VOLUM OMAGIAL - Facultatea de Ştiinţe ale Naturii şi Ştiinţe Agricole

Ovidius University Annals of Natural Sciences, Biology – Ecology Series Volume 14, 2010
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN CONSTANŢA COUNTY
Silvia TURCU*, Marcela POPOVICI**, Loreley JIANU**
*Ovidius University of Constanţa, Doctoral School, Biology Domain,
Mamaia Avenue, No. 124, Constanţa, 900552, Romania, sscturcu@yahoo.com
** Environmental Protection Agency Constanţa, Unirii Street, No. 23, Constanţa, 900532
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Abstract: Nature conservation is the action taken by human society to maintain and perpetuation of species of
plants and animals. Recognition of the value of biodiversity in Constanta County is done by the special
protection of habitats and species for an important number of protected areas. The main instrument governing the
activities taking place at the perimeter and adjacent of natural areas is management plan of protected area, in
accordance with existing environmental legislation.
Keywords: biodiversity conservation, protected areas, administration and custody, Constanţa County.
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1. Introduction
Nature Conservation is the action taken by
human society to maintain and perpetuation of
species of plants and animals [1]. In our country, to
provide special measures of protection and
biodiversity conservation, was instituted a tiered
system of protection, conservation and use,
according to the following categories of protected
areas: national interest (scientific reserves, national
parks, natural monuments, nature reserves, natural
parks), the international interest (natural sites of
universal natural heritage, geoparks, wetlands of
international importance, biosphere reserves), the
community interest or Natura 2000 sites (sites of
Community Importance, Special Areas of
Conservation Areas Special Protection Bird) or
local interest [2].
2. Results and Discussions
In Constanţa County, there are over 900
species spermatophytes present, most of these are
characteristic species of steppe and forest steppe
habitats, over 200 species of vascular flora of
national interest, with varying degrees of
vulnerability, some of these are endemic species
[3].
Fauna of Constanţa County is characterized
by great wealth, represented by more than 345
vertebrate taxa - 45 species of mammals, 243 birds,
19 species of reptiles, 10 species of amphibians and
28 species of fish - and a significant number of
invertebrates [3].
In Constanţa County, natural and semi-natural
habitats, found in all environments (aquatic,
terrestrial and subterranean), are classified into
seven classes (coastal and halophilic communities,
continental water, scrub and grassland, forests,
marshes and wetlands, screes, rock and continental
sands and agricultural land and artificial
landscapes) which include 58 types of natural
habitat and ruderal communities (agricultural land
and artificial landscapes) [4].
Thus, since 1970, a number of valuable areas
in terms of biodiversity were declared reserves by
decisions of Constanţa County People’s Council.
In 2000, only two of the previously declared
protected natural areas remains areas of local
interest (Table 1), for the rest of these, by Law
5/2000 [5] is nationally recognized protected area
status.
In coming years, new laws were imposed on
other areas of protected area status of national
interest: Government Decision 2151/2004 [6],
Government Decision 1581/2005 [7], Government
Decision 1143/2007 [8] and currently totaling 36
protected natural areas of national interest (Table
2).
Since joining the European Union in 2007,
Romania has emerged as one of the nations that
have a true natural heritage, with many protected
ISSN-1453-1267 © 2010 Ovidius University Press