Summary of pilot activities focusing on the Danube Delta
Transcription
Summary of pilot activities focusing on the Danube Delta
Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 PILOT PROJECTS PiP4: “DELTAS“ (RO-ITA) Eco-friendly tourism development of river deltas DANUBE DELTA THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN TOURISM: Work Team: Aştefănoaiei Roxana, Cristi Frenţ, Doru Tudorache, Alina Cârlogea, Camelia Surugiu, Alina Niculescu, Mioara Pavel, Adriana Radu THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT URBANINCERC. SUCURSALA URBANPROIECT: Work Team: Elena Stancu, Amelia Cazacu, Mariana Dorobantu, Georgiana Toth, Cristina Burtea, Roxana Simionescu, Lidia Florescu, Cristina Ivana, Ancuta Gheoldea. Coorinator: MINISTRY OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Teofil Gherca, Liviu Bailesteanu, Ana Muica, Cristina Dediu AND TOURISM 1 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) CONTENT 1. ANALYSE OF THE PILOT PROJECT AREA ………………………………………... 1.1. MACRO-REGIONAL RELATIONS OF THE PILOT PROJECT AREA ……... 1.1.1. Overview of the macro-regional affections of the area………………….. ……… 1.1.2. National and local tourism development policies………………………... ……... 1.1.3. Relevant projects and activities of the main stakeholders involved in the development of the Danube Delta biosphere reservation ……………………..... 1.2. REVIEW OF SOCIAL ISSUES……………………………………………………. 1.2.1. Demographic status……………………………………………………………… 1.2.2. Employment structure …………………………………………………………… 1.2.3. Health issues …………………………………………………………………….. 1.2.4. Educational levels ……………………………………………………………….. 1.3. NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS………………….. 1.3.1. Natural resources for tourism development (including system of branches and islands, oxbows)………………………………………………….. 1.3.2. The state of environment (air pollution, water quality, flood control and excess water management)……………………………………………………………… 1.3.3. Nature conservation (nature protection areas, Natura 2000, ecological network) 1.3.4. Heritage protection ……………………………………………………………… 1.4. ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AREA ……………………………. 1.4.1. Agriculture………………………………………………………………………. 1.4.2. Forestry …………………………………………………………………………. 1.4.3. Industry …………………………………………………………………………. 1.4.4. Services …………………………………………………………………………. 1.4.5. Tourism sector ………………………………………………………………….. 1.4.5.1. Tourist attractions………………………………………….................. 1.4.5.2. Tourist infrastructure ………………………………………………… 1.4.5.3. Guests ………………………………………………………………... 1.4.5.4. Handicrafts …………………………………………………………… 1.4.5.5. Gastronomy and wine ………………………………………………… 1.5. INFRASTRUCTURE……………………………………………………………….. 1.5.1. Transport system in the area……………………………………………………. 1.5.2. Accessibility (public roads, rail network, bicycle, air transport, shipping)…..… 1.5.3. Info-communication sector …………………………………………………….. 1.5.4. Living quality - Public utility supply (household gas, public water system)…… 1.5.4.1. Water management ................................................................................. 1.5.4.2. Public utility supply - The Power Supply ……………………………… 7 8 8 10 11 13 13 17 18 19 20 20 21 22 25 32 34 35 35 36 37 37 38 42 44 45 46 46 46 48 50 50 53 2 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 59 1.6. SPATIAL STRUCTURE……………………………………………………………. 1.6.1. System of settlements………………………………………………………… 59 1.6.2. Tourist centres – rural area ………………………………………………….. 65 65 1.7. SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT……………………………………………………. … 66 1.8. INSTITUTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS ……………………………………. …. 1.8.1. Business sector ………………………………………………………………. 66 1.8.2. Governance ………………………………………………………………….. 68 69 1.9. FINANCIAL STRUCTURE ……………………………………………………….. 1.9.1. Territorial development sources and institutions…………………………….. 69 1.9.2. Effectiveness…………………………………………………………………. 71 72 1.10. CONFLICT AREAS……………………………………………………………….. 1.10.1. General evaluation tourism – environment conflict in the Danube Delta biosphere reservation ……………………………………………………….. 72 1.10.2. Conflicts between tourism and human resources (demographic problem, low economic activity, low entrepreneurial activity)…………………………… 79 80 2. SWOT ANALYSIS ………………………………………………………………………… 92 3. SUGGESTED ACTIONS TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE AREA …………………. 96 4. SUGGESTED FURTHER CROSS- BORDER CO-OPERATION ……………………. 98 5. IMPACT ASSESSMENT …………………………………………………………………. 100 6. LOCAL INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES 7. MAIN LESSONS OF THE SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE DIFFERENT PILOT PROJECT (EXEMPLE FROM DELTA PO EXPERIENCE - PROGRAMMA PER LA COOPERAZIONE TRANSFRONTALIERA ITALIA-SLOVENIA 2007 – 2013: SLOW TOURISM)……………………………………………………………………………………. 101 3 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) PILOT PROJECT ANALYSIS PIP4: “DELTAS“ (RO-ITA) Eco-friendly tourism development of river deltas Partners in the project pilot: PP3 - National Institute for Research and Development in Tourism PP4 – National Institute for Research and Development INCD URBAN INCERC - URBANPROIECT Branch PP8 – DELTA 2000 Geographical location: The areas of the Po and Danube deltas are compatible geographically. Since both are alluvial plain and they have many common physical characteristics: they shelter over three hundred species of birds, countless species of fish and a variety of about 1150 species of plants. The purpose of the pilot project: The pilot projects were the aim to promote the Deltas Regions as the eco-friendly touristic destinations both at national and international level, insisting on the historical, architectural and naturalistic emergencies of the territory and promoting the use of eco-friendly means of transport. The justification of the option for study area : Tourism represents a priority of development for the entire areas of the Deltas: There is an important tourist potential, insufficiently exploited on national and international level. This projects take into consideration the programmes of the European Union, which aims at the economic development through tourism development, and strengthening cross-border cooperation between the countries through projects of cooperation in tourism General objective of the pilot project: The promotion of areas involved in the project and development of eco-tourism and river tourism through the exploitation and organization of the eco-sustainable intermodal tourist offers. Specific objectives of the pilot project: Each involved partner worked in order to improve and promote the project areas following the national policies: The Romanian partners organized the tourist offer focused on a cruise on the Danube, promoting the tourist resources of the area: floating, motor boats, bird watching etc. The Italian partner worked in order to make usable the naturalistic, historical and cultural offer by river or by ground and organized the system of the territorial offer promoting both the present tourist resources and the use of eco-friendly means for sailing along internal waterways. 4 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Main specific activities of the pilot project: The pilot projects have allowed us to organize and test the new river routes in regions involved. In both countries were organized demonstration days that were a great success. (ROMANIA: 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th of May 2011; ITALIA: 21th, 22th, 28th, 29th of May 2011) Specific results of the pilot project: - Increasing the tourist offer trough the promotion of means attractions ( naturalistic, historical and cultural heritage. - Improvement and extension of existing tourist offers: The Romanian partners improved the existing tourist offers promoting the main points of attraction of the tourist sector and increasing public awareness regarding the importance of the area and promotion of an ecofriendly tourism; The Italian partner organizes the system of the territorial offer along Volano Po promoting public-private cooperation nets and the use of eco-friendly means for sailing along internal waterways. - Both partners realized the Tourist Guide or Roadbooksin order to promote their area. - Several exhaustive study were realized from partners: of the settlements of the PP area, identification of their existing cultural, natural, and built heritage; study-audit regarding the possibilities of valorize the existent cultural heritage; Analysis of the accessibility within the Deltas for the inhabitants and tourists (ROMANIA); study of results it was possible to find eventual points of strengths and criticalities related to each realized itinerary (ITALIA) Common strategy: Recommendations and observations: The key elements of showed common strategy are the following: - Both areas need the infrastructural and logistic interventions in order to improve the usability and the complete navigability of rivers. - Is necessary to development of services to navigation to and from different locations, with a view of integrating with other means of transport (intermodality) bike, transport by road or rail in order to implement the eco-friendly offers - Development of the tourist forms respecting the delicate balance of long term sustainability of rivers and Deltas. - Promotion of activities and events that draw attention to the rivers and its great potential. - Involve and stimulate the local associations and operators in order to start relevant entrepreneurial initiatives and activities, for an organized rivers tourist development (examples: promotion food and wine heritage and/or sustaining river excursion operators that intend to invest on their sustainable innovation and the territorial promotion. The realization of networking pilot projects (ITALIA-ROMANIA) has allowed the joint analysis of Delta’s Region and the research of a solution to common problems. The exchange of best practices was key and this is only possible in transnational context. Surely the results and strategies emerged through transnational pilot project will help to influence the policies of their countries and ensure the future sustainability of the actions taken 5 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 1. ANALYSE OF THE PILOT PROJECT AREA In order to support the elaboration and the implementation of the DATOURWAY project strategy, some pilot projects along the Danube course have been settled. PiP4 – “Deltas” is one of these pilot projects and its aim is to promote – “Eco friendly tourism – development of river deltas”. The PP4 Deltas – (ITA-RO) is developed along with partners from Italy and this pilot project aims to attain comparison of river Romanian Danube Delta and Italian delta Po. Partners involved in elaboration of this project pilot are: Partner 1: PP3 - National Institute for Research and Development in Tourism, Partner 2: PP4 – National Institute for Research and Development INCD URBAN - INCERC - URBANPROIECT Branch and Partner 3: PP8 – DELTA 2000 The purpose of the pilot project is to promote the Danube Delta as an eco-tourist destination both at national and international level. The reasons that justified the option for this study area are: Danube Delta represents an opportunity for the development of tourism having in consideration the beauty of the landscape, the suitability for fishing and hunting and the transport facilities offered. Tourism represents a priority of development for the entire area of the Danube Delta. There is an important tourist potential, insufficiently exploited on national and international level. This project creates conditions to promote the main points of attraction and the tourist sector in the area on which is focused the Pilot Project. General objective of the pilot project is the promotion and development of eco-tourism in the area of Pilot Project by valorizing the natural, cultural and traditional heritage. Specific objectives of the pilot project are related with: Organization of a tourist offer focused on a cruise on the Danube To promote environmental behaviors in relationship with tourist resources of the area: floating, motor boats, bird watching etc. To increase the number of tourists in Danube Delta Direct and indirect beneficiaries of this pilot project are the local stakeholders in the area of PP, Tulcea County Council, tour operators with the professional profile of the area closest to the tourist product which it contains offer PP and the tourists. The main specific activities of the pilot project are: Proposals to develop/contact an Office of Tourist Promotion in the area of Pilot Project, in order to create opportunities for the promotion of tourism sector, emphasizing the natural and cultural objectives in the area of the pilot project. Structuring the route of the tourist offer. 6 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Organizing a seminar (public event) to promote the tourist offer to the target groups Elaboration of a guide regarding the tourist offer The pilot project has the specific results as fallows: A tourist offer focused on a cruise on the Danube and addressed to a large national and international target groups regarding the Pilot Project area. Promotional materials to emphasize the tourist offer in the pilot area (tourist guide, leaflets etc) Increasing the number of tourists in Danube Delta Diversification of tourist offer Geographical location/ specific details: Danube Delta is situated in the south - eastern part of Romania and is limited to the south - west by Dobrogea hills, to the north by Ukraine, and to the east by the Black Sea. Its lenght, together with the lacuna complex Rasim-Sinoe is 5050 km, of which 698 km belong to Ukraine. Delta has an area of 2540 km2 increasing each year with 40m, due to the 67 million tons of alluvium deposited by river. It occupies 2,5% of the surface of the country. Geographical configuration keeps deltas characteristics, Danube Delta region being an alluvial plain in continuously shaping. Danube Delta shelters over three hundred species of birds, countless species of fish and a variety of 1 150 species of plants. Main channels of the Danube are Chilia, Sulina and SF. Gheorghe. In 1990 the Danube Delta was declared by UNESCO "Nature Reserve of the Biosphere". The Danube Delta has a triple status: Biosphere Reserve, RAMSAR site and Natural and Cultural World Heritage site. The area of Pilot Project includes the following localities: Tulcea, Somova, Ceatalchioi, Pardina, Rosetti, Maliuc, Crisan, Sulina, Nufaru, Bestepe, Mahmudia, Murighiol, Sfantu Gheorghe. 1.1. MACRO-REGIONAL RELATIONS OF THE PILOT AREA 1.1.1. Overview of the macro-regional affections of the area The suprateritorial context in which the macro-regional relations are developing in the Danube Delta area is structured according to the following geographical and political -administrative levels: Sub-regional level: Tulcea County Regional level: South East Region. Supra-regional level: - historical provinces / development regions: Dobrogea - national territory (Romania) Transnational level: 7 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) - cross border areas – the Lower Danube Euroregion, which comprise Tulcea, Braila and Galati counties (RO), the districts of Cahul and Cantemir (MD) and Odessa region (UA); and the Inferior Danube Euroregion comprising the counties of Calarasi, Ialomita and Constanta (RO) and Silistra and Dobrici (BG); - areas included in European programmes for territorial cooperation 2007-2013: “South-East Europe” (SEE); “Black Sea” (Black Sea CBC); “Romania-Ukraine-Republic of Moldova. Continental level: - Danube basin, Black Sea basin; - Balkan space; - Ponto-Scythian space; - Pan-European Corridors network; - Infrastructure networks and trans-European transport connections. Transcontinental level: - Inter-continental dividing lines: Asia Minor, Caucasus / Trans-Caucasus; - Infrastructure networks and intercontinental transport connections Europe - Asia. Supra-territorial elements which affects the study area The study area is affected by two major supra-territorial elements: the system of regional poles and that of communication and transport corridors, which ensure the connections between the poles. Integration of the study area within regional and national spaces will be done by a balance between these two major interrelated components, which are mutually conditional. Tulcea city, a centre that provides the connection with the regional space, is located at the intersection of two major communication and transport corridors that exercise an influence over the study area by its relation with the road and rail networks. The nearest metropolitan areas affecting the study area are Braila, Galati and Constanta, which are connected with the Danube Delta through Tulcea city, which provide the physical connection, and through its important administrative functions that provide informational connection. Cooperation with these regional centers covers the fields of transport, commercial fishing industry and environmental protection. Inter-county and regional corridors determined by the relationship between these centers provide the connections with the delta area by road, rail and waterways. In terms of continental relations, the DDBR territory is crossed by axis 18 of the TEN-T network, represented by the Danube Canals, which provide connections with the national and European space. This axis will require future development, i.e. modernization works and connections with secondary roads and railways. 8 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) At the level of the South-East region, the development possibilities concentrate on the potential in the seaside area and Danube Delta, these being unique areas in the country, attracting Romanian and foreign tourists, involving a significant implication of the workforce and contributing to the region economy. Tourism in the protected areas is mentioned in different development plans which must be taken into consideration. We refer to the sectoral national and regional plans , the national tourism development plan, plans for the protected areas such as plans for the risk management for fires, plans for the vegetation management etc. 1.1.2. National and local tourism development policies Current projects and programmes at the level of the local communities Inside the programmes being implemented or in the feasibility stage, a series of works and socioeconomic importance actions are developed for the towns lying on the territory of the Danube Delta biosphere reservation. The projects are done with the participation of the local councils, of the different economic agents specialised in works concerning the technical-urban infrastructure. Thus, depending on the financing possibilities, they can continue works started in recent years as the improvement of the water supply, the introduction or extension of the water supply network, repairing the local roads by stoning, asphalt rugs, modernisations, hydrographical constructions 9 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) such as defence dams against floods or de-clogging of some channels to facilitate tourist activity in different towns in the Danube Delta etc. The projects presented are being implemented or are project proposals or development priorities. Type of the project/works Localities Rehabilitation/modernisation/ street design/transport Tulcea, Sulina, Mahmudia, Murighiol, Crişan, Nufăru, Ceatalchioi, Pardina, Chilia Veche, C.A.Rosetti, Maliuc, Bestepe, Jurilovca, Sarichioi Waste management Murighiol, Ceatalchioi, C.A.Rosetti Water networks , sewerage, cleaning plants Tulcea, Sulina, Crişan, Nufăru, Pardina, C.A.Rosetti, Bestepe, Valea Nucarilor, Sarichioi Energy networks Sfântu Gheorghe, Murighiol, Besatepe Dams, facilities for preventing the floods risk Tulcea, Sulina, Mahmudia, Crişan, Nufăru, Ceatalchioi, Pardina, Chilia Veche, Maliuc, Bestepe, Sarichioi Protecting the architecture, cultural, natural patrimony Sulina, Sfântu Gheorghe, Nufăru, Chilia Veche, C.A.Rosetti, Maliuc, Bestepe, Sarichioi Designing beaches Sulina, Sfântu Gheorghe, Mahmudia, C.A.Rosetti Designing ports Chilia Veche, Sarichioi Designing pontoons/unloading docks Murighiol, Ceatalchioi, Pardina, C.A.Rosetti Promoting tourism, ecotourism, agro-tourism Tulcea, Sulina, Sfântu Gheorghe, Mahmudia, Murighiol, Crişan, Nufăru, Ceatalchioi, C.A.Rosetti, Maliuc, Sarichioi Other services Sfântu Gheorghe, Murighiol, Crişan, Ceatalchioi, Pardina, Chilia Veche, C.A.Rosetti, Maliuc, Bestepe Future development It is known that any human activity affects the environment in different ways. The support capacity of ecosystems, their regeneration capacity is limited, an equilibrium must exist between environment and the nature offer on one hand and human activities with impact on the environment, on the other hand. Thus, in order to reach the objectives of the economic rise in the spirit of the sustainable development the citizens’ participation is absolutely necessary, in the case of the inhabitants in the Danube Delta, all these can be put into practice by some correct decisions and some adequate policies and also by choosing the best ways and instruments to implement these policies. 10 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Thus, the implication in as many environment protection projects as possible, or in others referring to citizen information can represent the basis for identifying problems and creating some measures and strategies for the rehabilitation, improvement and finding solutions for these. Also, it is necessary for them to attract the support and participation of the local communities in taking the decisions concerning the Danube Delta; the collaboration with NGO-s and other institutions which have as object the protection of the environment. Regarding tourism, the main development objective proposed by the reservation administrators is the development and promotion of a tourism such as “exploring the Danube Delta slowly”. Thus they can create the conditions for an integrated approach, by which the objective to store the natural patrimony is not in contradiction with the development process, but becomes a part of the development. Tourism becomes the central element which stimulates both the process of preserving and protecting the environment and the sustainable socio-economic development of communities. The specific objectives for the 2009-2013 period are: Promoting the local traditional tourism; Preserving and protecting the biodiversity of natural habitats; Preserving the cultural patrimony. Support for the preservation of the ethno-cultural identity of the local population. The integration of the traditional elements in the local urban development; The economic development of the local communities situated on the Danube Delta biosphere reservation territory, with the involvement of the local population; The management of the visitors in the Danube Delta biosphere reservation. 