The long-term objective of the project, in conjunction with various other projects and initiatives under the umbrella of environmental policy frameworks, is to protect or rehabilitate the valuable ecosystems of the Danube River.
Pilot project The project focuses on the Camu Dinu islet area as a pilot study, to be extended in future to other areas with important ecological values in the Danube floodplain areas. Areas of importance along the Romanian-Bulgarian border will be identified for this purpose.
Survey ecological status Flora, fauna and habitat inventories and surveys, combined with surveys of related environmental parameters, must enable the environmental agencies to establish the current ecological status of the Danube and its floodplains, followed by regular monitoring to record new developments and trends. Institutional and material support and training of key-staff must guarantee a level of equipment, knowledge and expertise to the Romanian agencies to enable them to execute these tasks independently.
Data storage The information collected through inventories and subsequent monitoring will be stored in electronic format (GIS, databases etc.). The IT infrastructure must enable access and data exchange between parties involved.
European Union The Water Framework Directive and Birds and Habitat Directives of the European Union provide legal guidelines for the project implementation. This fits in the larger picture of Romanian access to the European Union. Compliance with Romanian environmental policies and frameworks and the Natura 2000 network related documents would further guarantee integration of the project in the national and European environmental context.
Royal Haskoning’s services The services provided by Royal Haskoning included:
• project and process management;
• status assessment and analysis of river basin area through the flora and fauna habitat;
• inventories and surveys, and surveys of related environmental parameters;
• data collection and analysis;
• data storage (GIS) and access for easy data exchange (Internet); and
• communication and training.
Frank Keukelaar
T +31 (0)24 3284193
E Frank Keukelaar