Intermediate Scientific and Technical Report
Stage no. 4: Assessment of the Natura 2000 animal species distribution

Summary for this stage

The 2009 stage addressed the following project objective:
Objective 2 – Research on the scientific substantiation of the process of implementing the Natura 2000 SCI network in Romania, and implicitly integrating it into the European network.
Activity IV.1. (III.2.) – Charting the distribution of HD Annex II animal species, within SCIs.

The following results were obtained:

The investigation process of the Natura 2000 animal species in Romania implies, besides obtaining the taxonomical, ecological and ethological information, an assessment of the species distribution, their areal. 
To this purpose, all the distribution data cited by verified scientific sources (scientific literature, scientific collections, data bases, etc.) were critically analyzed, confirmation field trips were organized, and new locations identified. Thus, exhaustive distribution sheets were compiled, and the representation level of a species in the SCIs from a certain bioregion was estimated
The data were used for GIS mapping the distribution of all the studied Natura 2000 animal species (122 species) in Romania.
Distribution mapping is essential for implementing the long term protection strategy for the Natura 2000 animal species cited in Annex II of the Habitats Directive, as required by EU.

Intermediate Scientific and Technical Report
Stage no. 3: Assessment of the Natura 2000 network components conservation status – SCIs

Summary for this stage

The 2009 stage addressed 3 of the project objectives:
Objective 1. – Strengthening the adequate scientific frame for the implementation of Natura 2000 legislation in Romania.
Activity III.6. – Maintaining the project website.
Objective 2. – Research on the scientific substantiation of the process of implementing the Natura 2000 SCI network in Romania, and implicitly integrating it into the European network.
Activity III.3. – Preliminary research on the scientific substantiation of long-term management in the studied site network.
Objective 4. – Implementing the EU requests pertaining to the information and awareness-raising within the civil society on the Natura 2000 concept.
Activity III.4. – Processing the scientific information on the Natura 2000 concept, to increase its accessibility for the general public.
Activity III.5. – Elaboration of promotional materials needed for information dissemination and awareness-raising in the interested factors.

The following results were obtained:

Activity III.3. - Preliminary research on the scientific substantiation of long-term management in the studied site network.
Starting from the European legislation and the need for its implementation in Romania, we structured the steps for implementing the management plans for the sites of community interest, designated on the Habitats Directive. In this context, an estimation was made of the potential of the impact categories identified in the 201 sites selected, among the 273 designated in total, on the presence of the Natura 2000 animal species. At the same time, for each of the 122 Natura 2000 species the habitat requirements were cited; the correlations between these two sets of data going to be explored in the next stage of the project (2010).
The second step accomplished the documentation concerning  the key chapter to  each Management Plan for each protected aria, by default a community interest site, namely the Description of the Biological Environment. To ensure the message clarity, a case study was selected, namely Platoul Mehedinţi. The scope and objectives were presented, as well as actual data referring to the internal structure and zoning of the site, in accordance to the listed permitted and forbidden activities, an extensive presentation of the biological diversity structure was given, emphasizing on the Natura 2000 elements. The management measures established for each group of special protective interest were thoroughly detailed. The documentation is followed by explicative tables and maps.

Activity III.4. - Processing the scientific information on the Natura 2000 concept, to increase its accessibility for the general public.
Among the foreseen products of the project is the drawing up of a scientific documentation, meant to assure the long term protection of the Natura 2000 animal species, cited in the Annex II of the Habitats Directive, in accordance to the EU specifications, and accessible to all focus groups involved in nature protection. 
The book “Speciile de animale Natura 2000 din România” is among the results foreseen by this project.
For each species a questionnaire-sheet was compiled, comprising data on: present taxonomical status, protective status, identification elements, the SCIs in which the species is well represented, the species biology, the protective measures enforced (especially the legislative ones), and the special protection problems are highlighted.
Each sheet is accompanied by cited literature, national distribution maps and a picture of the animal.
The paper assembles the base information, absolutely indispensible for all the factors involved in the management and monitoring of the Romanian Natura 2000 animal species, and any nature-loving person.

Activity III.5. - Elaboration of promotional materials needed for information dissemination and awareness-raising in the interested factors.
The book “Speciile de animale Natura 2000 din România”, editors: Victoria Tatole, Alexandru Iftime and Florentin Cojocariu, authors: Victoria Tatole, Alexandru Iftime, Melanya Stan, Elena-Iulia Iorgu, Ionuţ Iorgu and Vasile Oţel, was published in 1000 ex. The book has 174 pg.

Activity III.6. - Maintaining the project website.
Support activity of updating the project site with information on its development.
The site was built in accordance to the CNMP recommendations. We consider that the maintenance of the http://www.speciianron2000.ro/ site is useful as an information tool on the general stage of the project, being at the same time un inter-partner working tool needed for data basis building (one of the project’s foreseen results).