1.1.3. Relevant projects and activities of the main stakeholders involved in the development of the Danube Delta biosphere reservation The Tulcea county council Priorities: • • • • • To rehabilitate the pumping station of the water sewerage system for Sfantu Gheorghe; designing access road and mooring pier in Sfantu Gheorghe; to rehabilitate the pumping station and extension of the public system of water sewerage; Stoning main road in Chilia Veche; Rehabilitation connection road between C.A.Rosetti and Letea; Protection from floods for the Tudor Vladimirescu suburbs; Water sewerage programme in the Danube Delta towns and in the Gorgova, Partizani, Tudor Vladimirescu, Ceatalchioi – Pătlăgeanca, Caraorman, Periprava towns. Projects: The Tulcea County Council has completed seven projects supported by EU in total of 2,762,810 Euros in the last five years, in the Dunarea de Jos (Lower Danube) Euro-region. • the modernization of the access infrastructure to the Murighiol – Uzlina- Dunavăţ – Lacul Razim tourist area– financing programme: Regional Operational Programme 2007 2013, Prior axis 2 - implemented • “Danube Delta ecotourist centre – Programme: PHARE CBC 2004, the Romania-Ukraine 11 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • neighbourhood programme - implemented “the Danube Delta in Europe” - Programme: PHARE CBC 2005, the Romania-Ukraine neighbourhood programme - implemented Crafts – a bridge between north and south, past and future” Programme: PHARE CBC 2004, the Romania-Ukraine neighbourhood programme - implemented "Integrated system for monitoring environmental factors, biodiversity and natural resources in the Danube Delta Cross-Border Biosphere Reserve, Romania-Ukraine" – implemented "Emergency plan and protection against floods in the Lower Danube Euro-region” implemented “Artetur – Access to archaeology” - implemented “Development of the potential for a sustainable tourism in a wetland Nature 2000 site: Case Study Danube Delta” - implemented “Cross-border cooperation to demonstrate multiple uses and benefits of wetlands restoration (in Zagen and Stensovsko Zhibrianskie Plavni polders) of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve of the Romania-Ukraine cross-border area” - implemented “DANUBEPARKS project - Danube River Network of Protected Areas - Development and Implementation of Trans-national Strategies for the Conservation of the Natural Heritage at the Danube River” - implemented The tourist capitalization of the Tulcea monasteries by improving the access and environment infrastructure – Regional operational programme 2007-2013, Prior axis 2 – developing; Restoring and rehabilitating two patrimony buildings in the Tulcea municipality included in the regional tourist tours POR 2007-2013, Prior axis 5 – sustainable use and tourism, promotion, Major intervention field 5.1 – developing; Miniport in Sfantu Gheorghe –Financing programme: H.G. nr.426/2009 for the approval of the financial support of the local public administration authorities – developing Designing beach in Sulina, the Tulcea county – H.G. nr. 426/2009 for the approval of the financial support of the local public administration authorities – developing; Miniport in the Murighiol town - ethnic project; Miniport in the Sarichioi town - ethnic project. The Danube Delta biosphere reservation association Recognizing the very important role of the Danube Delta and the necessity of a clear and integrated approach of the public awareness (especially of the local communities), of the communication problems and those concerning the attracting of population in taking the decisions, the Danube Delta biosphere reservation association has developed along years activities of informing and educating. Thus we present some of the collaboration and partnership actions of the association which had the informing of the local national public as aim: • Organising the competition „ A chance for the Blue Danube” – in collaboration with the ”George Georgescu” art high-school – Tulcea, exposition – contest with ecologic thematic posters 12 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) • The development of the programme - „Together for a clean Delta!” • Organising, in partnership with the Muntii Macinului National Park administration, of the county stage of the children contest „Together for nature”, at the initiative of the ECOSOPHIA organisation, in collaboration with the national television company, the ROMSILVA forests national department; • Participation in fairs and expositions; • Updating the database with tourist information (accommodation capacities, recreational possibilities, transport, etc) offered by the tourism operators; • Projects proposals for financing from the European Funds or which are to be implemented: informing centres (Murighiol, Letea, Istria, Caraorman, Chilia Veche, Sfântu Gheorghe), Uzlina – International centre of ecologic instruction - extension accommodation spaces and conference room, rehabilitation and extension informing centres, building boats shelters, identifying sources of alternative energy and ensuring the energy, designing tourist tracks, hydro-technical works, ecological reconstructions, afforestation for bank consolidation, inventories, evaluations, statistics, the study of the pollution effects, the conservation of habitats, promotion activities, carrying out an information system for the public, awareness campaigns, creating a digital cartography support. The Danube Delta national Research Development Institute • Pilot project to promote agro-tourism • Hygiene actions for the Danube banks and Delta channels; • Project youth changes between France and Romania financed by Eurotin – PHARE programme; • Collaborations with the Danube Delta biosphere reservation association by the elaboration of the communication strategy; • Collaboration to the volume „Guide of ecologic education” • Ecologic education in schools • „Information centre” project financed by AOL Peace Pak; • Participation in the Festival of Danube countries in Ulm/Germany; • „Internet - a chance for the isolated communities”, project financed by World Bank; • „Cohesion in action for sustainable development in the Danube Delta”, project financed by GRASP; • Participation in the creation of the promotion strategy for tourism in the Tulcea county with GRASP assistance; 1.2. REVIEW OF SOCIAL ISSUES 1.2.1. Demographic status On July 1, 2009, the total population of the Danube Delta was 134,314,000 inhabitants. 70% of the population lives in urban areas in the city of Tulcea (90,856 inhabitants) and Sulina town (4,391 inhabitants). According to the number of inhabitants, the territorial-administrative units included in the study area can be grouped into five categories: - over 90,000 inhabitants: Tulcea; 13 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) - between 4,000 and 8,000 inhabitants: the communes of Sarichioi, Jurilovca and Somova, and Sulina town; between 2,500 and 3,999 inhabitants: the communes of Valea Nucarilor, Murighiol, Mahmudia Nufarul; between 1,000 and 2,499 inhabitants: the communes of Chilia Veche, Crisan and Bestepe; less than 1,000 inhabitants: the communes of Maliuc, C.A. Rosetti, Sfantu Gheorghe, Ceatalchioi, Pardina. Population (2009) NUTS 5 level TULCEA CITY 2009 90,856 SULINATOWN 4,391 BESTEPE 1,968 C.A. ROSETTI 947 CEATALCHIOI 781 CHILIA VECHE 2,440 CRISAN 1,302 JURILOVCA 4,793 MAHMUDIA 2,804 MALIUC 996 MURIGHIOL 3,548 NUFARUL 2,565 PARDINA 615 SARICHIOI 7,073 SFANTU GHEORGHE 856 SOMOVA 4,648 VALEA NUCARILOR 3,731 Total 134,314 Source: National Institute of Statistics – Romania During 1990-2009 the population of the study area decreased by about 7% (10,326 inhabitants). The evolution of the population at the level of territorial administrative unit during that period was heterogeneous, with either significant decreases or slight increases. Thus, a significant decrease of the population (30%) occurred in the communes of Mahmudia, CA Rosetti, Sf. Gheorghe and Sulina town. At the opposite side lie the communes of Nufărul (9.1%), Maliuc (10.4%) and Ceatalchioi (35.4%), where slight increases in population were recorded during 1990-2009. In the town of Tulcea and the communes of Murighiol, Somova and Pardina the population remained relatively constant in 2009 compared to 1990. Population growth rate (2009/1990) NUTS 5 level TULCEA CITY 1990 2009 2009/1990 (%) 95,235 90,856 95.4 14 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) SULINA TOWN 5,706 4,391 77.0 BESTEPE - 1,968 - C.A. ROSETTI 1,421 947 66.6 CEATALCHIOI 577 781 135.4 CHILIA VECHE 2,988 2,440 81.7 CRISAN 1,460 1,302 89.2 JURILOVCA 5,627 4,793 85.2 MAHMUDIA 5,286 2,804 53.0 902 996 110.4 MURIGHIOL 3,640 3,548 97.5 NUFARUL 2,352 2,565 109.1 PARDINA 621 615 99.0 SARICHIOI 8,521 7,073 83.0 SFANTU GHEORGHE 1,179 856 72.6 SOMOVA 4,658 4,648 99.8 VALEA NUCARILOR 4,467 3,731 83.5 144,640 134,314 92.9 MALIUC Total Source: National Institute of Statistics – Romania An analysis of the population structure by age shows an important percentage of working age population (15-60 years) and a relatively low percentage of young population (0-14 years), a consequence of the low birth rate. The vitality index of the population at the level of both the whole area and the territorial-administrative unit is lower than the desired value (1.5), i.e. the one that ensures generation replacement. The variations in the population distribution by age at the level of the territorial-administrative unit indicate severely ageing populations in the communes of Ceatalchioi, Sfantu Gheorghe, Valea Nuricarilor, Bestepe, Crisan, Nufarul and Sarichioi. The working age population is well represented in two human settlements in the area - the city of Tulcea and Sulina town, as well as in the communes of Pardina and Sfantu Gheorghe. Population structure by age 0-14 / 15-65/ 65+, 2006 at NUTS 3 level Population Vitality index % of population NUTS 5 TULCEA CITY 0-14 15-60 60+ 0-14 15-60 60+ 12,134 66,928 11,794 13.4 73,7 13,0 1,0 SULINA TOWN 757 10,8 72.0 17.2 0,6 474 3,160 BESTEPE 258 1,279 431 13.1 65.0 21.9 0.6 C.A. ROSETTI 166 534 247 17.5 56.4 26.1 0.7 CEATALCHIOI 100 483 198 12.8 61.8 25.4 0.5 CHILIA VECHE 403 1,544 493 16.5 63.3 20.2 0.8 CRISAN 177 830 295 13.6 63.7 22.7 0.6 JURILOVCA 699 3,106 988 14.6 64.8 20.6 0.7 15 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) MAHMUDIA 418 1,753 633 14.9 62.5 22.6 0.7 MALIUC 131 669 196 13.2 67.2 19.7 0.7 MURIGHIOL 561 2,202 785 15.8 62.1 22.1 0.7 NUFARUL 359 1,580 626 14.0 61.6 24.4 0.6 PARDINA 90 450 75 14.6 73.2 12.2 1.2 SARICHIOI 943 4,613 1,517 13.3 65.2 21.4 0.6 SFANTU GHEORGHE 96 579 181 11.2 67.6 21.1 0.5 SOMOVA 743 2,824 1,081 16.0 60.8 23.3 0.7 VALEA NUCARILOR 489 2,167 1,075 13.1 58.1 28.8 0.5 Total 18,241 94,701 21,372 13.6 70.5 15.9 0.9 Source: National Institute of Statistics – Romania In 2009, the study area has been subject to negative migration; compared to 1990, the net migration rate for the area decreased by 5 %. In 2009, the net migration rate varied by territorialadministrative unit between 29 ‰ and -5.6 ‰. The human settlements with the highest net migration rates in 2009 – the number of arrivals in the city exceeded the departures – are Ceatalchioi (9 ‰), Somova (20.7 ‰) and Nufarul (29.2 ‰). The tendency to migrate out of town (changing the place of living) is obvious in the city of Tulcea (5.6 ‰) and the communes of Pardina (-9.8 ‰), Maliuc (-7 ‰), Jurilovca (-5.6 ‰) and Sarichioi (-5.5 ‰). Permanent migration (net migration rate) NUTS 5 level Net migration rate in 1990 Net migration rate in 2009 TULCEA CITY 2.0 -5.6 SULINA TOWN -11.6 -3.6 BESTEPE 3.0 C.A. ROSETTI -30.3 0.0 CEATALCHIOI -24.3 9.0 CHILIA VECHE -63.6 -2.9 CRISAN -26.0 8.4 JURILOVCA -40.0 -5.6 MAHMUDIA -24.2 5.3 MALIUC -12.2 -7.0 MURIGHIOL -22.5 2.5 NUFARUL -24.7 29.2 PARDINA -16.1 -9.8 SARICHIOI -27.7 -5.5 SFANTU GHEORGHE -10.2 -4.7 SOMOVA -20.8 20.7 VALEA NUCARILOR -24.0 7.2 Total -7.8 -2.8 Source: National Institute of Statistics – Romania 16 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 1.2.2. Employment structure In 2009, study area has 23306 employees. This value represents 32, 6 share in total population of Tulcea County and it describes an important part of the county employed population, considering the fact that it represents only 17 municipalities and the entire county has 51 municipalities. The graphic below shows for each municipality in the study area how much is the share of this indicator compared with total population. There are several particularities to be mentioned considering the share of employees in total population, such as: - The county average is 17,6% and it is considered to be a little value if take into account the dependency ratio and the fact that those employees belong to private sector which is the work force that “produced” real added value in the economy; - Tulcea City has the highest share of employees (33%) in total population compare with all municipalities in the study area; - Rural municipalities have rather small shares of employees in total population, only Mahmudia municipality exceeds county average; - Rural municipalities in Danube Delta area are very small compare with county average. Graphic – Share of employees in total population - 2009 Source – National Institute of Statistics Territorial distribution shows that most of employed labor force is located in Tulcea City - 89,3%, the capital town of the county certifies in that perspective its role of main urban pole within the study area. In the chart it is visible a certain concentration of the employed population toward urban areas and the close neighbor, for so other 1,94% of the area employees are located in Sarichioi and 1,90% in Mahmudia. 17 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Territorial distribution of employment Referring with activities structures, in Danube Delta area a big part of the employed population is occupied in industry branch – 52,7%. Others important activities for Danube Delta area are commerce whom attracts 27,4% of employed work force, other services - 7%, agriculture -4,4% and construction – 3,9%. Tourism activities encompass few work forces, only 3,2% of employed population. In Tulcea Area the activities structure reveals high rates of employment in the industry branch (46,5%) mostly represented by ship construction and food industry. Tertiary sector is also well represented in employment rates especially regarding commerce (19,4%) and other services, which are mainly transport services (13,8%), but less in tourism (4,5%). Construction workers add up to 9,6% share in total employees while agriculture completes with 2,2 percents. Territorial distribution of employees considering main branch occupation identifies the following situation: - Predominant industrial occupations: Tulcea city (50,7%), Mahmudia (53,6%), Somova (31,3%), Nufaru (30,6%), - Predominant commercial occupations: Bestepe (57,1%), C.A. Rosetti (61, 5%), Chilia Veche (69,2%), Sulina town (37,4%), Pardina (100%), Sfantul Gheorghe (43,4%), Valea Nucarilor (30,8%); - Predominant agricultural occupations: Ceatalchioi (77,3%); - Predominant forestry occupations: Jurilovca (45,5%); - Predominant fishery occupations: Crisan (53,6%); - Predominant touristic occupations: Maliuc (80,7%), Murighiol (40,6%) There are only five municipalities that have no records of tourism employment in the Tulcea Area – Bestepe, C.A. Rosetti, Ceatalchioi and Pardina. However, the employment structure highlights mostly small shares of the employee population in total population for municipalities, especially in the rural areas. Tertiary sector employment represents 37,6% of Tulcea Area employed population. This result shows a rather small occupation in tertiary sector in comparison with nowadays tendency of modern economies. Considering the fact that tertiary employment is dominated by commerce it is obviously poor service diversity. 1.2.3. Health issues Following the Health Evaluation Program initiated by the Ministry of Health we have found a number of issues related to the health of the population in the study zone. The data regarding health issues in the study zone is related only to the county level. Tulcea county which includes the Danube Delta study area is among the counties with the following characteristics from the point of view of public health: lowest attendance at the doctor (41-34%); high risk of cardiovascular disease; the risk of cancer disease. 18 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Health Evaluation Program has helped to increase public sensitivity to the culture of care and increasing concern for health. 1.2.4. Educational levels The percentage of people in the study area with higher education is 5.5%; a similar percentage correspond to people without education. However, the average for that area is strongly influenced by the population of Tulcea city, where a large number of people with higher education is concentrated. Regarding the rural areas, of the 17 settlements included in the study area, in 13 the percentage of the population with higher education is 2%, and in the remaining 4 settlements the percentage is below 1% (Nufarul, Somova, Sarichioi, Valea Nucarilor). The population having completed secondary education (college, vocational schools, colleges and apprentice schools) is well represented in the area: about 70% of the population of 10 years and older have graduated such studies. This feature is maintained at the level of administrative-territorial unit where the share of population with secondary education varies between 40% and 72%. A significant percentage of population without education (over 10%) lives in Jurilovca, CA Rosetti, Chilia Veche and Somova. Population structure by educational level, 2002, NUTS 5 NUTS 5 level Higher education Secondary education Without education TULCEA CITY 7.5 69.6 3.4 SULINA TOWN 3.1 72.0 4.2 - - - BESTEPE C.A. ROSETTI 1.9 56.1 12.0 CEATALCHIOI 1.9 42.8 6.7 CHILIA VECHE 1.4 61.2 15.4 CRISAN 1.8 42.8 7.1 JURILOVCA 1.3 63.3 11.7 MAHMUDIA 1.2 60.8 9.6 MALIUC 1.2 66.1 6.9 MURIGHIOL 1.2 57.1 10.5 NUFARUL 0.6 61.4 7.3 PARDINA 1.4 68.3 7.6 SARICHIOI 0.8 61.4 10.6 SFANTU GHEORGHE 2.6 67.9 9.2 SOMOVA 0.6 61.1 15.7 VALEA NUCARILOR 0.9 58.5 9.4 Total 5.5 66.9 5.7 Source: National Institute of Statistics – Romania 19 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 1.3. NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS 1.3.1. Natural resources for tourism development The natural values represent very valuable attractions that create the Danube Delta tourist product. The RBDD territory is a straight region (alluvial plane in formation) with a small slope from the west to the east (0,006%) of which rise the Chiliei plain, a witness for erosion from the Bugeacului Plain (south of Basarabia), the Stipoc continental spit and the Letea and Caraorman marine spits. With 20,5% of its territory under the sea level and a medium altitude of +0,52m, the Danube Delta forms the lowest country relief. The main morpho-hydrographic categories are represented by: o marine spits (about 8% of the delta surface), represented by Letea, Caraorman, Sărăturile, Crasnicol and others, can be found in the eastern part of the delta and are almost perpendicular on the Danube channels o river spits (about 6%) accompany the Danube channels, the main distributaries and have a larger unfolding at the peak of the delta with aspect of alluvial planes of 2-5 m high, that become thinner towards the sea; o continental plains (about 6%) are erosion witnesses from Bugeacului Plain consisting of loess deposits, being represented by Câmpul Chiliei and the central part of the Stipoc spit; o swampy fields, covered with water, depending on the Danube level and the moor vegetation, occupy, in natural conditions, non-designed about 67,2% of the delta surface; o the lakes occupy the slopes situated under 0m in the western part (river delta) and under 0,5 m in the eastern part (seaside delta), where they combine in lacustrian complexes; these occupied 31,260 ha (9,3%) in 1964 and after the draining, after some agriculture and forest facilities creation, in 1990 summed up only 25,800 ha (8%). Most representative lakes are: Razim - Sinoe Lacustrian Complex, Roşu Lake, Puiu Lake, Gorgova Lake, Lumina Lake etc. o the distributaries and main channels cover a surface of 9,959 ha (2,5%); o the Danube and its channels – Chilia, Sulina and Sf. Gheorghe. The Chilia channel, with many ramifications and isles, is the youngest, longest (120km) and transports the biggest quantity of water and alluvia (58%); the Sulina channel was preferred by the Danube European Commission (1856) for marine navigation and was shorted (from 92 km to 63,7 km) by correcting some meanders and deepened during 1862-1902, which led to a rise in the flow from 7-8% to 18-20%; the Sf. Gheorghe channel (69,7 km), the southern and oldest has gone through changes in the last years by the modification of meanders, which led to a rise of the flow till 23-24%; before flowing into the sea, this channel forms its own delta, similar to the delta formed by the Chilia channel (delta formed on the territory of Ukraine). An important resource is represented by the delta landscape which has specific characteristics and is very attractive. The landscape resource is capitalized by tourism activities, both by specialized economic agents and by the local population. We can remark several types of delta landscapes specific to the temperate-continental area: • the river delta landscape composed by lakes, marshes, channels, sahels accompanied by vegetation of willow, poplar, alder, reed plot; 20 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) • • • • the landscape of the main channels with areas of land in alternance with the ones that are flooded, with meanders, riverside coppices, ‘unfoldings’, moors; the landscape of the lakes, lagoons, which are bordered by low banks or clifted shores with specific vegetation (reed, mace, sedge); the marine delta landscape with lower or higher areas, through spits, that includes steppe forests, meadow coppices, lakes, secondary channels, marshes etc; the anthropic landscape of the component villages, characterized by specific architecture elements, internal ornaments, folk technique and traditional occupations. The climate regime, with reduced precipitations and long sunshine period favor the practice of tourism from spring till autumn. The flora diversity of the delta consists in the fact that almost 1/3 of the plant species that live in Romania can be found in the reservation. Here can be found also the most species of medicine plants, the largest area of compact reed in the world, hosting 30 types of ecosystems and two unique forests in Europe, formed by secular oaks and Mediterranean lianas (the Letea and Caraorman forests). The lacustrian habitats and those characteristic of the spits represent the support of an extremely rich and diverse fauna, 3,590 fauna species (3.061 invertebrates and 529 vertebrates) being identified. The greatest fauna richness is represented by birds (331 bird species, representing about 81% of the Romania bird-fauna) that stop on this territory during migration or have chosen the delta as a place for food, nesting and breeding chicken. Here we can meet the largest European population of pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus), curly pelican (Pelecanus crispus), 60% of the world population of small cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmaeus) and 50% of the world population of red neck goose (Branta ruficollis) (during winter). The mammals are represented by 42 species, including species of European conservation importance such as the otter (Lutra lutra) and the European mink (Lutreola lutreola). The muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) and the porcupine (Sus scrofa) have hunting importance. The predators are represented by ermine (Mustela erminea), ‘enot’ dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the wild cat (Felis silvestris). The Delta also represents a paradise of fishermen, hosting 135 fish species. Most of these are sweet water species but can be also found marine species and species which tolerate the salt water which live in the Black Sea and enter the Delta and Danube during the mating season. About a third of the species were and are capitalized economically by the intensive commercial fishing.1 1.3.2. The state of environment Romania joined to the Convention for cooperation to the protection and sustainable use of the Danube River (Sofia, 1994). There is a legislative frame in fields such as environmental protection, the conservation of protected areas or water protection, at both national and regional level. At the regional level it was realised the Regional Environmental Action Plan (PRAM) by the Regional Environmental Protection Agency, and at local (county) level was realised the Local Environmental Action Plans for Tulcea and Constanţa Counties (PLAMs). 