Lower Prut Lakes –Ramsar Site

R. Moldova current situation, perspectives and achievements

Description of the Lower Prut Region

Coordinates: 45°42'N 28°11'E Area: 19 152 ha

Location: Lower Prut Lakes were included in Ramsar Site 1029;

(WI Site 3MD001) on 20-06-2000.

The site is situated between Cahul town and Giurguilesti village in the lower part of the Prut River valley, within

the administrative region of Cahul rayon, in the southwestern part of the Republic of Moldova. The

River Prut forms the western border of the site as well as the state border with Romania.

A GREEN CORRIDOR OF LOWER DANUBE

“LOWER DANUBE” EUROREGION

Founded on 14.08.1998

• Republic of Moldova:

Cahul and Cantemir Rayon.

• Romania: Braila, Galati si Tulcea Counties

• Ukraine: Odessa region.

• The Manta Lakes are situated in the Lower Prut valley. This is one of the biggest lake complexes in Moldova. Surface of 24 km². In the Northern part of the lake , at the beginning 1970s “Cahul Regional Piscicultural Nursery” was established. It administrates 1493.39 ha. Nowadays, this is stationing.

• Roman Emperor Trajan’s wall. Archaeological Monument

from cen. II AD build by Romans on a length of about 126km from the Prut river (village Vadul lui Isac, R.Moldova) to Lake Sasac (near Tatarbunar, Ukraine). Its height does not exceed 1.5-3 m

• The Valeni geological outcrop (3 hectares). It is a

section, characteristic of the Upper Pliocene alluvial deposits with fluvial molluscs shells of Levantine type and Tamanian and Moldovian (“Rousillon”) land-mammal assemblages.

• In 1991, "Lower Prut" ("Prutul de Jos") State

Reservation was established with a total area of 1 691 ha. This Reservation includes Beleu Lake (800 ha) and adjoining meadows. The depth of the lake varies between 0.5 and 4 m.

Specific features of the natural environment Importance:

The site contains the largest natural lakes in Moldova: Beleu and Manta. These lakes are unique ecosystems, described as the last natural floodplains in the lower Danube region. The site supports the globally vulnerable and endangered mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish species.

Total:

39 mammals,

203 birds,

5 reptiles,

9 amphibians

41 fish species

Socio-Economic Aspects of the Region

• Population:

Cahul town– 47 000 population

10 rural localities:

1. Crihana Veche – 4 542 population

2. Pascani – 1 080 population

3. Manta – 2 953 population

4. Vadul-lui-Isac – 3 131 population

5. Colibasi – 5 965 population

6. Brinza – 2 425 population

7. Valeni – 3 332 population

8. Slobozia Mare – 5 897 population

9. Chislita-Prut – 1 362 population

10. Giurjiulesti - 3 195 population

Total rural population – 33 882

Employment

Agriculture – 98%

Services – 1,9%

Industry – 0,07%

Fishing– 0,01%

others– 0,02%

Tourism development in the region Wine road in Moldova - Gold of Grapes. Toward the South of the Republic"

Future Projects: Setting up of the Cross-border multifunctional protected area (Phase II)

Danube Biosphere

Reserve (Ua)

Danube Delta

Biosphere Reserve

(Ro)

Natural Park Lunca Joasa a Prutului Inferior (Ro)

Lower Prut Lakes

(Ramsar Site)

(Md)

Future Projects: Setting up of the Cross-border multifunctional protected area (Phase II)

• Romania

Danube Delta Biosphere Reservation - 5 800 Km2

Natural Park Lower Meadow of Lower Prut – 82,5 km2

• Ukraine

Danube Biosphere Reservation

464 km2

• Republic of Moldova

Lower Prut Lakes

191,5 km2

Total area

6 538 km2

DANUBEPARKS - Network Of Protected Areas

1.Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve 10.Gornje Podunavlje Special Nature Reserve

2.Lower Prut Nature Reserve 11.Duna-Dráva National Park

3.Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Reserve 12.Duna-Ipoly National Park

4.Kalimok-Brushlen Protected Site 13.Fertö-Hánsag National Park

5.Rusenski Lom Nature Park 14.Dunajské Luhy Protected Landscape Area

6.Persina Nature Park 15.Záhorie Protected Landscape Area

7.Đerdap National Park 16.Donau-Auen National Park

8.Lonjsko Polje Nature Park 17.Donauauwald Neuburg-Ingolstadt

9.Kopački rit Nature Park

Project: Consolidation of the nature protected areas´ network for biodiversity protection and sustainable development in the Danube

Delta and Lower Prut river region– PAN Nature Partners

1. “Danube Delta” Biosphere Reserve Administration (Applicant), Romania

2. Danube Biosphere Reserve of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Ukraine

3. Lower Prut Natural Reserve, Republic of Moldova

4. Danube River Basin Management Department, Ukraine

5. Ministry for Environment, Republic of Moldova

6. Cahul County Council, Republic of Moldova

7. ”Moldsilva” Agency, Republic of Moldova

8. State Department for Environmental Protection in the Odessa Oblast, Ukraine

9. Centre for Regional Studies Centre for Regional Studies, Ukraine

Budget – 2,285,248 Euro

Main activities of the project in the Republic of Moldova:

Assisting with establishing a Biosphere Reserve in the Lower Prut area;

Develop documentation to establish the Reserve;

Develop the draft regulations required for the establishment of the Reserve;

Restore, expand and provide the necessary equipment to set up the headquarters for the Biosphere Administration in the Lower Prut area

Thank you for attention