Intermediate Scientific and Technical Report
Stage no. 2: Taxonomical, zoogeographical and ecological research of the animal species listed in the Annex II to the Habitats Directive

Summary for this stage

The 2008 stage addressed 2 of the project objectives:
Objective 1: Strengthening the adequate scientific frame for Natura 2000 legislation in Romania.
The foreseen activities for tackling this objective are represented by the Round Table that took place between 24-26 March 2008 and the project website launching and maintaining.
Objective 2: Research regarding the scientific substantiation for the process of implementing the Natura 2000 SCI network in Romania and implicitly its integration in the European network.

The following results were obtained:

Activity II.1. – Starting the sampling and data processing process (field trips; other sources) regarding the taxonomy, zoogeography and ecology of each animal species listed in the Annex II DH, in order to assure their preservation and sustainable development. Data basis development
The research of the 122 Natura 2000 animal species regarded:

The taxonomical investigations focused on nomenclature, classification (changes in taxonomic level), systematic revisions (that also took into account the DNA sequence analysis), hybridation and intergrading. Most problems were recorded in the genera Alosa, Barbus, Sabanejewia, Cobitis, Zingel, Triturus.
The zoogeographic investigations concentrated on the species general distribution analysis, species areal assessment and the fraction of it represented by the populations in our country. Thus were gathered the arguments needed for a correct classification of the Romanian Natura 2000 species in distribution categories, from wide distributed (noted as “C”) to endemic (noted as “A”). This classification relayed on the general distribution data and not on the national data, as wrongly done sometimes.
The ecological investigations were needed for planning the final monitoring and management strategies for each of the studied species. Starting from the habitat requirements of each species and the risk estimates for each site where the species was identified, the real conservation status of the species was assessed.
In 2008 new, original data was gathered in the field for 40 Natura 2000 species.
A special case is that of the large carnivores, that are most affected by anthropic pressure. Tn this context we focused on the analysis of population size, ecology and ethology of Ursus arctos arctos, Canis lupus, Lutra lutra in 136 SCIs, and Mustela eversmannii in 18 SCIs.  
Among the 122 Natura 2000 species, one - Castor fiber – is a special case in being the object of a repopulation program. Depending on the dynamic tendencies of the number of individuals, we will establish if there is a need for designating Natura 2000 sites especially for this species.
A new ARC VIEW application was designed, momentarily available only for the project partners, and thus posted in the members area of this website.

Activity II.2. Software development for species data basis and distribution mapping
The user interface for data input was designed after consulting the biodiversity specialists and it will assure the standardization of data input, the elimination of typing errors and the enhancing of analysis possibilities. It offers most of the options needed for data input and viewing. It is simple and intuitive, and does not require advanced GIS knowledge.

Round Table
regarding
The process of implementig the Natura 2000 network in Romania

 Sinaia – the Conference Complex of the Zoology Research Station

Themes

1. Presentation of available data after the critical analysis of extant information on the pSCIs designed for animal species listed in the Annex II of the Habitats Directive: mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, invertebrates.
2. Setting the hierarchy and prioritization for identified problems.

Intermediate Scientific and Technical Report

Stage no. 1: Edification of scientific and technical frame, adequate for the implementation process for the Natura 2000 National Network - SCIs

Summary for this stage

The thematic of the project regards, specifically, the improvement of the scientific support needed for the process of implementing the European legislation on the proetection and long-term management of Natura 2000 elements in Romania. 
We have identified the following problems for the finalization of this goal:

• Consolidation of the qualified scientific support needed for managing the continued presence of animal species listed in Annex II of Habitats Directive, in their natural habitat;
• Providing scientific information needed for the process of implementing the National Natura 2000 network (SCIs);
• Elaboration of scientific documentation on the control of environmental impact, especially in the SCI network;
• Processing the scientific information on the Natura 2000 concept, to the purpose of its dissemination towards the general public.

The objectives that are defined are predominantly concentrated on the study of animal species listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC/2003, respectively:

• 26 mammal species,
• 6 reptile species,
• 6 amphibian species,
• 27 fish species,
• 57 invertebrate species.

Thus, in the first phase of the project, as it results from the title, we have identified all needed instruments for defining and constituting the technical and scientific frame by achieving a critical analysis of:

• Existing documentation (taxonomy, zoogeography,  biology, conservation) for the 122 animal species listed in the Annex II of the Habitats Directive;
• The quality of existing information;
• The documentation for pSCIs selected in the Natura 2000 Network in Romania;
• The existent documentation for long-term management of SCIs;
• The existent database system;
• The level of dissemination of scientific information on the Natura 2000 concept

In this phase the following were developed: 

Action I.2. – Critical analysis of existing documentation,
answering the requirements of:
Objective 2 – Research on the scientific backup of the process of implementation of the Natura 2000 SCI network in Romania and, implicitely, its integration in the European Network,
having as results:

• A SWOT analysis for the researched problematic.
• Setting the hierarchy and prioritization for identified problems.

All results achieved ensure the good functioning of the activities planned for the next stages of the project.