1 www.ddbra.ro 21 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) The air quality On the RBDD territory, the most important disturbing source which contributes to the warehouse effect is the carbon dioxide produced by the circulation of the river ships and the transit sea ships. Inside the reservation there are no industrial units with pollution potential, the air being little damaged by industrial pollutants in the bordering area (the Tulcea municipality – Romania and Izmail – Ukraine). The water quality Water represents the main element and the most important one in the RBDD area. Human activities create important pressure on the water resources both quantitatively and qualitatively. Inside the reservation there are no fixed sources with a determinant role in the water pollution. The main water pollution sources in the reservation are represented by economic agents situated in the bordering area of RBDD and the river transport done both by the small boats and by sea and river ships in transit. The ships pollution happens because not all ships have efficient separators for petrol residues, the ones existing are not used adequately and the Danube ports inside the reservation do not have specific machinery for gathering and recycling these residues. In order to solve this situation, ARBDD has made the societies owning river transport means apply the recommendations POLDANUBE – 1986 and the MARPOL Convention 73-78 (both refer to the collecting, storing on the ships the hydrocarbon residues as well as registering its transferring to the collecting units). Another problem is the ‘eutrophisation’ of the delta lakes, because of the big quantities of nutrients brought by the river, leading to important changes of the aquatic flora and fauna. Using the water from the river directly for domestic use while, the quality of the water has gone worse, represents a great risk for the Danube Delta population. The great danger is the lack of units to prepare drinkable water in many settlements which means that many inhabitants, about 25%, do not have optimal conditions for drinkable water supply. Still, having in view that in the area of RBDD there are no major sources to pollute the water, we consider that we cannot talk about a negative impact on the population’s health. Only four towns inside the reservation (Sulina, Sf. Gheorghe, Maliuc and Chilia) have a centralized sewerage system to collect residual waters but still, these do not include completely these towns and the purification stations were created for the mechanic pre-purification of domestic waters or these are taken to the Danube by pumping. The soil quality Inside the RBDD there have been no situations of soil damaging after industrial or agriculture activities. The damming in the Danube meadow and delta and the interruption from the river dynamics have led to drying and salting the soils. In this situation, during the recent years, they have tried to ‘repair’ the natural hydrologic, bio-geo-chemical, ecologic functions, typical to the wet areas with several fishy and agricultural facilities, as well as works for preventing the clogging of distributaries and lakes. 22 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) In view of preventing the soil erosion and land sliding, investments for afforestations have been made, for bank consolidation and to recreate the natural forest fund. The waste management The current waste collection, transport and storage practices are inadequate, generating a negative impact on the environment factors. The impact generated by the waste produced and stored badly can be seen in the damaging of the environment, soil and sub-soil factors. The waste deposits have been placed close to human settlements and surface water resources, polluting by the ugly aspect of the area, unpleasant smells as well as by propagating the light waste by wind, on a great surface around these. The analysis of the town salubrity in urban and rural environment in RBDD has showed the following deficient aspects: o concerning the storing pits, the waste are stored directly on the soil; o the waste pits have no fences and no actions to fight insects and rodents are done; o the transport means and the recipients of pre-collecting waste at platforms level are not washed and disinfected; o in towns there are no concrete platforms, connected to the water and sewerage network, the dustbins being placed in improvised area; o the waste selective collection is done by few people In order to fight these problems, currently they are finalizing a project concerning the creation of the integrated system for administrating the waste in the Danube Delta localities. The project, summing 4 million euro, includes works for building a centre for collecting, selecting and transfer of waste in Sulina, Sfântu Gheorghe, Chilia Veche and Crişan, building some local centers for collecting recyclable waste in all Delta localities, building some for collecting mixed waste, equipping the collecting centers with recipients, the main localities with street bins and with collecting and transport means. The flooding risk The flooding risk is very high. Among the main causes of floods are also: abundant precipitations during summer, snow melting during spring, an inadequate use of lands, irrational deforestation of some large surfaces but also hydro-technical works done in order to deepen and enlarge the river stream. After the 2010 floods, households from Tudor Vladimirescu, Patlageanca, Ilganii de Sus, Vulturu, the Şireasa agricultural precincts, the defense dam from the eastern Ceatalchioi, the protection dams of Maliuc, Gorgova and Mila 23 were affected2. The protection dams against floods in the delta are affected greatly by the 2006 and 2010 floods or because they are very old and some localities like Ilganii de Sus, Vulturu, Balteni de Jos are very vulnerable to this phenomenon, as they are not protected. 2 ARBDD, Activity Report of Danube Delta Biosphere Reservation Administration 2010, pag. 17 23 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 1.3.3. Nature conserving The Danube Delta represents the largest protected area in Romania (about 580,000 ha), owning a triple international status at present: Biosphere Reservation, Ramsar site (wet area of international importance) and site of the Natural and Cultural world patrimony. Inside RBDD 20 natural areas with total protection status, whose surface is about 51,000 ha, have been segmented. Here scientific research concerning biology, maintaining and storing environment quality as well as monitoring the main parameters which define their evolution status can take place. Here are included mainly physical and biological forms or groups, habitats of threatened plants and animals or natural sites with great values from the scientific, conservation and beauty point of view. Areas with total protection No. Name 1. Roşca - Buhaiova 2. Pădurea Letea 3. Răducu 4. Nebunu 5. Vătafu-Lunguleţ 6. Pădurea Caraorman 7. Saraturile Murighiol 8. Arinişul Erenciuc 9. Insula Popina 10. Sacalin-Zatoane 11. Periteaşca-Leahova 12. Capul Doloşman 13. Grindul Lupilor 14. Istria-Sinoe 15. Grindul Chituc 16 Rotundu 17 Potcoava 18 Belciug 19 Insula Ceaplace 20. Prundul cu Păsări Source: www.ddbra.ro Surface (ha.) 9,625 2,825 2,500 115 1,625 2,250 87 50 98 21,410 4,125 125 2,075 400 2,300 228 625 110 117 187 RBDD has been included in the Nature 2000 protected areas network. The Special Protected Areas (SPAs) include: ROSPA0031 Danube Delta and the Razim-Sinoie complex (512,380.6ha) and ROSPA0076 the Black Sea area (147,242.9ha) and the Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) include ROSCI0065 Danube Delta (450,542ha) and ROSCI0066 the Danube Delta marine area (121,697ha). Through the Bern Convention a great number of birds are protected (313 of the total 331 species), 22 mammals species of which 7 are strictly protected and about 24 fish species of which 22 are strictly protected. 24 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) RBDD has autonomous administration since 1990, along with the declaration of the reservation and along time many projects have been developed in view of supporting and reaching the environment and sustainable development objectives. 1.3.4. Heritage protection Tulcea Archaeological sites: - The archaeological site "Aegyssus" (type A3) in the NE of the city, Gloria Street, Monument Park; the perimeter consisting of Nufărului St., Orizontului, Brumariei, consists of: Medieval settlement, Aegyssus citadel – roman age, Aegyssus civil settlement, necropolis of city Aegyssus – roman Age, Roman Fortress, a Citadel from Latène; - Underwater archaeological site (type A) - is on the Black Sea continental platform, has archaeological remains from the following periods: the Greek era, Roman era, Hellenistic Age, the Roman-Byzantine era, the medieval age, the modern age; - Archaeological site in Tulcea, "La via Judecătorului" (type B4) - 4 km E of Tulcea, includes: a Roman fortification - Roman age, a civil settlement - Roman Age; - Archaeological site " Dealul Taberei" (type B) includes a settlement from the Roman era and a medieval settlement. Architectural monuments: - Azizi Mosque, 1861 -1876 (type A); - Urban ensemble Progresului St., (type B) - Urban Site Progresului St., (type B) - 19 nineteenth century houses, 14 Nov st., Victoriei st., Gloriei st.(B); - Former Turkish gendarmerie, XIX cen., 14 November street, (B) - Spiru Haret High School, 1883, (B) - Former Austrian Consulate, end of XIX cen., (B) - Former head of National Bank, begining of XX cen., (B) - Museum of Ethnography and Folklore, 1920 - 1940, (B) - Passing of Former Palace of Tulcea, Today Art Museum, 1870, (B) - Orthodox Cathedral "St. Nicholas", 1865, (B) - Annunciation Greek Church (1848 - 1854), (B) - Clock Bulgarian Church of St. George, 1857, 1927, (B) - Former Turkish School, Mid. XIX cen., (B) - Former City Hall, Mid. XIX cen., (B) - Former headquarters of the State Fisheries, 1900, (B) - Headquarters Garrison Tulcea, 1900, (B) - Avramide House today Museum of Natural Sciences, XIX cen., (B) - Chamber of Commerce, XIX cen., (B) Public Monuments: - Independence Monument, Monument Park Colnicul Hora, (type A) 3 4 A – objective of national interest B – objective of local interest 25 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Sulina Architectural monuments: - The Old Lighthouse, 1887, on the left bank of the Danube (type A) - Jean Bart House, sec. XIX, (type A) - Palace of the European Commission for Lower Danube, 1860, (type A) - The lighthouse of the European Commission for Lower Danube, 1870, (type A) - Hospital of the European Commission for the Lower Danube, 1864, (type A) - Urban site (Kogalniceanu St.), (B) - Urban site (quai area), XIX cen., (B) - 13 homes XIX cen., (B) - House with shop, end of XIX cen., (B) - St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral, 1910 - 1912, (B) - St. Nicholas Catholic Church, 1863, (B) - St. Nicholas Greek Church, 1867, (B) - School, end of XIX cen., (B) Memorial and funeral: - Graveyard of the European Commission for Danube, sec. XIX (type A); - Orthodox Cemetery, XIX century (type A); - Muslim Cemetery, XIX century (type A); - Catholic Cemetery, XIX century (type A); - Hebrew Cemetery, XIX century (type A); Beştepe Archaeological sites: - The archaeological site of Beştepe, point "Sava's Stone" (Type A) - 2 km NE of Beştepe includes a Roman settlement and a fortification of Hallstatt; - Fortified settlement from the "Stone of Bujor" 2 km NE of Beştepe - IV - III cen. BC Latène (type A); - Getic fortification "La Cetățuie" sec. IV - III BC Latène (type A); - Roman - Byzantine era settlement, IV - VI AD cen. – In the center of the village Beştepe (type B); - Roman - Byzantine era necropolis, IV - VI AD cen. - The center of the village Beştepe (type B); - The archaeological site of Beştepe (type B) - Curpenişului Valley under the first hill Beştepe includes a necropolis of the Roman - Byzantine era and a Roman settlement of II - IV AD cen.; - The archaeological site of Beştepe at the limit area of the village, includes a Roman settlement and a settlement of Hallstatt (type B); - The archaeological site of Beştepe located 1.5 km N of village includes a Roman settlement I-III AD cen. and a settlement of the IV - III BC century. Latene (type B). C.A. Rosetti Archaeological sites: - Medieval settlement, Periprava village (type B). Chilia Veche Archaeological sites: 26 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) - Medieval settlement, south of the village (B); Tumulus, (type B). Crisan Archaeological sites: - Tumulus necropolis, Greek - getic era - Caraorman village on the Ivancea hill (type B); - Early Medieval settlement - Caraorman village west of the village - (B). Jurilovca Archaeological sites: - The archaeological site of Jurilovca "Capul Dolojman" (type A) is 8 km E of village, 4 km SE is Bisericuta Island; Cape Dolojman site includes: Argamum Citadel Greco Roman era (VII century BC - VII AD), civil settlement and necropolis of the city from the same period, medieval settlement on the Bisericuta island, Roman fortress on the Bisericua island, the Roman settlement on the Bisericuta island, Greek settlement on the Bisericuta island; - Tumulus group (6) - (B) in the village 6 Martie - between shore and the road Sălcioara – Enisala, are from La Tene - sec. IV - III BC - The archaeological site Jurilovca - Jurilovca village, comprising: a settlement of the century. XVII - XVIII, Hallstatt settlement and a settlement from the Roman period, (B); - Tumulus group - Jurilovca village, (B); - The archaeological site Sălcioara located in the center of the village Sălcioara includes: a settlement from early medieval era, a rural settlement Roman-Byzantine era, a settlement from the Roman era and a settlement from early La Tene, (B); - Greek - native settlement La Tene, about 1.25 km NE of village Sălcioara, (B); - Early Medieval era settlement - in the village Sălcioara, on the shore of the namesake lake, (B); - Turris Roman - Byzantine era (IV - VI d.Hr cen.), Iancinna Cape, 5 km of Sălcioara, (B); - The archaeological site of Sălcioara, along the coast, 450 meters from the village Sălcioara includes: a settlement from early medieval period, a settlement of Roman times, a settlement of La Tene and a Hallstatt settlement, (B) - Roman settlement (first century - IV d.Hr) Vişina village, (B) - Archaeological site Vişina (type B), Visina village, Lake Golovita, includes a settlement from early medieval times, a settlement from Roman era, a settlement from La Tene, a settlement from the early La Tene, a settlement from the Hallstatt and one of Eneolithic. Mahmudia Archaeological sites: - The archaeological site "Salsovia Citadel" , 2 km northwest of Mahmudia includes a Roman- Byzantine citadel IV - VI cen. and a civil settlement of the same period (type A); - Archaeological site Mahmudia (type B) is in center of the village and includes a Hallstatt settlement and a necropolis from the same period; - Flat cremation cemetery Ceiracul, 3km of Mahmudia - VI - V BC cen. later Hallstatt (B); - Roman rural settlement times (fourth century AD) - is about. 2 km E of village Mahmudia, (B); 27 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) - - Archaeological site Mahmudia (type B) which is 2.5 km east of Mahmudia village on a plateau bounded on N by Filip Roșu channel and includes a settlement from the Roman period and a settlement of Hallstatt; Getic settlement of La Tene (IV - III BC), 3 km E of village Mahmudia, (B); Getic settlement 4 km E of village Mahmudia, channel Filip Rosu - Latene (sec IV - III BC), (B); Early Medieval Settlement (XI century), 4 km E of village Mahmudia, (B); Tumulus (B) on the road Mahmudia - Murighiol 3.5 km Mahmudia; Tumulus (B), near the hill Hârtop - Mahmudia; Tumulus (B), on the road Tulcea - Mahmudia; Hallstatt settlement 1 km V Salsovia - Mahmudia village, (B); Murighiol Archaeological sites: - Zaporojeni Citadel, Roman - Byzantine era IV-VI AD is in the village of Lower Lake Dunavăţul Razelm (type A); - Getic settlement - sec. IV - II BC Latene, in the village Dunavăţul de Jos 2.5 km from the city Zaporozjeni, (B); - Getic settlement - IV - II BC cen. Latene, in the village Dunavăţul de Jos 1.5 km from the village limit, (B); - Early Medieval Settlement (sec. X - XI AD) located in the center of the village of Dunavăţul de Sus, (B); - Roman - Byzantine fortress (IV - VI century AD) located in the village of Dunavăţul de Sus, (B); - Rural settlement, roman era - Murighiol village, (B); - Rural settlement, roman era - Sarinastuf village, (B); - Settlement of early La Tene, 800 m E of village Sarinastuf, (B); - Cremation cemetery from La Tene, the center of the village Sarinastuf, (B); Nufaru Archaeological sites: - The archaeological site of Ilganii de Sus at 2km southwest of the village Izvoarele, consists of a early medieval fortress and a Roman - Byzantine fortress (type A); - The archaeological site " Halmyris Citadel" - 2 km SE of Murighiol includes: cityGreek - Roman era (IV BC - VII century AD), civil settlement and cemetery (type A); - Nufăru archaeological site - Nufăru village includes: medieval fortress Prislava (X-XVI century), early medieval era necropolis, Roman fortress, Roman settlement and settlement of early La Tene (type A); - Getic settlement of La Tene - Malcoci village (road Tulcea - Nufăru), (B); - The archaeological site Malcoci, (B) comprises: a fortified settlement from Roman times, a settlement of La Tene and a Hallstatt settlement. - The archaeological site located on the slope of the hill Murighiol, N Murighiol includes a settlement from the medieval era and Roman rural settlement, (B) - Getic settlement of La Tene - "Movila Duna" (B); - The archaeological site of Murighiol point "Ghiolul Pietrei" includes a early medieval times settlement, a settlement of La Tene and a Hallstatt settlement, (B) 28 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) - The archaeological site Murighiol at the center of the village Murighiol, includes a settlement of Latene and a getic necropolis in the same period, (B); Tumulus - throughout the village Murighiol, (B); Early Medieval settlement - (sec XI - XIII) at km SE of the village Nufăru, (B); The archaeological site, 1.5 km SE of village Nufăru includes a settlement from the Roman period and a settlement of La Tene, (B); The archaeological site of Nufăru, Curcuz Valley includes a medieval settlement - and a settlement of early La Tene, (B); Archaeological site Nufăru Hill, Curcuz point, includes a medieval settlement - a and settlement of early La Tene, (B); Medieval crafting complex - Nufăru village, (B); Nufăru archaeological site on the road Nufăru - Beştepe (type B) - consists of a early medieval settlement and a settlement of La Tene; Medieval necropolis of inhumation (XI century) - the S hills of the village Nufăru (B); Early Medieval necropolis - in the village of Victoria, (B); The archaeological site of Victoria, Victoria village, includes a settlement from the early medieval era and a settlement of La Tene; Sarichioi Archaeological sites: - The archaeological site "Enisala Citadel" is in the village Enisala near the lake Razelm, includes the following artifacts: medieval fortress (sec. XIV - XV), Hallstatt settlement, (type A); - The archaeological site of Enisala point "Palanca" in the village Enisala between Enisala citadel and Palanca includes the following artifacts: a settlement from the Roman era, a medieval settlement, a necropolis, a early medieval settlement, sec IV - II BC Latene, Hallstatt settlement, settlement of the Neolithic (type B); - Roman- Byzantine era fortress (IV - VII AD) located on the South shore of Lake Babadag, N of the village of Enisala (B); - Roman rural settlement (sec. II - IV AD) in the village of Enisala (B); - Medieval settlement (XV - XVII) located in the village Enisala (B); - The archaeological site from Enisala "La Biserica" point - includes the following: medieval period cemetery, settlement from the migrations period, necropolis of Roman, Bronze Age settlement, settlement of La Tene; (B) - In the necropolis. V - IV î.Hr.Latène, 3km S of village ENISA (B); - The archaeological site of Sabangia - The Fountain Ialnaşcu at about 2 km N of village Sabangia includes: a settlement in early medieval times, a Roman settlement, a settlement from the Neolithic and a Latene settlement, (B) - Roman - Byzantine settlement, village Sabangia, (B) - Roman necropolis - Sabangia village, (B) - The archaeological site Sarichioi, N of Sarichioi village (B) includes a late medieval cemetery and a Roman rural settlement; - Early medieval era settlement (X - XII c.) in the village Sarichioi, (B) - Archaeological site Sarichioi Hill Bursudi point: a medieval settlement, a settlement from early medieval times, a getic settlement of La Tene, a settlement from the 29 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Hallstatt, a Bronze Age settlement, a settlement of Eneolithic and a settlement from the Neolithic, (B) Roman rural settlement. II - IIIAD - 1 km S of village Sarichioi, (B) Early medieval settlement in ( IX – XI cen.) - 1 km S of Sarichioi, (B) Tumulus - Sarichioi village, (B) Tumulus group - hill Tapi, village Sarichioi, (B) Tumulus group - 2 km northwest of the village Sarichioi N, (B) Aligned tumulus - 3 km N of Sarichioi, (B) Roman settlement - Visterna village, (B) Roman necropolis (sec. I - III d.Hr) - Visterna village, (B) Somova Archaeological sites: - Archaeological site Parcheș - Bugeac, 1 km west of the village Parches - Somova includes a settlement from the Roman period and a settlement of La Tene, (B) - Late medieval settlement of "Iarba Dulce", 1km west of the village Parches, (B) - Getic settlement of La Tene (type B) Lake Parches, N of Parches village; - Archaeological site Somova (type B) - Somova village, includes: a settlement of the Roman - Byzantine era, a Roman settlement and a settlement from La Tene; - The archaeological site of Somova, "La batace", Somova village, includes a settlement and a necropolis of La Tene; Valea Nucarilor Archaeological sites: - Tumulus - Agighiol village (type A) - the set includes: an alignment of three tumulus, tumulus grouped, isolated tumulus, alignment of 11 tumulus; - The archaeological site of Agighiol (type B) - is in the center of the village and surrounding area to the E, comprises a Roman settlement and an early medieval rural settlement; - Greek - native settlement (B) - Agighiol village, 350 m from the village, on the Pietros hill; sec. IV-III BC; - Roman rural settlement (II-IV century AD) in the village of Agighiol, 1.5 km from the village, on the shore of lake Aghighiol (type B); - Roman rural settlement in the village of Agighiol, 1 km NW - II - III d.Hr c. - (B); - Settlement in the village of Agighiol - sec. II AD Latene (type B); - Rural settlement in the village of Agighiol at 1.8 km N-NW of the village, sec III - IV century AD, Roman-Byzantine era (B); - Early Medieval settlement ( X – XI c.), 1.6 km N of village Agighiol (type B); - Roman rustic villa - 1.5 km N of village Agighiol, Tulcea Valley - sec. II - III AD (type B); - Early medieval settlement - sec. XI - XII AD, in the village Agighiol at 1.6 km V (B); - Getic settlement - II - III AD, Roman era , in the village Agighiol at 1.6 km W from the village (B); - Roman rural settlement (II - IV BC) 2 km from the village Iazurile (type B); - Settlement (B) of XVII – XVIIIc., "Siliştea", 1.5 km SW of the village Iazurile and 500m from the village of Agighiol; 30 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) - Tumulus aligned - the village Iazurile SE (B); - Tumulus at 1.3 km from the village Iazurile V, (B); - Roman rural settlement in the village of Valley Nucarilor, (B); - Tumulus, 4 km N of the village Vallea Nucarilor (B); Architectural monuments: - Church "Sf Voievozi" 1858 - 1860, village Agighiol, (B) Syntesis - Type of the monument Type of the monument Tulcea Sulina Bestepe C.A. Rosetti Chilia Veche Crisan Jurilovca Mahmudia Archaeology Architecture Public monuments Memorial-funeral monuments Archaeology Architecture Public monuments Memorial-funeral monuments Archaeology Architecture Public monuments Memorial-funeral monuments Archaeology Architecture Public monuments Memorial-funeral monuments Archaeology Architecture Public monuments Memorial-funeral monuments Archaeology Architecture Public monuments Memorial-funeral monuments Archaeology Archaeology Architecture Public monuments Memorial-funeral monuments Memorial-funeral monuments Archaeology Architecture No. of Monumets Type A Type B 2 2 1 36 1 5 5 8 - 3 - 5 - - 1 - - 2 - - 2 - 1 - 10 - - - 1 - 11 - 31 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Type of the monument Murighiol Nufaru Sarichioi Somova Valea Nucarilor TOTAL Public monuments Memorial-funeral monuments Archaeology Architecture Public monuments Memorial-funeral monuments Archaeology Architecture Public monuments Memorial-funeral monuments Archaeology Architecture Public monuments Memorial-funeral monuments Archaeology Architecture Public monuments Memorial-funeral monuments Archaeology Architecture Public monuments Memorial-funeral monuments No. of Monumets Type A Type B 1 - 8 - 3 - 15 - 1 - 20 - - 4 - 1 - 16 1 - 16 141 1.4. ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AREA The economic characteristic of the Romanian Pilot Project DELTAS Area comprise an array of information defined by quantitative measurements and also by qualitative appreciations and specific public regulation applied in particular for each municipality or as general rules for all area. In order to attempt the phase purpose it has been used several information sources such as: an economic indicators database (Borg Design only for private sector), National Institute for Statistics, Eurostat, county councils sites, structural funds sites, banks sites. Evolving a strategy aiming to tourism development for the Delta part of Danube River needs first to analyze the economic situation of the municipalities comprised in Tulcea study area. In that perspective it has been decided the necessity of describing the local business sector, the financial framework and local government rules. Those parameters are considered to be the basement for any further economic development and also an important support for a realistic tourism strategy. 32 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Economic performance Turnover indicator measures results in microeconomic level representing the volume of returns from own activity in a period of time, returns price market considered. Danube Delta study area summarizes a turnover of 3.351.781.866 Ron, most of them “produced” in Tulcea City (91, 7%). Considering the territorial distribution of economic results (turnover) for the rest of the study area, is clearly visible in the charts issued that “wealth” is concentrated in the close neighborhood of urban poles, excepting Sulina’s town case. Economic results in Danube Delta study area, besides Tulcea City, shows a distribution of economic results similar with employment information mentioned above. In that perspective, Mahmudia contribute up to 2, 4% in area turnover, Sarichioi with 1, 8% and Sulina town with less then a percent. Regarding the overall structure of activities on economic branches, Danube Delta study area has up to 43,7% industry turnover, 32,9% commerce turnover, 8,5% other services turnover and 8,1% construction turnover. Tourism turnover represent only 2, 2 share in economic results. Territorial distribution of economic activities The structure of activities in Tulcea Area based on economic results (share of turnover) shows several categories of economic profiles such as: - Agricultural profile: Bestepe (61, 2%), Ceatalchioi (80, 9%); - Forestry profile: Jurilovca (45, 6%); - Fishery profile: Crisan (44, 2%); - Industrial profile: Tulcea City (47, 1%); - Construction profile: Sarichioi (59,6); - Commercial profile: C.A. Rosetti (97, 5%), Chilia Veche (82%), Mahmudia (76, 1%), Murighiol (32, 5%), Nufaru (46, 6%), Sulina town (70, 2%), Pardina (100%), Sfantu Gheorghe (49, 5%), Somova (40, 5%) and Valea Nucarilor (36, 2%). In that range of activities, industrial activities come first bringing the highest economic performance as it can be observed in the chart describing the territorial distribution of the turnover. In that perspective Tulcea City came on top of the study area with the biggest turnover issued mainly from industry. Besides industry, commercial activities are also well represented in Delta Area. Touristic activities are not very competitive in the study area in terms of economic results, although the Danube Delta offers a great touristic potential to that territory. However, the business sector situation highlights good natural and human resources whom are available to support local economic and especially touristic development, but a rather poor exploitation of those resources. There is a need for a better involvement of local and county authorities in order to attract direct investments for tourism and other supporting services and to engage in more offensive promotions of these areas. Complementary, it is necessary to make adjustments for transport and urban infrastructure. 33 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 1.4.1. Agriculture The great number of the fields covered with water but also of those with natural pastures and meadows have influenced the development of fishing and agriculture in the 17 analysed towns: o fishing – Tulcea, Sulina, Crisan, Sfantu Gheorghe, Sarichioi; o agriculture – Somova, Ceatalchioi, Pardina, C.A.Rosetti, Nufaru, Bestepe; o fishing and agriculture – Maliuc, Mahmudia, Murighiol, Valea Nucarilor, Jurilovca, Chilia Veche. Having in view the natural conditions in the Danube Delta (large surfaces of water and smaller ones of land), the agriculture of these towns can seem at first a branch with a limited development potential. But, the reality is that agricultural lands have extended due to the damming and draining during the last years. During the last decades of the XX century, facilities for agriculture, fishing and forestry were built. The agricultural facilities (like in Pardina and Murighiol) are used both by local inhabitants (who use small plots of lands, for living) and by companies who obtain granting, for profit. They cultivate mainly corn, wheat, fodder crops, vegetables, vine (especially in Tulcea and C.A.Rosetti), fruit trees (apple trees, pear trees, apricot trees, plum trees – around Chilia Veche and Ceatalchioi towns). In the villages without agricultural lands (Crisan, Sfantu Gheorghe) local inhabitants use the household yard for gardening, but the products they obtain are not enough. Animal breeding (bulls, ovine, caprine, equine, porcine) is an activity favoured by the large spaces on the spits and by the natural pastures and meadows. There is a local tradition of breeding animals, with unique character, favoured by the natural conditions but also by the breeders’ tradition and mentality. This particularity refers to breeding animals in liberty during the whole year in the open air and, during winters, hosted by some modest reed covers. This system is still frequent for bulls and equine but rare for porcine. The large number of ovine is linked to the use of pastures which have a rich vegetation after the retirement of waters. Probably that the first recreational activity that a tourist would think of is fishing. This could not be otherwise due to the large surfaces of water (the Danube, many lakes, distributaries and channels) and the diversity of fish living here (crucian carp, roach, bream, sheatfish, carp, pike perch, pike, perch, herring, sturgeons). Having in view the studies that demonstrate the decline of the sturgeons species (sterlet, common sturgeon, great sturgeon and others) as well as the worrying evolution of the sturgeons’ captures registered after 2000, fishing sturgeons is forbidden. The fish fauna presents interest both for the scientific and economic fields but also for sport fishing. From the economic point of view, fishing has remained the basic activity of towns isolated among waters, representing an important source of employment and ensuring means of living. In spite of the progress in facilities and organisation, the productivity of fishing is inferior to the one from the beginning of the century (the fish quantity handed by every fisherman to fisheries is a lot smaller in present than that registered at the beginning of the century). The fish facilities have taken over large areas from the fishing zones without a great productivity. These changes have reduced the value of fishing as basic activity for some towns which have developed an agricultural profile 34 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) (Pardina, Ceatalchioi). The least affected areas still keep a relevance of the fishy profile (Sfantu Gheorghe, Sarichioi, Jurilovca). 1.4.2. Forestry The forest fund in the analysed towns is represented by natural forests, forests planted in a regime free of floods and forests planted in forest managements (Murighiol -367 ha, Pardina – 425 ha, Sfantu Gheorghe – 1285.7 ha), characterised by a valuable fauna complex for the hunting tourism (rabbits, deer, porcupines, foxes, wild cats, otters, minks, ermines, martens, badgers, common badgers, geese, wild ducks, pheasants, partridges, woodcocks, small snipes, lapwings, pelicans, cormorants) but also for other tourist activities such as bird-watching or photo-safari. From the ecological and economic point of view, the forests have a protection function, the production function being less developed. That is why the forest economy absorbs a small part of the workforce. Of the surfaces covered with forests of the towns analysed (the Topalcea forest – Tulcea, the Covaliova forest – Ceatalchioi, the Letea forest and the Nasmacul Mare forest – C.A.Rosetti, the Babadag forest – Sarichioi, the Tatarului forest – Chilia Veche) The Letea forest is remarked, a special natural reservation which includes about 3,000 ha. The charm of this forest with tropical aspect is represented not only by the high trees (grey oaks, elms, white poplars) but also the lianas which mount on the trees trunks, field bindweed, ivy, hop which, together with the wild roses, offer by their colours a very picturesque image. Here one can see over 3.000 animal species and over 500 plant species. Unlike the agricultural facilities, the forest ones were made after 1960 by damming, clearing the spontaneous forest vegetation and by planting some species of acacia, poplar and ash tree. These forest facilities have been made for economic purposes and nobody has analysed their ecologic role in view of creating a diverse flora spectrum to offer biotopes for the delta fauna. That is why it is thought that these facilities have not brought any benefits to the ecologic equilibrium and have led to the damage of the Danube Delta biodiversity potential. Among the forest facilities with productive aim are those in Pardina (425 ha), Murighiol (400 ha) and Sfantu Gheorghe (1285.7 ha). http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pardina,_Tulcea 1.4.3. Industry The industry sector in the Danube Delta is low developed, being an agro-based economy. The area is more agrarian than industrial, agriculture, fishery, livestock, and exploitation of metallic ores and construction materials being the main economic activities sustaining the livelihoods. Industrial units having a significant impact of the economy are, in most part, located in urban areas, adjacent to the reservation area. Industry structure is characterized by the predominance of food industries (canned fish, vegetables and fruits, dairy products, grain milling, meat industry), ferrous and non-metallic mineral extraction, construction materials, reed exploitation, wood processing industry, metallurgy, chemical, textile industry, construction and repair of ships. Overall, the industrial production severely decreased in the last year (-12.2% in 2005 and -42.9% in 2007 respectively in Tulcea 35 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) county). The specific resources of the Danube Delta Reservation, fish and reed, have the highest significance both for local economies and national industrial branches. In recent years, a number of large industrial consumers of energy and pollutants have been closed and stopped the activity, the industrial production being reduced considerably. The sectors most affected by the transition to the market economy, registering the most pronounced decline are ferrous and nonferrous industries. Poor infrastructure in the city contributes significantly to reduction of the industrial activity and high unemployment. The access to vital economic nodes is impeded by the infrastructure, insufficient developed, water transport being predominant in the region and extremely sensitive to changes in natural conditions (i.e. frost, low or high water). Tulcea is the operating centre of the reed and the sole producer of calcined alumina and a major shipbuilding yard. Generally, medium and small industry and handicrafts are in decline. The main industrial zone is Tulcea Municipality, where the industrial sectors with the highest contribution to generate revenues and increased growth rate are construction industry, ship building and repair, metallurgy (excluding production for export, in growth), construction material production, wood processing industry, textile industry (garments and leather), food (fish, meat, milk, wine, vegetables, fruit). In some localities in the Danube Delta, the extractive industry has still potential of development, through the exploitation of mineral substances such as limestone (Bestepe, Mahmudia, Murighiol, Nufarul, Jurilovca), dolomites (Mahmudia), sandstone (Dervent-Tepe quarries, Nufarul) used by Galati Steel Plant or in the manufacture of lime in construction and stone for the maintenance of roads and railways. Although, the exploitation operation significantly decreased in recent years, some quarries have continued their work. Food production sector, construction and repair of ships will increase further with the intensification of specific demand worldwide and nationally. The position in the territory could attract the potential investors to value the wind potential and thus some niche sectors are supporting the economic activity of the local communities, namely alternative energy production (i.e. Bestepe, Somova, Valea Nucarilor) especially through publicprivate partnerships. Because much of the territory is declared protected area, the importance of the industry sector in general, and of hard industry in particular will decrease, and other sector will gain higher importance tourism, services, trade. 1.4.4. Services Generally, services sector is low developed, and except for two branches, tourism and trade, the perspectives of revival are still poor. Together with fishing, trade and tourism sectors have the highest potential for the future sustainable development of local communities, registering the highest increase. The patterns of the Delta area offer potential for development of the hospitality industry. The natural and cultural potential sustains tourism development within the area, moreover as it generates economic, social, environmental benefits for the local communities (creating jobs, incomes, contribution to the local economy, social impact) being a priority for the consistent development of 36 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) the localities. The most attractive factors for the delta communities are the natural resources valorised through agrotourism. For small, family, agricultural business, agrotourism is a future solution through education and awareness of residents on the economic, social and environmental benefits of tourism development in the area, and attracting the interests of Romanian and foreign tourists on the traditional practices of agriculture and fishery in the delta villages. The future development of Tulcea Municipality is based on sectors with the highest growth in the community, tourism and financial services, respectively. The economic development of the city was based on tourism and its potential, and the constructions and investments in tourism infrastructure, especially accommodation units, proved this new orientation of the market. Tourism is a very competitive sector also in attracting foreign investments. 1.4.5. Tourism sector 1.4.5.1. Tourist attractions The beaches in the Danube Delta The Sfantu Gheorghe beach – beach at the Black Sea lying at about 3 km from the Sfantu Gheorghe town, variable width, between 40-100 m and a length of 6 km which can be designed. The sand is fine and the sand dunes (high of 0,75 – 1,50m) represent a source for refreshing and designing the beach. The Sulina beach – beach at the Black Sea, is the main attraction in the city, lying at 2 km distance from this. It has a width of 100m, in diminution to the south and with a 4km length. The sand has a fine granulation and is blended with shells and different residues brought by the sea water. The Sulina beach is an area of ecologic importance, here the sand bindweed developing, a plant on the red list of the protected species. The Gura Portitei beach – Gura Portitei is a wild place, attested by documents since 1710. With a length of about 7 km, the beach has been designed by the Tour SRL Tulcea fishing society. Archaeological citadels and sites The Enisala medieval fortress is included in the military architecture monuments on the Romania territory, built in the XIVth century. The precincts walls of the citadel are mostly kept at a 5-10m height and can be noticed from large distances. The Orgame-Argamum archaeological site – the Orgame-Argamum archaeological site lies on the border of the Razim lake, at 20 km south-west from the Sfantu Gheorghe arm. The Orgame citadel is mentioned in documents at the beginning of the VIth century. The Halmyris archaeological site, situated at about 2 km from the Murighiol village. The archaeological diggings in 1981 demonstrated its existence from the VI century BC. The Salsovia – Mahmudia citadel –The vestiges of the Salsovia Roman fortification lie on a promontory above the Sf Gheorghe arm. The citadel functioned as a military castrum in the first half of the III century. 37 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) The Proslavita citadel – Nufaru – lies on the right border of the Sf Gheorghe arm, at about 12 km before the Tulcea city. The archaeological research has shown the existence of an important urban centre from the X-XIV centuries. The Istria citadel – on the border of the Sinoe lake lies the Histria citadel – the first Greek colony on the western border of the Black Sea and the oldest city in Romania, being created at the middle of the VII-th century B.C. Horseback riding In the Danube Delta there are some horseback riding services within the accommodation units where this activity can be practiced: Egreta Hotel – Dunavăţu de Jos; Green Village Complex – Sfântu Gheorghe; Cormoran Complex – Uzlina. Other attractions A department of the Tulcea eco-museum research institute (www.icemtl.ro), the Danube Delta eco-tourist museum centre is created as a complex culture institution that includes a museum and a public aquarium. It was created through a common effort of the Tulcea county council and the Tulcea eco-museum research institute, inside a project developed through the Romania-Ukraine Neighbouring programme 2004-2006 and opened officially for the public on the 14.04.2009. Centru spa în cadrul Morena boarding house în localitatea Murighiol; A spa centre inside the Morena boarding house in the Murighiol town. The Niculitel paleo-Christian monument – lies in the north-east area of the town, at the foot of the Piatra Rosie hill. The complex is made of a paleo-Christian basilica, erased on some martyr graves. Four martyrs - Zotlkos, Attalos, Camasls and Phlllppos –were identified in a common coffin, lying in the superior part of the crypt. The basilica and the crypt-martyr were built after 370 A.D., on the place of an old grave from the III century A.D. The wild herds of horses in the Letea village – groups of wild horses offer real shows while running on the spits. These animals appeared here during the last decades due to a tradition known in the entire Delta, which is to let the domestic animals free in the wild pool areas. Another tourist attraction of the Letea village is represented by the windmill rebuilt recently by some workers from the village. The windmill was part of a large group of such buildings which occupied, some decades ago, the field around the village and that in Periprava. 1.4.5.2. Tourist infrastructure Tourist infrastructure is relatively well represented in the area of Danube Delta. Therefore it can be stated that almost all kind of tourist infrastructure is found in Danube Delta: accommodation establishments, food and beverage facilities, means of tourist transport, leisure services, travel agencies and tourist information centres. Accommodation establishments: In 2010 at 31st of July, according to the data provided by National Institute of Statistics there were 128 accommodation establishments cumulating 1,193 rooms and 4,291 bed-places. However this 38 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) only represents 1.4% of the total number of bed-places in accommodation establishments in Romania. It is important to mention that according with Romanian accommodation ranking system most of bed-places in Danube Delta are 3 star classified (52.9%) and 4 star classified (34.3%) (see figure below). These are intermediate and upper-intermediate categories providing a rather good quality of services provided. As regards the type of accommodation establishments, hotels concentrate one quarter (25.2%) of total bed-places in Danube Delta, followed by campings (17.0%), tourist villas (12.1%), boarding houses (12.0%). Other units (pupil camps, inns, holiday villages, accommodation on ships etc.) account for one third (33.75) of total accommodation bed-places in Danube Delta. The occupancy of accommodation establishments is Danube Delta is rather low only 19.8% for the year 2010 which is bellow the national average of 25.3% according with the data of National Institute of Statistics. However different types of accommodation establishments reported higher occupancy rates such us tourist villas (33.4%), accommodation on ships (29.3%) and hotels (20.5%). Distribution of existing bed-places of accommodation establishments in Danube Delta, 2010 201; 4,7% 24; 0,6% 60; 1,4% 264; 6,2% 1470; 34,3% 2272; 52,9% 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star unclassified Source: National Institute of Statistics in Romania Note: data include also Tulcea city; Food and beverage facilities According with the Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism register of F&B public classified facilities there are 80 units located in the area of Danube Delta cumulating 9,036 table seats. Regarding the typology most of F & B facilities in Danube Delta are restaurants (83.1.0%), followed by day bars (6.3%), disco-bars (5.8%) and other types of units (4.9%). According to the star ranking of F & B units in Romania half of these units located in Danube Delta (50.8%) are classified as intermediate category – 3 stars and over a third as superior categories – 4 stars (30.8%) and 5 stars (4.5%). Inferior categories (one and two stars) cumulate only 13.8% of the total classified F & B facilities. Means of tourist transport According with Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve there are 10 tourist transport operators providing transport with ships. It is important to mention that for the access on the inland channels the 39 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) transport is provided by small ships5. In the same time according with Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism register there are 17 river ships that provide accommodation services in 267 bed-places. Leisure services Mainly the leisure services are provided by accommodation establishments. For example there are a sort of spa services (more precisely sauna) provided by some units (e.g. Morena in Murighiol, Mon Jardin in Mahmudia, Green Village) or horseback riding services (e.g. Cormoran Complex in Uzlina). However there are some specific services for Delta such us birdwatching or rental of boats for leisure or fishing purposes that are provided by most of upscale accommodation units. Travel agencies A number of 26 travel agencies licensed by the Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism are located in the area of Danube Delta and Tulcea city. 23 are located in Tulcea city while 2 are located in Jurilovca and one in Samova locality. Tourist Information Centres In Tulcea city there are two Tourist Information Centres according to the list of Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism. One is located in Garii street no 26 on the Danube’s cliff being under the administration of Tulcea Municipality and the other one in Portului street no 34 A. The last one is administrated by Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration (DDBRA). Also DDBRA owns another 2 “tourist information and ecological educational centres” located in Crisan and Sulina localities. 