Protected areas of Romania explained

This is a list of protected areas of Romania.

About 5.18% of the area of Romania has a protected status (12,360 km²), including the Danube Delta, which makes half of these areas (2.43% of Romania's area).

National parks

There are 14 national parks totaling 3,223 km²:

Name	Area (ha)	Year of establishment	Year of declaration
	4,186	2005	2005
	24,041	1975	2000
	7,742.5	1995	2000
	6,575	1990	2000
	36,758	1990	2000
	17,100	1966	2000
	446,100(on Romanian territory)	1991	2000
	61,211	1982	2000
	11,127	2005	2005
	11,151.82	2000	2000
Rodna Mountains^[1]	47,177	1990	2000
	14,773	1938	2000
Retezat^[2]	38,047	1935	2000
	36,664	1982	2000

Proposed hunting

The Romanian parliament discussed in September 2008 a bill aiming to open 13 national parks to sustainable hunting, in order to manage the wildlife biodiversity in these areas and promote greater tourism and the accompanying revenue necessary to support and maintain the parks.^[3] However, after several protests from environmental organizations, the law was rejected by President Traian Băsescu.^[4] Nowadays, hunting is prohibited in national parks of Romania.

Natural parks

There are 17 natural parks totaling 5,492.33 km²:

Name	Area (ha)	Year of establishment	Year of declaration
	75,784	1990	2000
	17,529	1978	2000
	32,663	1974	2000
	5,002	2010	2010
	9,873	2000	2000
	24,963	2005	2005
	993	1963	2000
	38,184	1979	2000
	1,023.92	2005	2005
Iron Gates^[5] ^[6]	115,665.8	1990	2000
	8,247	2005	2005
	148,850	2004	2004
	106.5	2005	2005
	171.66	2005	2005
	30,204	2004	2004
	9,156	2007	2007
	30,818	1999	2000

Natural reserves

Natural reserves are natural areas protected by law in order to protect and conserve important habitats and natural species. The dimensions of natural reserves vary and depend on the area needed by protected natural elements. Besides scientific activities, the administrations of natural reserves encourage traditional activities and ecotourism that do not affect the natural landscape. Here is not permitted to use natural resources.

There are 617 natural reservations totaling 2,043.55 km².

Scientific reserves

Scientific reserves are also protected areas that, like the previous ones, aim at protection and preservation of natural habitats. The difference is that scientific reserves can not be visited by tourists. These areas typically contain rare plant and animal species or particular natural elements, reason why here are prohibited any human activities, excepting research and education activities. Entry without permission in scientific reserves is punishable by considerable fines.

There are 55 such reservations totaling 1,112.77 km².

Natural monuments

There are 234 natural monuments totaling 77.05 km².

External links

World Resources Institute

Notes and References

Web site: Rodnei Mountains National Park.
Web site: Retezat . UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory.
Web site: Legea nr. 215/2008 pentru modificarea şi completarea Legii vânătorii şi a protecţiei fondului cinegetic nr. 407/2006 . Lege5 . 2015-11-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208081917/http://lege5.ro/Gratuit/gezdmnrxgm/legea-nr-215-2008-pentru-modificarea-si-completarea-legii-vanatorii-si-a-protectiei-fondului-cinegetic-nr-407-2006 . 2015-12-08 . dead .
Cum au fost salvate de glontul pustii animalele din Parcurile Nationale ale Romaniei . Formula AS . 2009 . 851 . Bogdana Tihon Buliga . 2015-11-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208053521/http://www.formula-as.ro/2009/851/ecologie-14/cum-au-fost-salvate-de-glontul-pustii-animalele-din-parcurile-nationale-ale-romaniei-10629 . 2015-12-08 . dead .
Web site: După Delta Dunării, o nouă rezervație a biosferei în România . Green Report . Cosmin Zaharia . 2 October 2015.
Web site: Parcul Porțile de Fier, rezervație a biosferei . Digi24 . 5 October 2015.