Anatolie Risina, Lower Prut Biosphere Reserve, Moldova Venice, 16-17 December 2021 Overall responsibility for the views and opinions expressed in the slides is taken by the authors

1. Lower Prut Biosphere Reserve
A new Identity, the same priorities.
Anatolie Risina
#Proudtoshare
MAB-IHP Regional Symposium: ManagingWater Resources in Biosphere Reserves
in South East Europe and the Mediterranean 16-17 December 2021Venice, Italy

2. Where is Moldova?
Sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine.
Moldova emerged as an independent republic
following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

3. Who we are?
▪ The Republic of Moldova belongs to
the group of countries located in the
Black Sea Basin.The southern border
of the country extends almost as far as
the Black Sea, which can be accessed
through the Nistru Liman and the
Danube River.
▪ Two-thirds of Moldovans are of
Romanian descent.The languages are
virtually identical and the two
countries share a common cultural
heritage.
Population: 3.5 million
Area: 33,800 sq km
Language: Romanian
(called "Moldovan" in
official documents)

4. What we have?
▪ The relief of the country represents a hilly plain sloping from the
northwest to the southeast and having an average elevation of
around 147 m above the sea level. The soil cover of Moldova is
fertile and various consisting of more than 745 varieties.
▪ The climate of the Republic of Moldova is moderately
continental.
▪ The hydrographic network includes more than 3,000 rivers and
rivulets, of which 10 exceed a length of 100 km.The main rivers
are the Nistru (1,352 km, including 657 km within the borders of
the country), the Prut (976 km, including 695 km within the
borders of the country).There are about 2,200 natural water
springs in Moldova.
▪ The flora of the Republic of Moldova is rich and includes more
than 5.5 thousand species of wild-growing plants. Forests occupy
around 11% of Moldovan territory.
▪ The fauna of the Republic of Moldova is relatively rich and
diverse, represented by 70 species of mammals, 281 species of
birds, 14 species of reptiles, 14 species of amphibians and 82
species of fish.

5. Lower Prut Biosphere Reserve
biodiversity
conservation
cooperation
development
Ramsar site no. 1029 – Lower
Prut Lakes, Cahul 20.06.2000
What defines ?

6. Principles of LPBR
 Conservation of biodiversity;
 Education and capacity building;
 Conservation of the inheritance of cultural and
historical values;
 Trans boundary cooperation – one river two country;
 Sustainable development;
 healthy products - healthy people.

7. New Reserve – new face
Great egret(Egretta alba)
Cosmopolitan species of Chinese fauna. Appears during spring migration in the first of
March and could seen till late in autumn. The great egret is the symbol of the National
Audubon Society and represents a conservation success story. Protected by law,
included in the red book of the Republic of Moldova(IInd ed).
European White Waterlily(Nymphaea alba)
It’s is a flagship species, in Republic of Moldova, for waters basins of Manta-Beleu in the
stagnant and slow flowing. The species is protected by law and also included in the IUCN
Red List ofThreatened Species 2014.
Prut river
The Prut River is one of the largest rivers in Western Ukraine, Moldova and Romania,
one of the main tributaries of the Danube River.

8. What we want
 Ensure protection regime for the key species, habitats and cultural
landscape;
 Increase the role of people in conservation of biodiversity;
 Involvement of local communities in management;
 Demonstrating of the sustainable development practices and policies
based on research and monitoring;
 Coherent and regulated fishery and tourism across the borders;
 Participating in the World Network.

9. What we done
 Elaborated and approved the Management Plan for 2019 -2024;
 Participated in the local and regional conservation projects;
 Increase the role of people in conservation of biodiversity;
 Participating in elaboration of the local policies;
 Participating in the World Network of the BR.

10. Rewilding the Lower Prut

11. What is rewilding for?
 A new DanubeVision and positive engagement of local stakeholders
in decision making processes.
 Changes in hydrology related to water levels and flow rates and
length of free-flowing streams and arms;
 New nature-based businesses make a significant contribution to the
livelihoods of local communities;
 A joint community event and training organized once a year in the
villages around the common cultural and natural heritage of the
Delta;
 Educational programme for children developed through exchanges
between Romanian, Moldova and Ukrainian school

13. The overarching goal of Be.CULTOUR is to develop human-centred
innovations for sustainable cultural tourism based on circular
economy models through collaborative networks at cross-border,
regional and local level.
Co-create along The Route of Stephan the Great and Saint a
transboundary action plan between the Route and 2 Protected
areas:
Romania – the Vânatori Neamţ Natural Park and,
Moldova – Lower Prut Biosphere Reserve

14. Example of culture heritage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eQI-pZ6DtE

15. Wait to see you in LPBR