5 Gâştescu Petre, Ştiucă Romulus, Delta Dunării – rezervaţie a biosferei, Bucureşti, CF Press, 2008, p. 278 40 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 41 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 1.4.5.3. Guests Danube Delta is one of the most famous tourist attractions of Romania. Nevertheless in 2010 it attracted only 68,414 tourists registered in accommodation establishments which represent only 1.1 % of total arrivals of tourists in Romania. It is important to mention that only 22.1% are foreign tourists while 77.9% are Romanian tourists. Meanwhile overnight stays account for 108,705 out of 84,791 (78.0%) are overnight stays of Romanian tourists and 23,914 (22.0%) are overnight stays of Romanian tourists. Again the share of overnight stays of Danube Delta in total overnight stays in Romania is very low reaching only 0.7%. When analysing tourist flows in a region the indicator of overnight stays is more accurate that the one of arrivals as it takes into consideration also the duration of stay of tourists. That is the reason why when analysing the breakdown of tourist flows (e.g. classification categories, type of accommodation establishments, seasonality) it is important to consider the overnight stays indicator. Analysing overnights stays distribution by Romanian classification system by stars (see figure …) shows that the majority of tourists have been accommodated in 3 stars units (65.4%) followed by 4 stars units (26.9%). Very few tourists have chosen low classification units of 2 stars (6.1%). This fact could be considered very positive for the tourism activity in the region. Overnight stays of tourists in Danube Delta by classification categories, 2010 6631; 6,1% 31000; 28,5% 71074; 65,4% 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars Source: National Institute of Statistics (INS) in Romania Note: data include also Tulcea city; unclassified and one star units are excluded since the threshold for reporting this indicator to INS has changed starting with 2010 Regarding the distribution of overnight stays by type of accommodation establishments (see following figure), hotels are the predominant type (73.3%), followed by touristic villas (12.7%), camping (7.8%) and boarding houses (5.9%). Other types of units (accommodation on ships and tourist halting places) account for only 0.3%. The fact that the share of hotels in overnight stays (73.3%) is much higher that the one in existing accommodation capacity expressed in bed-places (25.2%) reflects both a strong preference of guests for this type of accommodation and a good functioning of accommodation capacities in hotels. 42 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Overnight stays in Danube Delta by type of accommodation establishments, 2010 365; 0,3% 8447; 7,8% 6370; 5,9% 13852; 12,7% 79671; 73,3% Hotels Touristic villas Boarding houses Campings Other units Source: National Institute of Statistics in Romania Note: data include also Tulcea city Another aspect of analysing tourist flows is represented by the distribution of origin countries of foreign tourists visiting Danube Delta. However it should be reminded that foreign tourists represent only 22% of total overnight stays registered in accommodation establishments in Danube Delta. Orgin countries of foreign tourists visiting Danube Delta in 2010 (Total foreign: 23,914) 22,0% Germany 29,8% Spain Italy France 2,2% Norway 2,9% Poland Austria 5,1% United Kingdom 9,8% 5,7% Switzerland Other foreign countries 7,2% 7,5% 7,9% Source: National Institute of Statistics in Romania Note: data based on number of overnight stays registered in accommodation establishments Most foreign tourists came from Germany (29.8%), followed at big distance by Spain (9.8%), Italy (7.9%), France (7.5%) and Norway (7.2%). These five countries account for over 62% of total foreigners accommodated in Danube Delta. Other countries generating tourists for Danube Delta in 2010 were Poland, Austria and United Kingdom. An important part (22.2%) is represented by other countries, other than the ones mentioned before. 43 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 1.4.5.4. Handicrafts Painting icons on wood / glass, lippovan icons Places where they practice this craft: Tulcea, Jurilovca, Slava Cercheză. The icon was always a part of the Romanian peasant soul. The icon is always present in the traditional house, being used as an object of worship and with religious or decorative purposes, such as icons painted on wood or glass. Fabrics/stitching Places of this traditional craft: Cerna, Luncaviţa. Weaving and sewing for the family, were parts of the basic occupations of the Romanian women. From daily costumes to the feast costumes, and to fabrics that "dress" the house, everything was worked by hand and craftsmanship. Pottery Places where pottery is found: Dorobanţu, Cârjelari. Pottery has been practiced since ancient times, standing witness the beautiful Neolithic pots; during this period they developed a remarkable civilization. Sculpture in wood Places where they practice this craft: Tulcea, Niculiţel, Ciucurova. Wood has always been a sensitive material in which the craftsman has put skill and artistic sense. The raw material was subjected skillful hand of man, giving rise to a broad range of items - from small, personal use, to decorative items for home, household items (chairs, tables, containers used in kitchen). Wicker and rush Places where they practice this craft: Tulcea, Chilia Veche, Luncaviţa, Somova, Topolog, Mahmudia. Art of weaving is very old, before the art of weaving and pottery. Weaving is made of twigs, straw, wicker, rush. There are light objects, tough, delicate, with beautiful texture. Wicker baskets are made of different shapes and sizes, with various uses. Baskets for carrying grapes, fish, fruit and vegetables are made of hazel twigs. Blacksmith Places where they practice this craft: Topolog, Enisala Agighiol, Niculiţel, Baia. Smiths appearance has grown since the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, being strongly encouraged by the strategic placement. The blacksmith workshops made the necessary objects for inhabitants - agricultural tools and horseshoes, household hardware (trivets, hooks straw, fodder cutting knives, axes, cleavers, lock doors and cabinets). Manufacture wheels Places where they keep this tradition: Niculiţel, Enisala. The wheelers were craftsmen who built carts or parts for these vehicles. Wheelwrights craftsmen made pieces of timber the best in vehicle gear. Cooperage- Places where they practice this craft: Niculiţel, Isaccea, Izvoarele, Casimcea, Luncaviţa. Cooperage is a craft that was developed based on human needs. Copper vessels were brought to market and exchanged for agricultural products and rarely for money. Horizontal loom Places where they keep the tradition: Enisala Cerna. Horizontal loom is the most primitive of the four types of looms. It consists simply of two wooden bars that stretch from the longitudinal woolen yarn. During work, the warp threads remain tense due to the two supports placed at the ends of two bars and sitting on the ground. 44 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 1.4.5.5. Gastronomy and wine Even if you're a skilled cook, Delta people will show that there are unbelievable ways to prepare fish. First, Delta fishermen, before cooking the fish, prepare the fins, head and tail, so, the food will be richer in flavor. As for cutting and cleaning the fish, chefs in this area prefer to cut the fish on one side. Thus, boiling or frying is done quickly and evenly, and also this type of notch grind the large bones. Fish soup should be highly seasoned and cooked with several varieties of fish. A soup made of fish recipes of the Delta has some secrets. The first cooked fish should be fat (carp, catfish, carp, crucian carp) and then light fish like pike, perch. In spring, a herring's tail in combination is delicious. Delta fishermen say that after you have tasted true fisherman's soup, you're not allowed to drink water for at least half an hour, otherwise you will be thirsty all the day. And if you get in the Delta, you should not miss these dishes: fried fish, cod fish, brine, fresh fish spawn, salted spawn or crab broiled tail and pincers. The best freshwater fish spawn for the salad are the one of pike and carp. Local wine and liqueur Recommended wines to accompany dishes from Danube Delta: • Feteasca Regala, Merlot, Sauvignon - Istria-Babadag vineyard • Merlot, Pinot Noir, Feteasca a Regala, Aligote, Muscat Ottonel, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling Sarica Niculiţel vineyard. This county offers the best conditions of production both wine and grapes destined for eating. The mild climate favors the growth of grapes for raisins. Other beverages Other local traditional beverages, household products, generally served as an appetizer, are brandy, obtained by fermentation and distillation of plums, and fruit brandy, made from apricot, cherry, plum, peach, cherry and apricot (which borrow the corresponding fruit flavor used). Usually, the degree of alcohol may reach even 40. 45 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 1.5. INFRASTRUCTURE 1.5.1. Transport system in the area Road transport: In most cases, local roads do not provide adequate running surface for passenger transport under safe and comfortable conditions. Access to the Danube Delta is mostly done by water and the lack of roads makes it rather difficult. The public road network includes about 1,335 km of roads among which an European road – E87: Ukraine – Galati – Tulcea – Constanta – (Bulgaria, Turkey, on national road DN 22). The national roads are upgraded and in good condition and fall in III and IV technical classes, while county roads (technical classes IV and V) and communal roads (technical class V) are upgraded in a very small percentage (21.6%); at national level, the South-East Region to which the study area belongs, occupies the last place. In order to facilitate the access to human settlements located in the continental area of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, the links between regional and local roads and the roads that connect with national roads should be upgraded. Rail transport: There is a 103 km single track, non-electrified rail in the area, but there is no railway network in the Delta. The main railway in the region is the double track, electric rail of Faurei – Braila – Galati, with a loop line Tulcea – Braila. Tulcea city has a passenger station and a freight station which connects the city with the capital of the country and allows the transportation of raw materials and goods to and from the whole country. In technical terms the railway network is in good condition; however, because of the level of endowment and the technical condition of the tracks the speed of trains is limited to 60-80 km/h. The main problems of the railway network in the area are the poor condition of equipment and the low level of comfort of passenger cars; it is necessary to improve the links with the European transport corridors. In accordance with the White Paper 2010-2020 on transport policy the railway system will be promoted by means of appropriate infrastructure, enhanced intermodal services and logistics. Air transport: The “Danube Delta” Airport located near Tulcea city provides air traffic services including to the delta. The airport is located 17 km from Tulcea and 3 km from the commune of Cataloi and has a concrete runway of 2,000 x 30 m, a runway verge area of 7.5 m and a maneuvering area of 150 x 17 m. The airport has been and still is subject to upgrading works. The airport provides charter aviation and utility services for agriculture and health; it is also a border crossing and control point open to international traffic. Water transport: the Danube River crosses the study area from south to east; a navigation channel on the section Tulcea - Braila is the main trans-European waterway – Corridor VII (Axis 18) within TEN-T network – that provides water links with the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Tulcea and Sulina are the two river-sea ports in the area, while in the area of Tulcea City there are three types of ports: industrial, commercial and passenger; the latter provides daily ship courses on the three branches of the Danube (Chilia, Sfantu Gheorghe and Sulina). The ports of Tulcea and Sulina are crossing points opened to international traffic. Provisions on transport development The main provisions of the National Spatial Plan - NSP – Communication Network section (Law no. 363/2006) regard rail, air and water transport: 46 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Waterway network: - river waterway development on the sections: Tulcea (between Ceatal Ismail and Ceatal Sfantu Gheorghe; Ceatal Sfantu Gheorghe – the Black Sea; Sulina canal; the Danube navigable branches: Sfantu Gheorghe and Chilia - upgrading works at ferry crossings and passenger ship docking at ports: Sulina, Tulcea, Sfantu Gheorghe, Chilia Veche - new RO - RO traffic line in Tulcea - development of tourist ports and passenger ship jetties at Sulina, Tulcea, Chilia, Sfantu Gheorghe - modernization of ports: Sulina, Tulcea, Chilia Veche Railway network: - construction of a new railway track on the route Tulcea – Macin - Braila Airline network: - modernization of Tulcea Airport 1.5.2. Accessibility The access to the area is only possible by water transport as there are no land transport connections. The existence of improper roads or the absence of roads has the following consequences: difficult connections among the various communes of the zone or the constituent settlements of a commune. Other effects are difficult access to the settlements of the Danube Delta and the capital municipality of the county, which results in the isolation of the settlements, difficult sale of local products and decline of the tourist potential in the zone. Passenger carrying ships offer daily cruises on the three branches of the Danube: Chilia, Sf. Gheorghe and Sulina Branches. The extension and diversification of the relationships among settlements are proposed to be supported through setting development axes in relation to the transport networks. Secondary axes are likely to be set in the study zone, in the east of the Danube Delta, in relation to the county and communal roads and the Sulina Branch: the Tulcea - Chilia Veche and Tulcea - Mahmudia Murighiol, Sulina – Periprava, Sulina – Sfântu Gheorghe local development axes and the TulceaSulina zonal axis. Limited financial resources have been directed, mainly, to rehabilitate the national road network, neglecting both value and quality the network of county and communal adjacent roads. The share of modernized roads in pilot area is low, which has negative consequences for attracting large territories in productive economic activities, limiting the sale of agricultural products in urban centres and the possibility that areas with potential in agro-tourism to be drawn into the national economic circuit. Almost half of all modernized roads are in an advanced state of degradation due to intensive exploitation. Accessibility of rural localities is a major problem and constant over time. Relevant indicators to highlight accessibility consist in the accessibility of communes to the main network of transport respectively location on a DN or CF of the communes and viability of communal and county roads that provide the link between towns, link to the major transport network, access of population to facilities and services. For these reasons, the situation of accessibility in rural area is vital to its 47 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) chances of development. Accessibility Centres Border crossing points (according to Government Decision nr.896/20.08.2008) Border points of small traffic Tulcea County: Isaccea, Chilia Veche, Plauru, Periprava Ports For passengers: Sulina, Tulcea. Industrial: Sulina, Tulcea. Crossings by type of transport Ports: Chilia Veche, Plauru, Periprova. Inland transport Airports: Tulcea. Ports: Tulcea, Sulina 1.5.3. Info -communications The area is served by the optical fiber main line Brăila-Tulcea-Babadag-Năvodari-Constanţa. In all the towns in the area there is fix telephone network, the phoning degree varying between 24,1 % in Tulcea municipality and 0,2 % in Pardina commune. Main fix phone operator is ROMTELECOM, but during the last years other fix phone operators interfered, especially in Tulcea city, as RCS&RDS and UPC. The urban towns and also some of the rural ones are endowed with digital phone units. The communes I.C. Bratianu, Pardina and Ceatalchioi have not their own phone unit. The state of the phone subscribers in the Danube Delta area: Town Municipality Tulcea Town of Sulina Somova Murighiol Nufăru Mahmudia Bestepe Sf. Gheorghe Crişan Maliuc C.A. Rosetti Chilia Veche Pardina Ceatalchioi Fix phone subscribers number of 22394 981 214 372 53 420 n/a 190 300 101 170 129 1 4 Weight of fix phone (%) 24,1 20,7 4,8 10,3 2,2 8,5 n/a 20,1 21,5 10 15,6 5 0,2 0,6 Source: PATZ-Coastal Area 48 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) The area is 100 % covered by the main mobile phone companies, Vodafone, Orange and Cosmote. The communication infrastructure has a very well developed infrastructure in the town of Tulcea due to the accelerated development of the communication fields caused by the introduction and promotion of new products and services. The highest development rate was registered by the Internet and mobile phones services. The segment of data transmission is extremely dynamic, in general its development being also linked to the Internet access expanding; nevertheless the penetration of those services is still low in the area. People living in this area benefits from Internet broadband access, the cover being in Tulcea town of around 70 %. In the same time, Tulcea city and the communes C.A.Rosetti, Chilia Veche, Crişan, Mahmudia, Somova are included by the national “Biblionet” Programe, assuring Internet centers for public. There are also cable broadcast television services. 49 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 1.5.4. Living Quality 1.5.4.1. Water Management The study area includes the following territorial-administrative units: Tulcea City, the town of Sulina and the communes of Beştepe, C. A. Rosetti, Ceatalchioi, Chilia Veche, Crişan, Mahmudia, Maliuc, Murighiol, Nufărul, Pardina, Sfântu Gheorghe, Samova. The water supply and sewerage in the area are provided as follows: Water supply All territorial-administrative units, except for the communes of Ceatalchioi and C. A. Rosetti, have a central system of water supply. In Tulcea city, the system supplies water to approx. 88,680 inhabitants, i.e. 96% of the total population of the city. The overall consumption of water in 2009 was 81.5 m3 per capita. The system sources are surface water (the Danube River) and groundwater (groups of drilled wells in Bogza). The surface water is located upstream of the city and the drinking water comes from water catchments in four cribs. The group of wells collecting underground water comprise 8 wells, of which only 4 are functional. Two culverts are used to pump the water from the catching: they have a diameter of Dn = 1,000 mm and a length of 6.0 km. Currently only one culvert is operating. The overall capacity of the surface water treatment plant was 43,600 m3 a day, in 2009. The plant is obsolete and inefficient; the loss of industrial water is 25% of the input water. The water quality at the outlet of the treatment plant is adequate but until reaching the consumers its quality deteriorates, because the pipes are old and deteriorated. Drinking water is stored in concrete tanks with capacities of 3,500 m3 to 5,000 m3 (elevation +70), a tank of 5,000 m3 (elevation +110), 3 × 500 m3 tanks (plant 12 NDS), 1 × 1,500 m3 tank (plant 14 NDS). The length of the water supply network is 162.26 km; the water losses throughout the network are about 52%. 43.22 km of water pipes are under construction, an investment project financed by the SOP Environment Cohesion Fund. The town of Sulina has a central system of water supply. 3,850 inhabitants, i.e. about 88% of the total population of the city are connected to the water supply system. The water source is the Sulina branch of the Danube River. The water treatment plant has a capacity of 80.8 m3 / h. The water is stored in a half-buried tank with a capacity of 600 m3 and a 300 m3 water tower, which are both in good condition. The drinking water supply network has a length of 42km, and the total length of the streets supplied with drinking water is of 31.4 km. The water supply coverage is 89.7%. Because of the obsolete pipes, water losses reach about 63.2% of the water input in the network. The water supply system of the city is subject to expanding works financed from cohesion funds. 50 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Generally, the communes in the study area have water supply systems, especially the commune seat villages. Water supply in these communes is shown in the table below: Commune No. of inhabitants connected to water supply Amount of water (thou. m3/an) Amount of supplied water (thou. m3/an) Water pipes length (km) 1,060 401.5 72 16.2 C. A. Rosetti - - - - Ceatalchioi - - - - 2,500 315.4 149 35 487 109.5 40 11.4 2,557 365 290 19.2 286 233.6 16 2.7 Murighiol 3,647 171.2 98 44.5 Nufăru 2,222 569.4 15 31.7 Pardina 712 481.8 30 5.8 Sf. Gheorghe 971 630.7 90 11.5 Somova 4,287 929.7 93 27.8 TOTAL 18,729 4,207.8 893 205.8 Beştepe Chilia Veche Crişan Mahmudia Maliuc Source: Dobrogea - Litoral Water Basin Administration, Tulcea County Council, years 2009, 2010 At present, expansion and rehabilitation works on the water supply system are under development in all communes, except for the commune of C.A. Rosetti. Sewage collection system No territorial-administrative unit in the study area has central sewerage system that includes both collecting sewers and treatment plant. Tulcea city and the communes of Mahmudia, Maliuc and Murighiol have only collecting sewers. A system of sewers and treatment plant is under construction in the communes of Crisan, Sf. Gheorghe and the town of Sulina Tulcea city has a separate sewers system. The sewerage system has a length of 96.3 km. 62,620 inhabitants are connected to the sewer network. Sewage is pumped through five pumping stations and discharged into two main collectors with a diameter of 1000 mm each; from here, sewage is discharged into the Danube River, downstream from the built area of the city. Tulcea city has no wastewater treatment plant; sewage is discharged untreated directly into the Danube River. The main deficiencies of the water supply systems and wastewater collection and treatment are: • the underground water source in Tulcea city is inefficient, being operated at half its capacity; • the sewage treatment system of the city is old and inefficient, with losses of water of about 25% of the overall amount of water; • the water supply pipes are old, with large losses of treated water that totalize about 52% of the overall amount of the input water; 51 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) • the quality of drinking water in the supply system is harmed because the water pipes exceeded their working life; • a large number of water pipe channels are undersized, clogged/broken, crumbling, with significant infiltration and seepage; • leaky pipe connections in manholes lead to sewage spills; • the low area of the city is facing many problems: the inability to rapidly and completely discharge the rain water in flood conditions caused by rainfall in excess of the sized flow of the pipes; that leads to water ponding on the streets and adjacent areas; • advanced state of degradation of storm water pump stations; • lack of a wastewater treatment plant; • insufficient human and material resources to ensure proper operation; • the communes in the study area lack sewerage system and sewage treatment. Existing strategies aimed at improving the systems of water supply, sewerage and waste water treatment in the area have as major objectives: • to eliminate all sources of pollution of surface waters by means of sewerage systems and wastewater treatment in all human settlements located in the area; • to extend centralized services with major impact on the health and living standards of population, as well as water supply and sewerage systems, and to increase the access of the population to such services; • to reduce drinking water losses and to cover the water demand in all urban and rural settlements in the study area by identifying new sources of water; • to expand and rehabilitate drinking water supply and sewage treatment plants in the city of Tulcea; • to complete the wastewater treatment plant in Tulcea city. 52 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 1.5.4.2. Public utility supply - The Power Supply The area concerned by the Pilot Project “DELTAS’ covers 14 towns situated on the way of the Danube river: the municipality of Tulcea, town of Sulina and the communes Ceatalchioi, Bestepe, Somova, Nufăru, Mahmudia, Maliuc, Pardina, Chilia