The vulnerability of water resources from Eastern Romania to anthropic impact and climate change, in A. M. Negm et al. (eds.), Water Resources Management in Romania, Switzerland AG: Springer Verlag, pp.229-250

21 P. Gâştescu, R. Ştiucă. Danube Delta, Biosphere Reserve, Ed. CD PRESS, 2008.

22 P. Gâştescu, W. Lewis, Jr., P. Breţcan, Water resources and , Conference proceedings, 14-16 September 2012, Tulcea, Romania, Ed. Transversal, 2012

23 Postelnicu, C., & Dabija, D. C. (2016). Challenges and development prospects for . Ecoforum, 5(1), 84-89.

24 Prăvălie, R., Sîrodoev, I., Patriche C., Roșca, B., Piticar, A., Bandoc, G., Sfîcă, L., … & Iordache, Ș., (2020) The impact of climate change on agricultural in Romania. A country-scale assessment based on the relationship between climatic water balance and maize yields in recent decades. Agricultural Systems, 179, 102767.

25 Rewilding Europe. (2018). Danube Delta receives major grant to enable record-breaking restoration. 8 October, [online] Endangered Landscapes Initiative, Cambridge, UK. Available at: https://rewildingeurope.com/news/danube-delta-receives-majo… (Accessed on 12 August 2019).

26 Rewilding Europe. (2019). Danube Delta. [online] Available at: https://rewildingeurope.com/areas/danube-delta/ (Accessed 03 September 2019).

27 Schrimpf, A., L. Pârvulescu, D. Copilaș-Ciocianu, A. Petrusek and R. Schulz 2012. Crayfish plague pathogen detected in the Danube Delta – a potential threat to freshwater biodiversity in southeastern Europe. Aquatic Invasions 7 (4): 503–510.

28 State Party of Romania 2014. Periodic Report, Romania - Section II-Danube Delta. Accessed on 29 August 2017 at http://whc.unesco.org/archive/periodicreporting/EUR/cycle02….

29 Teampău, P. (2020). Trouble in paradise: Competing discourses and complex governance in the Romanian danube delta. Marine Policy, 112, 103522.

30 Teodorescu, D., & van den Kommer, M. (2020). Economic Decline, Fishing Bans, and Obstructive Politics: Is there a Future for Small-Scale Fisheries in Romania’s Danube Delta?. In Small-Scale Fisheries in Europe: Status, Resilience and Governance (pp. 47-67). Springer, Cham.

31 Tomazatos, A., Marschang, R. E., Maranda, I., Baum, H., Bialonski, A., Spînu, M., ... & Cadar, D. (2020) Letea virus: comparative genomics and phylogenetic analysis of a novel reassortant orbivirus discovered in grass snakes (Natrix natrix), Viruses, 12, pp.243.

32 Török, L., Török, Z., Carstea, E. M., & Savastru, D. (2017). Seasonal Variation of Eutrophication in Some Lakes of Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. Water Environment Research, 89(1), 86-94.

33 Tănăsescu, M., Constantinescu, S., (2020) The human ecology of Danube Delta: A historic and cartographic perspective. Journal of Environmental Management, 262, 110324. IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Danube Delta - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

№ References

34 UNEP-WCMC 2012. Danube Delta - Romania. UNEP-WCMC World Heritage Information Sheets. Cambridge (UK): UNEP-WCMC. Accessed on 29 August 2017 at https://www.unep-wcmc.org/resources- and-data/world-heritage….

35 Venturini, A. B., Assumpção, T. H., Popescu, I., Jonoski, A., & Solomatine, D. P. (2019). Modelling support to citizen observatories for strategic Danube Delta planning: Sontea-Fortuna case study. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2018.1523787.

36 WWF (2007). Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool. Reporting Progress at Protected Area Sites. 2nd edition. Gland (Switzerland): WWF.

37 WWF, 2013. Vulnerability of Danube Delta (Moldova, Romania, Ukraine) to climate change including scenarios and forecasts of climate change.

38 WWF. (2019). Experiences in Forest Landscape Restoration: Lessons Learnt from 20 Years of Floodplain Forest Restoration: the Lower Danube Landscape. {online] Available at: https://www.wwf.fr/sites/default/files/doc-2020-01/202001_R… [Access 28 November 2020].

39 White, L. (2019). Konik horses introduced to the Danube Delta. 10 April, [online] Discover Wildlife, London, UK. Available at: https://www.discoverwildlife.com/news/konik-horses-introduc… (Accessed on 12 August 2019).

40 World Heritage Centre 2007. State Party Report, Romania. Accessed on 29 August 2017.

41 World Heritage Centre 2017. The World Heritage List: Danube Delta, Romania. Documents. Accessed on 29 August 2017 at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/588/documents/.