Veche, Crişan, Murighiol, Sfântu Gheorghe and C.A. Rosetti. The supplying with heat energy For now, within the concerned territory the centralized supply with heat energy systems (SACET) have an extremely poor representation, being present only in Tulcea city. In Tulcea city, most of the heat energy consumers living in blockhouses are connected to the heating system fed by the Heat Energy Plant within S.C. ALUM S.A (the alumina plant), managed by S.C. ACET S.A. which starting from 2007 is running on natural gas. The town heat energy distribution and supplying is centralized assured by SC ENERGOTERM SA, a unit subordinated to the Tulcea Local Council. For now, 70 % of the municipality housings are connected to the centralized system of heat energy supply. SC ENERGOTERM SA is operating three heating plants. According to the data supplied by the National Regulatory Authority for the Community Services of Public Utilities - A.N.R.S.C. the company is serving 10.742 apartments. An other economical operator of heat energy supplying is S.C. DALKIA SRL România, Tulcea branch, 53 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) operating 14 residential district heating plants running both on liquid fuel and also on pit gas and serving 4.320 apartments (according to ANRSC). The number of the apartments connected to the heat energy supply system evolved so: Year SACET connected dwellings number in Tulcea 2008 13585 2009 13367 2010 14792 Source: ANRSC The centralized distribution system is structured in two main compartments: the primary supplying network (assuring the transmission of the primary thermal carrier) and the secondary network assuring the supplying of the hot water. The education institutions in the city are endowed with their own heating plants, a number of 18 plants, most of them running on liquid fuel. The heat energy volume supplied in Tulcea registered a slow decline during the last years due to the disconnection of some consumers, especially to the consumption decreasing based on the set-up of the registering temperature devices for the heating appliances and the temperature switch ovens that may be leading to a mitigation of heat consumption by 20 … 25 %. This decreasing is presented by the bellow table: Year Supplied heat energy (Gcal) 2006 117014 2007 111683 2008 114940 2009 113887 Sursa: INS- Baza de date TEMPO Around 5 % of the population in Tulcea is still connected to the district plants partially running on light liquid fuel torches, which have been already began to be replaced by natural gas burners. After the beginning of town natural gas supplying, many beneficiaries of the centralized systems of heat energy supplying have been disconnected and they set up their own apartment heating units. In Sulina town, after the centralized supplying system for heat energy has been abandoned, the main heat source are the wood stoves, but there are social/cultural buildings and dwellings using heating units running on wood, electric calorifiers, and even stove gas cylinders, set up to the apartment heating micro-units. In the other towns, for heating the individual houses buildings and social-cultural buildings are used terracotta, bricks fireplaces, or heating units running on solid fuel: wood, coal, or various vegetal wastes. The use of the solid fuels has still a negative impact on the environment by the forests cuttings, environmental pollution, etc. During the last years in the Tulcea municipality heating network vindication and modernization projects have been developed having in view to increase the energetic efficiency of the centralized heating supplying system of the town. Concerning the fireplaces or heating units heating, the main problem is the fuel providing (wood, coal) or gas cylinders, the supplying of the towns located in the Danube Delta being very difficult during the winter. Natural gas supplying 54 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) The natural gas supplying is developed in Tulcea (in a proportion of around 10%) by connecting the high pressure natural gas transmission line pipe with ND 600 mm crossing Tulcea County. The supplied natural gas volume significantly increased each year, especially the volume supplied for housings, as it can be seen in the data presented below: Year Total natural gas volume supplied (thousands of m³) natural gas supplied for housings (thousands of m³) 2006 2007 2008 2009 13671 19962 23610 29018 181 497 1122 1573 Source: INS- TEMPO Data Base The other towns from Danube Delta included in this project are not connected to the natural gas supplying network, the heating being developed using wood (in fireplaces, terracotta fireplaces, heating units running on wood) or electric power (electric calorifiers, radiators). Taking into consideration the concerned area specificity, where the water areas covers a large part of the territory, the ground water can be found in some areas at 0,5 m underground, while the access roads towards towns where if roads do exist is rather precarious, is difficult to expand the natural gas transmission network toward the majority of the Danube Delta towns, especially in the studied towns. The electric power supplying The electrical power requested by the domestic and industrial consumers and also by the third sector users in the area is supplied by the National Energetic System. It is diffused to the territory consumers through the high (220 kV, 110 kV) and medium (20 kV) voltage transport electrical lines, and also by the conversion stations and units. The main transmission lines in the area are SEL 400 kV West Tulcea – North Constanţa and West Tulcea – Isaccea. The distribution networks on 110 kV in the area are SEL on the route Tulcea – Sarinasuf – Crişan – Sulina, West Tulcea – Fântânele – North – Constanţa and West Tulcea Isaccea. The conversion plants serving the area studied by the project are the following: Tulcea West 400/110/20 kV, Sarinasuf 110/20 kV, Crişan 110/20 kV, Sulina 110/20 kV. Tulcea is also served by more 5 conversion plants: Tulcea Town -110/6 kV, Tulcea East – 110/20/6 kV, Shipbuilding Yard – 110/6 kV, Alumina – 110/6 kV and Ferro - alloys – 110/6 kV. The average voltage distribution networks in town developed before 1980 are running at 6 kV voltage, the latest ones have a working voltage of 20 kV. The town of Sulina and the other towns are supplied by the 20 kV SEL connected to the conversion units located in the area. In 2002, the last Population and Housings Census identified the following dwellings electrification state in the area: 55 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Town Tulcea Sulina Bestepe C.A. Rosetti Ceatalchioi Chilia Veche Crişan Mahmudia Maliuc Murighiol Nufăru Pardina Sfântu Gheorghe Somova Number of electrified housings 31259 1773 n/a 661 348 1068 773 1788 437 1517 970 357 654 1651 Weight of electrified housings (%) 99,4 98,0 n/a 91,8 83,7 93,5 94,0 95,0 95,4 96,4 96,2 91,5 97,5 95,1 Source: 2002 Census of Population and Housings The area towns are supplied by medium voltage lines 20 kV SEL from the West Tulcea station (towns of Somova, Nufăru, Bestepe, Maliuc, Ceatalchioi and Pardina), Sarinauf station (Mahmudia, Murighiol) and Crişan (Sulina, Crişan, C.A. Rosetti and Chilia Veche) and in the present all are nearly completely electrified. 56 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Renewable energies The territorial distribution of the renewable energies shows that the Danube Delta over which the studied area is superposed, has a high potential of both solar and Aeolian power. According to the solar and Aeolian energetic potential map, the Danube Delta is a beneficial area for the solar energy use, based on the solar potential map being included in the area I of solar radiation (according to the zoning developed by ICPE and ANM), enjoying a solar radiation intensity of over 1350 kWh/m²/yar. The use of the solar power can be achieved at the beginning for preparing the domestic hot water during the summer, following that later, when practice is gained, other uses are to be approached: spaces heating, and also the electric power production, so that the premises for ecologic tourism will be developed. Concerning the Aeolian power, in the Danube Delta the location of Aeolian turbines is optimal, as here the wind velocity varies between 4,5 and 10 m/s, meaning the recommended level for energetic purposes. In fact, the Aeolian energy started to be used in the area by locating in August 2007 3 turbines of 750 kW in the Valea Nucărilor (Razelm), situated nearby the Southern side of the concerned area. Nevertheless, when locating the Aeolian parks the issues concerning the area biodiversity (there are 32 protected areas according to the Law 5/2000 and GD 2151/2004) and the landscape value have to be considered. For avoiding the environmental damages impact assessment studies are requested. Such a study has been developed by the “Institute for Energetic Studies and Designs” Bucharest (ISPE) for the Aeolian park of Valea Nucarilor. Within the context of the studied territory, the solar and Aeolian power and biomass exploitation can be viable solutions for the power production, as the area has a significant potential for the solar, Aeolian power production and in a lower extent for biomass. According to the maps developed for Romania, the distribution of each potential for the Southern territory may be noticed, including the studied area. Map of the solar potential in Romania 57 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) SOLAR RADIATION AREA SOLAR RADIATION INTENSITY (kWh/m²/year) I > 1350 II 1300 – 1350 III 1250 – 1300 IV 1200 – 1250 V < 1200 Source : ICPE, ANM, ICEMENERG 2006studies The map of the Aeolian potential of Romania presenting the average annual velocities calculated at 50 m high over the ground. Source: ANM, ICEMENERG The Aeolian potential of the area may be used, as according to the above map, the wind velocity is 4 – 6 m/s, level making the wind exploitation as energetic resource profitable. As far as the biomass is concerned, it may be used for heating especially in the rural towns, containing fire wood and agriculture wastes, considered a recoverable energetic resource. According to this hypothesis, the estimated biomass potential that can be used in Tulcea county where the concerned area is located, according to the NLI data, is of 867,8,9 TJ, of which 1,76 % is forestry and 98,24 % agriculture biomass. 58 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 1.6. SPATIAL STRUCTURE 1.6.1. Sistem of settlements • General Features of the Study Zone The study zone covers a territory of the Danube Delta, included from an administrative point of view into the Tulcea County. The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve is a complex zone in terms of both the natural heritage and the numerous anthropic influences exerted by social, cultural, local and central administrative groups through their strategies and actions. The tourism potential is mainly determined by the elements of the natural environment, which, through their harmonious combination, contribute to the great variety and originality of the landscape. The anthropic potential, concentrated in the main tourist sites of the zone, results from the integration of the built-up elements into the cultural landscapes: the Sulina Zone (the Sulina Municipality, the Crisan and C.A. Rosetti Communes); the Mahmudia Zone (the Mahmudia and Murighiol Communes); the Tulcea Municipality Zone; In 2010, the population of the zone totalled 118,224 inhabitants and the total surface area of the zone was 682,307 ha. The proportion of the surface areas and the number of inhabitants of each of the 14 constituent administrative territorial units of the study zone are shown in the table below: No 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Name of the administrative territorial unit Tulcea Municipality Sulina Town Beştepe Commune C.A. Rosetti Commune Ceatalchioi Commune Chilia Veche Commune Crişan Commune Mahmudia Commune Maliuc Commune Murighiol Commune Nufăru Commune Pardina Commune Sfântu Gheorghe Commune Somova Commune Total per zone Surface area (ha) % Population Number of inhabitants % 17,724 33,196 6,423 26,636 8,047 53,358 38,237 6,369 26,373 84,046 5,767 30,633 60,576 14,922 4.3 8.1 1.5 6.5 2.0 13.0 9.3 1.5 6.3 20.4 1.4 7.4 14.7 3.6 90,553 4,308 1,930 927 756 2,402 1,307 2,810 974 3,547 2,575 605 833 4,697 76.6 3.6 1.6 0.8 0.6 2.0 1.1 2.4 0.8 3.1 2.2 0.5 0.7 4.0 412,307 100.0 118.224 100.0 Density Number of inhabitants per sq. km 510.9 13.0 30.0 3.5 9.4 4.5 3.4 44.1 3.7 4.3 44.6 2.0 1.4 31.5 28.7 Source: INSSE (National Institute of Statistics) - TEMPO online, 2010; A Guide to Mayorships The population density in the study zone is 28.7 inhabitants per sq. km, which is smaller than that of the Tulcea County (34.6 inhabitants per sq. km). The explanation is the delta specific features of the zone. A survey of the population density of each administrative territorial unit points to an agglomeration of the population in the Tulcea Municipality accounting for 510.9 inhabitants per sq. km. By contrast, the Sulina Town has the smallest population density, its density being even smaller than 59 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) that of many rural settlements: 13.0 inhabitants per sq. km. The population density of most communes is much smaller than the average population density per zone, with the exception of the Samova, Nufăru, Mahmudia and Beştepe Communes. • The Structure and Hierarchy of the Settlements In comply with the Law 2/1968 on the administrative and territorial structure of the country, republished in 1981, and its subsequent amendments, the administrative hierarchy of the Romanian network of settlements includes urban settlements – municipalities and towns; rural settlements – villages. The administrative and territorial structure of the study zone per administrative-territorial unit indicates the following: • 1 municipality: Tulcea (constituent settlement Tudor Vladimirescu) • 1 town: Sulina • 12 communes: - Beştepe Commune – constituent villages: Beştepe, Băltenii de Sus, Băltenii de Jos; - C.A. Rosetti Commune – constituent villages : C.A. Rosetti, Letea Periprava, Sfiştofca, Cardon; - Ceatalchioi Commune- constituent villages: Ceatalchioi, Pătlăgeanca, Plauru, Sălceni; - Chilia Veche Commune - constituent villages: Chilia Veche, Câşliţa, Tatanir, Ostrovu Tătaru; - Crişan Commune - constituent villages: Crişan, Caraorman, Mila 23; - Mahmudia Commune – constituent village: Mahmudia; - Maliuc Commune – constituent villages: Maliuc, Ilganii de Sus, Gorgova, Partizani, Vulturu; - Murighiol Commune – constituent villages: Murighiol, Colina, Dunavăţu de Jos, Dunavăţu de Sus, Plopul, Sarinasuf, Uzlina; - Nufăru Commune – constituent villages: Nufăru, Ilganii de Jos, Malcoci, Victoria; - Pardina Commune – constituent village: Pardina; - Sfântu Gheorghe Commune – constituent village: Sfântu Gheorghe; - Somova Commune – constituent villages: Somova, Mineri, Parcheş. In the analysis of the settlement network structure, rank-size distribution of urban and rural settlements is a basic characteristic, with a particular importance in geographical research and spatial organization. The rank-size distribution of the settlements in the pilot zone indicates the following: Rank order of settlements by population size 20,001 – 100,000 Number of settlements total urban rural 1 1 - Number of inhabitants total in urban settlements 90,553 90,553 in rural settlements - 60 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 2,001 – 5,000 6 1 5 20,339 4,308 16,031 1,000 – 2,000 2 - 2 3,237 - 3,237 Less than 1,000 5 - 5 4,095 - 4,095 14 2 12 118,224 94,861 Total per zone 23,363 Source of data: INSEE - The National Institute of Statistics, TEMPO – online, 2010 As concerns the rank-size distribution of urban settlements, this depends on the demographic and functional characteristics of the settlements and their territorial organization. The rank size distribution depends on the settlement population size. The Romanian settlement geography accepts the following rank-size distribution of urban settlements: small towns, less than 20,000 people, average towns where the population varies between 20,000 and 100,000 people and large towns with more than 100,000 people. Thus, in the study zone, in 2010, the Tulcea Municipality ranked among the average towns by its number of inhabitants with 90,553 people and the Sulina Town ranked among the small towns with 4,308 people. Besides towns, a commune is a basic unit of the administrative territorial organization of the country. The rural settlements of the study zone consisting of 40 villages are contained in 12 communes. Their survey indicates that there is an equal share between the communes with a population varying between 5,000 and 10,000 people and those communes with less than 1,000 people including 5 communes each and accounting for 42% of the total population of the study zone. In the study zone the urban population prevails, concentrated in the Tulcea Municipality and accounting for 80% of the total population. The rank-size distribution of settlements in the study zone is based on the Law 351/2001 on the approval of the Spatial Planning of the National Territory – Section IV – Settlement Network, whereby the operational hierarchy of urban and rural settlements has been set depending on their importance and territorial role. According to the specified law, there are four ranks of urban settlements (from 0 to III) and two ranks of rural settlements (IV and V). The situation in the study zone is as follows: Urban settlements: - Rank II: the Tulcea Municipality, seat of the County, a municipality playing a balancing role in the network of settlements. It mainly fulfils tertiary and secondary functions and it is the co-ordinating centre of the activities in the zone and an access “gate” to the Danube Delta. - Rank III: the Sulina Town, a town with secondary and tertiary functions, fulfilling a polarizing role for the neighbouring zone to the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Rural settlements: - Rank IV: 12 villages as seats of communes exerting an influence on the constituent villages, endowed with administrative and social amenities, providing services for all constituent villages of the respective commune. The Mahmudia Commune plays an intercommunal polarizing role and fulfils tertiary and secondary functions. 61 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) - Rank V: 28 constituent villages of the communes. For those villages the public or commercial amenities are dependent on the number of inhabitants. The communes by the number of employees are divided into the following functional typologies: prevailing industrial communes – the Mahmudia, Somova and Nufăru Communes; prevailing trading communes – the Bestepe, C.A.Rosetti, Chilia Veche, Pardina, Sfântu Gheorghe and Valea Nucarilor Communes; prevailing agricultural commune – the Ceatalchioi Commune; prevailing forestry commune – the Jurilovca Commune; prevailing fishing commune – the Crişan Commune; prevailing tourist communes – the Maliuc and Murighiol Communes. There is a close correlation between the location of the settlements in the space of the zone and their morpho-structural features – their classification is closely related to their geo-morphological classification. The river levees determine a particular shape of the settlements and a specific length of the precincts of the village. In the delta, the buildings occupy the narrow strip of land that separates the river from the swamp areas of the actual delta, the only flood-free land. Depending on the general form of the precincts of the villages in the study zone, there are two types of settlements: - ‘Row plan’ rural settlements, established as a result of the natural environment and the local economy of the Danube Delta and the neighbouring zone (Pardina, Nufăru, Malcoci, Ceatalchioi, Mila 23, C.A. Rosetti, Caraorman, Crişan, Partizani, Gorgova). - Nucleated rural settlements, with well-defined precincts, a clear cut between the incorporated and unincorporated areas and a higher density of houses, sited on the continental levees (Chilia Veche) or the flood-free marine levees (Letea, C.A.Rosetti); Tourist Attraction Settlements The study zone is a part of the Danube Delta tourist zone. That zone includes the northern part of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve with its hydrographic channels, the transport trails of the cruise tourism. The types of tourism available are as follows: science tourism, children and youth tourism, fishing tourism and hunting tourism. Ship departure points can be developed in the settlements on the banks of the Danube branches: the Tulcea, Sulina, Sf. Gheorghe Branches. Settlements proposed to be further developed as tourism destinations: Tulcea Municipality (transit tourism, business tourism, cruise tourism on the Danube, itinerant tourism for cultural purposes, science tourism); the Sulina Town (rest and leisure tourism, itinerant tourism for cultural purposes, science tourism, marine heliotherapy, hunting tourism, fishing tourism, water-based tourism); the Crişan Village (rest and leisure tourism); the Ilgani, Mila 23 Communes (hunting tourism and fishing tourism); the Sfântu Gheorghe Commune (marine heliotherapy, rural tourism); the Crişan Commune (hunting tourism and fishing tourism, rural tourism, rest and leisure tourism, waterbased tourism); the Maliuc Commune (rest and leisure tourism, water-based tourism); the Mahmudia, Murighiol, Chilia, Pardina, Uzlina, Periprava, Crişan, Sfîntu Gheorghe, Caraorman Communes (rural tourism). Public Amenities with Territorial Servicing Role Education In 2009 (National Institute of Statistics, Tempo - online), the educational institutions by instruction level in the study zone were as follows: 62 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) - - - Early childhood education: the Tulcea Municipality – 3 educational establishments Primary and secondary school education: the Tulcea Municipality – 10 educational establishments, the Bestepe, C.A.Rosetti, Ceatalchioi, Chilia Veche, Crişan, Mahmudia, Maliuc, Nufăru, Pardina, Sfântu Gheorghe and Somova Communes – 1 educational establishment each. High school education: the Tulcea Municipality – 12 educational establishments, the Sulina Town – 1 educational establishment, the Mahmudia Commune – 1 educational establishment Post high school education: the Tulcea Municipality – 1 educational establishment Health Care - Health care establishments by categories: Hospitals: the Tulcea Municipality – 1 hospital Ambulatory care facilities: the Tulcea Municipality – 2 outpatient facilities; Dental care offices: the Tulcea Municipality – 60 offices, the Sulina Town – 2 offices, the Mahmudia Commune – office, the Murighiol Commune – 1 office Health care centres: the Sulina Town – 1 health care centre Pharmacies: the Tulcea Municipality – 38 pharmacies, the Sulina Town – 2 pharmacies, the Mahmudia Commune – 1 pharmacy, the Murighiol Commune – 1 pharmacy; Individual family physician offices: the Tulcea Municipality – 43 offices, the Sulina Town – 2 offices, the Beştepe, C.A.Rosetti, Chilia Veche, Crişan, Mahmudia, Maliuc, Murighiol, Nufăru, Pardina, Sfântu Gheorghe and Somova Communes – 1 office each. Culture - Theatrical and music performance establishments: the Tulcea Municipality – 2 establishments (“Jean Bart” Theatre); - Museums: The Tulcea Municipality: the “Delta Dunarii” Museum, the Art Museum, the Museum of History and Archaeology, the Museum of Ethnography and Popular Art; The Sulina Town: the “Farul Sulinei” Museum included into the group of ecomuseums. 63 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 64 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 1.6.2. Centres of information and ecologic education In the Tulcea county the following information, documentation, ecological education centres function: Tulcea/ the Danube Delta biosphere reservation administration/ contact person: Cornelia Aftodor Tulcea/ the Tourist information centre/ contact person: Andreea Sevastian Crisan/ Tulcea - Centrul de Documentare si Educatie Ecologica the Documentation and ecologic education centre/ contact person: Cornelia Aftodor Sulina/Tulcea/ the Tourist information centre / contact person: Florin Papadatu ANTREC Tulcea/ contact person: Gheorghe Silviu [email protected] [email protected] www.ddbra.ro [email protected] [email protected] www.ddbra.ro [email protected] The following tourist information and ecologic education centres will be opened in the Danube Delta: - the Sf. Gheorghe information centre; - the Uzlina information centre; - the Istria information centre – in the technical project stage – developing; - Chilia Veche - developing execution, final term 02.01.2012 - Caraorman, the project contract is finalised, but because of the lack of funds the starting of the works has been postponed; - Murighiol, term 30.01.2011, 90% realised, the receipt of the work must be done; - delays for the creation of the centre because of the entry into the land register of the field on which the investment is executed. 1.7. SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT There are many politic analyses and documents which determine the policy and tourism organization in the Danube Delta, which are: The Strategic plan for the tourism development in Tulcea county; The Action plan of ARBDD (the Danube Delta biosphere reservation association) to reach the management objectives (2008-2012) – D theme – Tourism and recreation (the implementation of the ecotourism certifying system, ecotourism mapping, behaviour code, etc) and the E theme – Cultural patrimony (the promotion of traditional usages, the urbanism plan, etc); The National master-plan of tourism development in Romania 2007-2026; The National strategy of environment protection; 65 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) The National strategy for Sustainable development; The Regional operational programme; The 21 Local Agenda – The action plan for a sustainable development of the Tulcea county; Other activities included in the developing projects. 1.8. INSTITUTIONAL CHARACTERISTIC (LOCAL) 1.8.1. Business sector The business sector represents the main economic engine for territorial development. An overall description of the sector, takes into account parameters such as employment situation and turnover of the firms in 2009, being the most recent period identified within aforementioned sources. Danube Delta study area comprises a number of 3899 firms in 2009, from this number only 4 percents represented at that time firms with foreign capital. Graphic Share of firms and firms with foreign capital in Tulcea Area in 2009 Source – BorgDesign Database The share of foreign capital firms in the study area indicates a thin economic attractiveness for outsourcing or other type of foreign investments. The graphic aforementioned shows in variable values the situation of this indicator. Regional context In extended context, Danube Delta Area is part of the Southeast development region. Therefore we believe is important to highlight for a better view of the territorial development, the economic performance of this region in terms of GDP per inhabitant in current market prices and also as share in the European and national average. 66 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Table - Situation of GDP/inhabitant in Southwest and Southeast Regions 2008 Region GDP/inhabitant (euro) Share of E.U average Southeast 5400 21,5 6500 Romania Source – EUROSTAT 25,9 The European GDP average in current market prices in 2008 was 25100 euro/inhabitant, a value bigger then Southeast region as it can be observed in the table abovementioned. The share of Southeast region is far below 75% of E.U average GDP, value considered the inferior limit of economic development on communitarian figures. This situation shows deep territorial disparities European level and clearly motivates this projects purpose. 67 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 1.8.2. Governance The governance in the Study Area is structured base with the fundamental rules of local autonomy, decentralization of public services, eligibility of local authorities, legality and population consultation in solving local issues. Local autonomy gives local authorities the right to solve and manage, in the name and interest of local communities which they represent, public works accordingly with existing lows and regulations. The right to manage public works is in title to Local Councils and Mayors at local level and to county councils at county level as persons elected through universal, equal, directly, secretly, freely expressed vote right. Local autonomy is only executive and financial, being exerted upon and within the limits prescribed by law and refers to organization, operation, capabilities and duties and also refers to managing local resources that by law belong to the village, town or county. In order to ensure local autonomy the authorities have the right to establish and collect local taxes, to develop and approve budgets and to manage public services. 68 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Public services of the village or town are established and organized by the local council in the main areas of activity, according to the specific local needs and the existing law, regulations and available funds. Capabilities and duties are established only by low; they are fully and exclusive, excepting other cases provided also by low. Local autonomy gives public authorities the right, low limited, to make decision and take actions in all fields, by way of exception the cases which make express duty of other public authorities. Towns, cities and counties are public legal persons. They have their own assets and full legal capacity. Relationships between local public authorities in villages and cities and public county authorities are based on the principles of autonomy, legality, responsibility, cooperation and solidarity in solving problems through the entire county. There are no relations of subordination between local authorities and County Council and neither between Local Council and the Mayor. In that reason decision making process at local level respects the principle of subsidiary in exercising the powers and duties established by low. 1.9. FINANCIAL STRUCTURE 1.9.1. Territorial development sources and institutions In line with the national economic policy, municipalities, cities and counties are entitled to their own resources, which local authorities manage according to their duties under the law. Financial resources of local authorities are proportionate to the power and responsibilities give by the low. Financial structure supporting local economic development is represented first by City Halls whom dispose of local budgets. These budgets are composed from several kinds of financial sources such as: - allocation from state budget; - own financing through local taxation and charges (main source); - donations and sponsorships; - production or commercial activities by exploring public domain. Another development source can be the state budget itself if the national development policy considers some strategic investments important to be placed on the administrative territory of the study area. A very important financial opportunity that local communities are in title to access are the Communitarian financial funds, as all Romanian territory is eligible for financing projects through European Union’s Financial Instruments – Structural and Cohesion Funds. It ought to mention that Romanian territory subscribes to the objective convergence of E.U development policy for economic and social cohesion, having all its regions GDP/habitant under 69 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 75% below E.U average. Regions can also obtain financial support under the objective of European territorial cooperation. European Union politics for economic and social cohesion aims to reduce disparities between its regions and states, to make a functional common market and to promote a sustainable future development. Financial allocation can be approach by any local communities, companies, SMM, groups of producers accordingly with guiding lines stipulated by National Strategic Framework 2007-2013 and National Development Plan 2007-2013. Complementary financial assistance is available through European Rural Development Plan. The guiding lines eligible within this financial instrument are stipulated in the National Strategic Plan for Rural Development 2007-2013. The business sector has opportunities for direct financing through the following Operational Programs: “Increase of Economic Competition “, “Human Resource Development” and “Regional”. Financial opportunities particularly for tourism activities can be approach through: - Regional Operational Program 2007-2013 – Priority Axis 5 ”Sustainable development an promotion of tourism”; - National Rural Development Program 2007-2013 – Priority Axis 3 “Improvement of live quality in rural areas and diversification of rural economy” Institutional structures responsible with the management and monitoring process of the structural and cohesion funds are the Managing Authorities such as; - for the Regional Operational Program – the Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism; - for the Operational Programs “Increase of Economic Competition “ - the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business Environment; - for the Operational Program „Human Resource Development” – the Ministry of Work, Family and Social Protection; - for the National Rural Development Program – the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Structural and cohesion funds represent a great financial opportunity for the municipalities in the study area especially considering the fact that there is no reimbursement in line with accessing those types of funds, but only a small contribution and in some cases either. Other potential financial source for economic development of the municipalities in the study area is the banking system. In the study area there have been identified 21 branch banks in Tulcea City. The database doesn’t offer information about banks agencies which may be more often met in the study area. Nevertheless, there were not available information about investments credit attraction by SMM’s or corporate at this level. 70 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 1.9.2. Effectiveness In Danube Delta Area there has been identified several kind of projects, some financed through European funds, some by the state budget and some by the local budget, such as: Projects accomplished with European financing: - In Murighiol municipality – “Modernization of access to the tourist area, Murighiol -Uzlina- Dunavăţ - Lake Razim”; - In Sulina and Crisan municipality as part in the project– “Rehabilitation / reconstruction of five (5) schools in Tulcea County, in localities affected by floods in 2005” Projects accomplished with state budget funding: - County Council along with Local Council „Visterna village water supply, village Sarichioi”. of Sarichioi municipality Projects accomplished with local budget funding: - County Council - “Rehabilitation DJ 222, Jurilovca - Two Cantons km 47 400-55 100” Ongoing projects with European funding: - County Council - “Recovery of Tulcea County monasteries through the improvement of transport access and environmental factors”; • “Restoration and rehabilitation of two heritage Tulcea included in regional tourism circuits”; • “Development of electronic services for the citizens and business in the county of Tulcea”; • „Modern methods for rural employment”; buildings in the city of Ongoing projects with state budget funding: - County Council along with Local Council of Sfantu Gheorghe municipality – „Miniport in the area of Sfantu Gheorghe”; - County Council along with Local Council of Sulina town – „Arranging beach Sulina”; - County Council along with Local Council of Crisan municipality – „Construction of the sewerage system and central wastewater treatment station in the village of Crisan”; - County Council along with Local Council of Murighiol municipality – “Construction of the sewerage system and central wastewater treatment station in the area Murighiol”; - County Council along with Local Council of Mahmudia municipality – “Construction of the sewerage system and central wastewater treatment station in the area Mahmudia”; - County Council – „Integrated waste management in the localities in the Danube Delta”; 71 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) - County Council along with Local Council of Jurilovca supply”, village Visina, Jurilovca municipality; - County Council along with Local Council of Bestepe supply”, village Băltenii de Sus, Bestepe municipality; - County Council along with Local Council of Sarichioi supply”, village Sabangia, Sarichioi municipality. municipality „Water municipality „Water municipality „Water The inventory of effectiveness for financing structure meant for local development shows an active involvement of Tulcea County Council in different projects along with the engagement of local councils comprise in the study area. The information we were able to consult regarding local development projects and sources for funding, revealed more projects then above mentioned for Tulcea County, but those projects overcome the limits of our study area. This situation place Tulcea’s study area in a good perspective for future development. 1.10. CONFLICT AREAS 1.10.1. General evaluation tourism – environment conflict in the Danube Delta biosphere reservation The current evolution of tourism is based on a renewal of the tourist offer and by developing a new series of tourist products and services. The Danube Delta is known as a wet area that represents an ecologic unique area for Europe and for the whole category of delta-like ecosystems in the world. The Danube has been creating, for more than 12.000 years, one of the most representative and beautiful deltas in Europe and even in the world. Although being the second, on our continent, as dimension (after the delta of river Volga) and the 20th in the world, it is remarked by the landscape richness and fauna (the avifauna occupies the most important place). The Danube Delta presents a very special interest from the scientific point of view, being a true mosaic of biotopes lying in a valuable coherent ecologic complex 1. Its value is expressed by: Scientific ‚reservoir’ of great importance by the great number of land and water species, 3,4% of all in the world; Generator of economically exploitable biologic resources – agriculture lands, wood, reed, fish; The existence of some economic areas of 306.100 ha (52,8%) of the total of RBDD; A natural bio-filter for the river waters before it flows directly in the Black Sea; Territory for the migration of several bird species between Europe, Asia and Africa; Resource of landscape with aesthetic and recreational role; Area of great fishy and cynegetic interest for local people and tourists; Territory with the greatest ethnic variety – 21 nationalities; Important component of the national and international 2 natural and cultural patrimony. The more intensive exploitation of the Danube Delta in the last 50 years has determined a series of ecologic modifications in time and space. These are more visible in the last 10 years. The decline of the ecologic equilibrium of the delta is remarked by the reduction of the productive potential of the 72 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) natural land and aquatic ecosystems, the reduction of its economic potential. To these, the more frequent periods of droughts and floods in the last 15-20 years are added. The main causes are linked to: The damming and degradation of the floodable areas; De-filling some wet areas for the practice of agriculture; Creating some hydro-technical facilities on the river upstream the delta ; A rise of pollution of the waters upstream the delta and in its settlements; An uncontrolled development of navigation on the delta channels; Legal or illegal exploitation of biologic resources; Slow process of re-ecologisation of some agriculture lands and fishy areas (ancient lakes and channels) in order to be re-given to nature; Tourist activities and uncontrolled tourist flows; The lack of social protection and fiscal facilities for the inhabitants of the delta, high level of poverty; High level of depopulation and low life level in all human settlements; Effects of the climate changes by the floods and drought intensification. Tourism has developed in the area of the Danube Delta for almost 50 years, especially during 1970 - 1980. Based on the existing data at the level of the central and local institutions, for the towns studied, referring to the current level of the tourism development some general dis-functionalities appeared. These are linked to: Impact problems for administration and control: - the local authorities did not respect the ARBDD management plan, this being considered too restrictive; - Proposals to extend the surface of the urban areas too much and too fast in comparison to the delta status of protected area - Ceatalchioi, Beştepe, Murighiol, Uzlina,Maliuc, Vulturu, Ilganii de Sus, etc; - Making plans to develop tourism for the 8 tourist areas proposed inside the strategic plan to develop the sustainable tourism; 3 - Applying strictly the new urbanism regulation which provides the observance of the requirements for the local architecture and natural materials; - A great number of current lawsuits (2007-2010) between ARBDD and the persons, businesses which use illegally the fields in the Danube Delta - Nufăru, Sulina, Murighiol; - Un-politicizing the capitalization of the delta fields, due to rentals and granting, especially for the use of the ancient fishy facilities as agriculture lands and for building; - The transfer of some land areas from the public property, of national interest in the public area of local interest, to allow great investment projects which can affect the ecologic equilibrium of Delta-Uzlina; - Building protection dams and reducing the erosion of banks produced by floods – in 2006 and 2010 in Ceatalchioi, Ilganii de Sus, permanent danger in Crisan; - Reducing bureaucracy and complicated authorisation procedures in order to facilitate more the local investments and the possibility to participate for the local population; 73 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) - The lack of a numerical sufficient personnel and technical facilities for the control of economic and tourist activities in the delta, in order to prevent pollution, poaching and applying fines. Impact problems for the tourism development - Creating contracts between the travel agencies and tour-operators and ADBDD which should include the observance of the environment protection requirements and own hired personnel with good ecological knowledge; 4 - The new urban regulation from 2008 provides that hotels should have maximum 20 rooms and the motels, villas only 10 rooms, maximum height of 10m, the holiday homes should not include more than 350 sq.m. 5; - Creating big tourist complexes affecting the development of tourism at the level of local households – Somova; - The existence of a great number of buildings investors and tourism entrepreneurs with different interests in comparison to the delta towns; - The lack of a unitary opposition from the NGO-s and local population concerning the support of local services development, many with a traditional character; - The great development of tourism holiday homes which do not belong to local inhabitants Crişan, Sf. Gheorghe, Mila 23, Maliuc, Crişan, Sulina and which are not exploited for tourism; - An unbalanced development of tourism, with high concentration of boarding houses in the small towns situated on the Sulina and Sf. Gheorghe channels, respectively in Maliuc, Crişan, Sf. Gheorghe, Sulina, other towns further than Tulcea, because of the lack of access, being completely disadvantaged; - A week capitalization of the cultural objectives for tourism, including the old Dacian, Roman-Byzantine citadels; - Practising in many cases, rural tourism, without authorisation and fiscal taxes, unofficially, especially after 2008, once with the effects of the current economic crisis; - Using the river transport should be the only form of access in the delta for tourists as the road forms affect strongly the quality of the environment 6; - Forbidding the development of tourism to the buffer areas existing and applying some strict law regulations; - Tourist activities connected to hunting must be forbidden and accepted only in major cases of ensuring the trophic equilibrium between species; - A strict determination of tourist flows in conformity with the support capacity for each of the 8 tourist areas; 7 Problems of quality of the environment with impact on tourism - The existence of some abandoned fishy facilities proposed and in process of ecological reconstruction in Dunavăţ, Holbina I and II, the south part of the Popina area, the Babina, Cernovca, Fortuna agriculture areas, which did not bring any profit were proposed for ecological reconstruction and in the Babina, Cernovca, Fortuna, Popina areas, 9395 ha, the natural typical and wet area like hydrologic, biogeochemical, ecologic natural function will be remade, being usable for tourism in future; 8 74 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) - - - A chaotic development of real estate business, for lands and houses, the investors do not respect the minimum ecologic rules - Murighiol, C.A. Rosetti; Degrading the cultural objectives and losing the cultural identity by the lack of capitalization and promotion through tourism of the ethnic groups traditions living in the entire delta area; Using illegally the fields for different vegetal cultures, by the sheep and horse breeders, without sanitary-veterinary documents at the level of the local mayor offices, with forms of local pollution, when supplementary tourist activities can be developed here; 9 An incomplete endowment of towns (or a total lack) with supply systems of running water, sewage, selective waste collection, the villages as village residence being dominant; The existence of some platforms for collecting waste in Tulcea and Sf. Gheorghe, Sulina and local in the village residence villages, but the waste should be eliminated completely from the delta area; A weak ecologic education of Romanian tourists who leave the waste where they put their tents; The lack of some empty wells or incinerators for dead animals in the population’s households, these being under construction; The extension of the number of arbours for watching the mammals and birds, as an element to support ecotourism – proposed at C.A. Rosetti; Minimizing the mass tourism, in favour of the tourism organised on small groups, accompanied by specialized local guides; 10 Environment problems due to tourism - Modernizing some village roads connecting the villages, so that tourists can use their bicycles and avoiding to use personal cars at inter-village level; - Creating parking and camping spaces in the economic areas in order to avoid the use of cars in the ‚buffer’ areas, not to produce phonic, air and water pollution; - Avoiding the uncontrolled tourists’ voyages by signalling all tourist tracks approved by ARBDD and by their monitoring; - Tourist flows in settlements and services for the population must remain on the main existing routes, which must be modernized; 11 - Projects of planning tourist ports in Murighiol, Sf. Gheorghe, Sulina, mini-port Mahmudia, Sarichioi, unloading dock at Murighiol in order to avoid the mooring of small private boats in a disorganised manner; - Respecting in the tourism field.. the provisions of the Berna and Ramsar Conventions for creating a green tourism – ecotourism, 12 in order to avoid the degrading of nature due to tourist activities. 75 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Synthetic evaluation of the environment quality, infrastructure and tourism Village/town Component villages Accessibility Urban infrastructure Accommodation places level Impact tourism/ environme nt small Dunărea Somova 12 km from Tulcea Somova Mineri Parcheş Route - DN 22/E87 DC 45 şi 46 Extending water supply, sewage, building waste platform, the Somova purifying plant, creating water supply, sewage, purifying plant in Mineri and Parcheş 131 homologated accommodation places Parcheş tourist complex Braţ Chilia Ceatalchioi Ceatalchioi Pătlăgeanca Plauru Sălceni Pardina By river DC1 Tulcea – Ceatalchioi and feryy boat at Patlageanca creating water supply, sewage, purifying plant in Ceatalchioi, Pătlăgeanca, Plauru; building waste transfer platform in Ceatalchioi; purifying plant, waste platform project. Rehabilitation water supply, sewage, purifying plant; building waste transfer platform there are no homologated units small 17 homologated accommodation places small 31 homologated accommodation places Chilia Veche 100 accommodation places Tatanir 1176 homologated accommodation places small Braţ Chilia Pardina 37 km from Tulcea By river DN22/E87 DC1 Tulcea - Chilia Veche By river DC1 Braţ Chilia Chilia Veche 64 km from Tulcea Chilia Veche, Câşla, Tatanir, Ostrov, Tătaru Braţ Tulcea Municipiu Tulcea from Bucarest 306km T. Vladimirescu by road and by river A2, DN 22-E87; A2, DN22A. Airport In the village water supply, sewage, purifying plant; Modernising water supply, sewage, purifying plant, building waste ecologic platform in the town. Inter braţe Sulina - Chilia C.A. Rosetti 102 km from Tulcea 18 km from Sulina C. A. Rosetti Cardon Letea Periprava Sfiştofca by river By road - DC 2,3,4. The most isolated settlement in the delta; Finalisation for water supply in C. A. Rosetti, Letea, Sfiştofca, creating water distribution in Cardon and project for Periprava, sewage project in C. A. Rosetti, purifying plant projects in Letea and waste transfer platform in C. A. Rosetti Extension and modernising water supply in Chilia Veche, sewage project for Chilia Veche 46 homologated accommodation places C. A. Rosetti 16 homologated accommodation places Letea medium/bi g small 76 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Braţ Sulina Maliuc 25 km from Tulcea Maliuc Gorgova, Ilganii de Sus Partizani Vulturu By river, in the centre of Delta Braţ Sulina Crişan 50 km from Tulcea Crişan Caraorman Mila 23 By river, by route DC 2, along the Sulina, DC 7 and 8 channels. Braţ Sulina Oraş Sulina 62,6 km from Tulcea without Pan-European Corridor VII Braţ Sf. Gheorghe Nufăru 11 km from Tulcea Nufăru Ilganii de Jos Malcoci Victoria by route and by river DJ222C, DC2. Braţ Sf. Gheorghe Mahmudia 28 km from Tulcea Mahmudia By river by route by DN22A DJ222C, DJ229K. Braţ Sf. Gheorghe Beştepe, village created in 2004 25 km de Tulcea Beştepe Băltenii de Sus Băltenii de Jos by route and by river modernisation for DJ 222C. Rehabilitation water supply network in Maliuc, rehabilitation in Gorgova, creation in Ilgani, Partizani, Vulturu; rehabilitation sewage, purifying plant in Maliuc, building sewage in Gorgova, Ilganii de Sus, Partizani; waste transfer platform in Maliuc, extension electricity network in Vulturu. Extension water supply in the 3 villages, sewage in Crişan, Mila 23, building sewage in the 3 villages, purifying plant projects in Crişan, Mila 23; building a waste transfer platform in Crisan; Rehabilitation water supply, sewage rehabilitation and extension, building purifying plant; building waste transfer platform; Extension water supply in Nufaru, with purifying plant, waste platform; project to build water supply, sewage, purifying plant in Ilgani; project to build water supply, sewage, purifying plant, electricity network for Malcoci, consolidation of banks and dams; There is water supply, sewage, project to create purifying plant and waste transfer platform in Mahmudia. An access channel for fishermen and tourists should be done. Creating water supply, sewage and treatment station in Beştepe; creating sewage, purifying plant in Băltenii de Sus; sewage, purifying plant in Băltenii de Jos; building waste platform in Beştepe, extension electricity system for isolated households 210 homologated accommodation places Many unauthorised tourist villas (50); small 343 homologated accommodation places Crişan and Mila 23 the most solicited by tourists medium/bi g 257 homologated accommodation places small 84 homologated accommodation places Project from 2009, tourist resort in the Victoria village small 93 homologated accommodation places An extended development of the private vacation homes small small There are no homologated places Project for Aeolian park and tourist recreational park 77 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 336 homologated places Murighiol 298 homologated places Uzlina 154 homologated places Dunavăţu 30 homologated places Colina Uzlina tourist resort for 12 ha Delta Resort from 2006. many tourist villas built by persons from Bucharest; 737 homologated accommodation places medium/ big Extension water supply, sewage project, purifying plant, waste platform in Valea Nucarilor, water supply and sewage projects for the other villages There are no homologated accommodation places small Extension water supply, sewage project, purifying plant, waste platform in Jurilovca 60 homologated places small Braţ Sf. Gheorghe Murighiol 36 km from Tulcea Murighiol Colina Dunavăţu de Jos Dunavăţu de Sus Plopu Sarinasuf Uzlina by route and by river DJ 222C, DJ 222M. Extension water supply in Murighiol, Sarinasuf, Plopu, creating it in the other villages; water treatment station in Sarinasuf, Plopu; sewage project, it owns purifying station in Murighiol; creating waste transfer platform in Murighiol. Braţ Sf. Gheorghe Sfântu Gheorghe 120 km from Tulcea 35 km from Sulina Complexul lagunar Razim Valea Nucarilor 25 km from Tulcea, 45 km from Babadag, by route Complexul lagunar Razim Jurilovca 69 km from Tulcea, 32 km from Babadag Complexul lagunar Razim Sarichioi 43 km from Tulcea Sf. Gheorghe by river DC5, on the channel dam Create water supply, project for sewage, purifying plant; building waster transfer platform. Iazurile, Agighiol Valea Nucarilor by river DJ 222C Jurilovca, Vişina DJ 222, DJ 229P. Sălcioara, big 54 homologated accommodation small Extension project, rehabilitation water supply in Sarichioi, places water supply projects in Visterna, sewage, purifying plant in Sarichioi, sewage and purifying plants in Enisala, Zebil, waste platform in Sarichioi Source: data from the Tulcea county council, 2010; tourism data from the statistic basis of the Regional development and tourism ministry, 2010. Remark – for the infrastructure endowments there are works already started and for others feasibility studies and current auctions. There is a project by POR from 2010 for the modernisation of the access infrastructure Murighiol – Uzlina – Dunavăţ - Lacul Razim. Sarichioi, Sabangia, Zebil Enisala, Visterna, DJ222, DN22. 78 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 1.10.2. Conflicts between tourism and human resources (demographic problem, low economic activity, low entrepreneurial activity) Danube Delta is confronting with a severe phenomenon, namely the depopulation. Difficulties faced by the local human resources refers especially to the limited number of jobs, low diversification of economic activities and as a result, low households’ incomes and poorness. These severe problems determine the local population to leave the area, for better livelihoods for them and their families, thus increasing the migration phenomenon to urban areas or abroad. The rate of natural increase is negative affecting the long-term economic and social sustainability of the area. Structure of population by age group highlights an intense process of demographic aging, which manifests itself especially in more isolated villages, situated at long distances to major transportation waterways. Also, the rate of natural increase is negative in the majority of villages which could put pressure on the human resources and labour force availability in tourism sector. The vitality index is relatively low, underlining the problems related to ensure the future workforce at local level, the area having a low capacity of rejuvenation (Ceatalchioi, C.A. Rosetti, Murighiol, Nufarul, Chilia Veche, Crisan, Valea Nucarilor, Sfantu Gheorghe). The job offer is limited and the unemployment is increasing, especially in the industrial sector and employment among young labor force. Also, tourism activity and recreational services represent a solution for reconversion for the individuals working and agriculture or fishery. It is necessary to support the employment in various economic activities and reconversion of the population on activities compatible to the area, including agrotourism as a possibility. A limitation for the development of a sustainable tourism is the reduced number of qualified personnel which affects the quality of the services and satisfaction level of tourists. The employees need to acquire information and specific knowledge and to participate to training courses in hospitality and tourism. Special programmes to stimulate young entrepreneurship are still missing. Limited financial and material resources and relatively low level of education and training doesn’t s sustain the local-base entrepreneurship. Still in the area, some entrepreneurial initiatives in tourism are evidences that the area has a significant economic potential, bringing benefits on social, economic, environmental level. The landscape and the beauty of the Danube Delta with its tourism potential attracted more and more entrepreneurs decided to invest in the region. Gradually, hotels, guesthouses and bungalows, mainly classified three, four and five stars, appeared in fishery villages. Part of investments were through preaccession funds (i.e. Phare, Sapard), European Structural and Cohesion Funds. Attracted by the beauty of the area and its huge tourism potential, more and more entrepreneurs have decided in recent years to invest in the Danube Delta. In villages around the fishery gradually appeared hotels, guesthouses and bungalows, mainly classified 4 and 5 stars. Current financial and economic crisis threaten the economic sustainability and local tourism entrepreneurs face serious problems in preserving their businesses. Poor access to infrastructure and to information and advanced technologies (computers, internet) is also an obstacle for future economic development in general and tourism sector in particular. The diversified and attractive tourist potential is expected to increase and revive the interest of those who have left the area by layoffs in industry and constructions and to increase the number of family associations. The Danube Delta still has the biological possibilities for rejuvenation of the local population if the individuals not leave the area, so the natural and socio-cultural potential of the area to be capitalize. 79 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 2. SWOT ANALYSIS (STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, THREATS) STRENGHTS Different projects being developed – platforms (created inside some projects); The investments in infrastructure and the endowing with modern transport means are prior fields; The sustainable tourism is considered a solution for the economic rise of the Delta towns; They give importance to the involvement and awareness of the local communities for the development and preservation of the resources; There are institutions which, by their activity field, cover theoretically all the aspects connected to the Danube Delta protected area; The actors are concentrated on business, on obtaining profit; Incipient stages of the public and private sector cooperation; To organise international events (seminaries, symposiums, WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES RISKS MACRO-REGIONAL RELATIONS OF THE PILOT AREA There is no clear tourist vision; The tourist sector is considered the key The biodiversity decline; A weak cooperation between the sector for the future development of the the public and private sectors public and private sector in the region, in general and of the Delta, in are more competitors than tourism development. A critical particular; militants for the same cause: a point will be to obtain a common All the factors involved are aware of prosperous and convenient image of the different aspects of a the importance of sustainability for the development of the tourism in strategy; the lack of an accepted delta; to stimulate the development of the area; coordinator of the tourist activity the rural and ecologic tourism; the cooperation between the integrated development in the area; Infrastructure project and actors of the private sector is the lack of knowledge about the communications at regional and very weak. An association of way to develop the tourist product national level; the public and private through sustainable manner; The main objective of the Romanian companies in the tourism sector, discontinuity in tourism and in the Government is to consolidate the initiated by the Tulcea county tourism related policies, at national administrative structures as basic council some years ago, and regional level; elements to build a solid environment continues to exist only on paper a limited knowledge of the management system and contribution to and has not had any impact or regulations referring to the Danube a sustainable development; real role till present. Delta the Romania Government wishes to the weak implementation of the integrate the environment policy in legislation; industry, energy, transport, agriculture strict taxes/regulations versus and tourism; innovations; the Romania Government has as small and medium enterprises have objectives – the extension of the not attracted investment funds; national network of protected areas and Insufficient support for the small natural reservations, the rehabilitation 80 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) workshops) in order to present the investment opportunities for the local tourism); To develop some promotional activities in view of presenting the regional tourist objectives. and medium enterprises from the public authorities, both to access community funds and to promote their activity. Good representation in the area, particularly in urban areas, of working-age population (15-60 years old), as well as people having graduated secondary education: they provide the necessary human resources to tourism sector. The villages are diverse from the demographic viewpoint, the smallest one being the largest one being Poiana Mare (11,149 inhab.); Availability of rural labor force; Overall homogeneity from the ethnic and religious viewpoints, with certain exceptions; There are family doctor’s offices in all communes; of the Romania seashore infrastructure, the ecologic and economic resizing of the Danube Delta; good relations with the Odessa region in Ukraine, as a member of the “Lower Danube” Euro-region; to reactivate the regular flights to the local airport, situated at 18 km from the Tulcea town. SOCIAL ISSUES Significant decreases of the Attracting European funding for tourism development can lead to attracting young population (30%) in the communes people with higher education from other of Mahmudia, CA Rosetti, Sfantu Gheorghe and the town of Sulina; regions in the country. Ageing population (over 20% of the Local human resource if gets appropriate population have more than 60 years education; old) in the communes of Bestepe, The economic growth will lead to the improvement of the occupation degree CA Rosetti, Ceatalchioi, Chilia and will attract the population in the Veche, Crisan, Jurilovca, Mahmudia, Murighiol, Nufarul, area; Sarichioi, Sfantu Gheorghe, The elderly persons can activate in certain sectors; Somova, Valea Nucarilor; The tendency to migrate out of town (moving out) is manifested in the city of Tulcea and the communes of Pardina, Maliuc, Jurilovca and Sarichioi. Important shares of population without education (over 10%) are in Increasing population decline may lead to shortage of manpower in the field of tourism. The continuation of internal and international migrations; Low professional mobility; Unwillingness to sign insurances The accentuated demographic ageing at the level of most rural settlements is underlined by the high number of retired persons (sometimes surpassing the active population) and by the demographic decrease; 81 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) More than half of all villages benefit from the presence of elementary schools; Danube Delta has a variety of ecosystems; Danube Delta has three international status: Biosphere Reservation, RAMSAR site, UNESCO site and it is the best preserved wetland in Europe; Good natural conditions for the practice of tourism activities outside; the communes of Jurilovca, CA Rosetti, Chilia Veche and Somova. An ageing population and the trend of emigration of young people are factors restrictive to tourism development in the above mentioned areas. Low incomes of the population; The number of inhabitants that correspond to a doctor is high in the rural space (in many cases over 1,500 inhab. /doctor); High unemployment rate; High values of the demographic and economic dependency index; Low level of superior qualifications in any sector of activity; Low number of specialized medical offices, pharmacies; NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS Many floodplains; Growing interest to protect the natural Disappearing of many natural resources of the Danube area; habitats because of damming; Possibility of accessing European funds Degradation of existing flood for environmental protection (SOP protection systems because of lack Environment, SOP Transport, NRPD, of maintenance, as well as missing territorial cooperation programs); of repair works after flooding; Reduction of anthropogenic pressure, Bad use of land located in flood due to the reduction of pollutant risk areas; emissions discharged into the waters of Poor communication between the Danube; Climate changes effecting the ecosystems and bioclimate; Pollution of the Danube River because of uncontrolled discharges; Unauthorized constructions; Deforestation; A low degree of perception and responsiveness of the population to environmental problems; 82 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Rich hydrographic network – Danube arms, canals, lakes; Variety of landscapes; Natural areas untouched by the human intervention (20 areas of integrated protection); Untouched beaches on the shore of the Black Sea (Sulina, Sf. Gheorghe). Diverse flora and fauna, both on land and aquatic, and potential for different types of tourism: landscapes, scientific, bird watching, hunting, and fishing Rich ichthyofauna and many areas suitable for fishery; Endemic species (flowers and animals) and a wide habitat for birds; The existence of flood protection systems; Legislation in force regarding flood risk management in accordance with the European requirements in the field; Implementation the action plans for environmental protection at national, regional and local level (PLAM and PRAM); The establishment of protected The existence of legislative framework in environmental protection, protected areas conservation or water protection (mainly transposing European law); No management plans in The existence of national legislation on protected areas approved until flood risk maps. now; The expansion of Natura 2000 Overcrowding of tourist areas Programme through construction zones The inclusion of the Danube Delta in without authorization or which multiple forms of protection recognized do not respect the environment. at international level The degradation of certain Partnerships to solve environmental ecosystems where the specific issues biocenoses were totally or partially Environmental financing opportunities destroyed and replaced with agro- The increased interest and the creation of ecosystems; legal instruments regarding the Extended surfaces with randomly protection of the landscape as an abandoned waste; complex method of integrating both The accentuation of drought and natural and human components. inundations; Sustainable development programmes in The lack of control upon illegal the Danube fishing, hunting and reed Delta Biosphere Conservation Area harvesting. (Master Plan) Ecological reconstruction programme Favorable legal framework flood risk management authority and population of high flood risk areas; Danger of producing of floods; Non-implementation of legislation in force favours continuous occurrence of floods with material damage and even loss of life; Danger of producing of accidental pollution; Hydro-morphologic pressures, mostly for work to be undertaken to improve navigation and for construction of flood defense systems; Tourist seasonality which creates problems in relation with the environment. Appearance of epidemics or epizootics (avian influenza, anthrax, cholera etc.). Increased naval traffic in the Danube Delta Increased external pollution Negative effects of global warming Soil, river, and coast erosion Increased pressure on renewable natural resources Increased pressure on landscape resources Continued soil degradation process 83 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) area perimeter and administrative structures for most of them with the official documents (e. g. environmental reports, management plan, visitor plan) regulating the possible conflicts that might occur between tourism and environment. Danube Delta – unique place in Europe with great natural potential; Rather developed industrial and commercial activities in urban area; Good involvement of County and Local Councils in the study area in attracting investments from European funds; Projects effectiveness financed through local and state budget; Extended surfaces that are favorable to agriculture; Beginning of the development of the legal framework for rural financing; The existence of certain ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS Agriculture, Industry and Forestry Danube Delta – unique place in Europe the lack of markets for the agrowith great natural potential; European Structural and Cohesion food products; too little societies which sell and Funds; Eventually cross border economic process agriculture products; few technical endowments and of exchanges; a low quality in small agricultural Possibility to develop free economic factories; areas. the traditional agricultural the repopulating, in order to set the practices, very important for the decline of the fish stock especially that biodiversity conservation, need a there is a great experience in the field; greater volume of physical work the foreign tourists are more and more interested in active holidays (fishing, and do not guarantee the economic viability of the households; hunting) but they extend their interest isolation during winter of the towards activities such as the study of nature, watching wildlife, taking Ceatalchioi, Pardina, Chilia Veche, photographs with birds and animals; C.A.Rosetti Maliuc towns; the lack of financial sources for promoting the natural resources agriculture and forest floods, soil pollution; hunting and fishing poaching , black market; overexploitation of fishing resources; the aging of the population working in agriculture and fishing; the illegal cutting of trees leads to the apparition of problems linked to soil erosion and floods; the forest productivity will decrease because of the climate changes; the uncontrolled pasturing of semi-wild cattle (bovine, 84 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) traditional products and activities specific to the Danube Floodplain; important hydrographical networks with significant water surfaces and rich fish fauna for recreational and industrial fishing; forests present interest for tourism through the landscape, hunting, recreational value; maintaining the traditions in the fishing activities (the boats, the inhabitants’ talent, the tools) and agriculture; the capitalization of the natural fishing and hunting resources; favourable conditions for agriculture and animal breeding on the fertile lands in the marginal towns, but also on the lands obtained by draining and damming. Ongoing projects for technical infrastructure in rural areas. investments in view of developing the agriculture, fishing and forest sectors; building fishing, agriculture and forest facilities has led to ecological disequilibrium; an inadequate monitoring of the fishing activities. Low productivity level, which leads to general reduced incomes; Too many plots of agricultural or forest land and the existence of a high number of subsistence exploitations; Agricultural productivity under the potential; The new land and especially forest owners have limited capacities of property management; Difficulties in imposing the legislation to the private forest owners, who conducted illegal clearings; The trade networks are not yet developed to meet the needs of small exploitations; Non-functional irrigation systems; Poor development of services in the rural space; Poor usage of the tourist resources connected to the fish and forest landscape can lead to a more profound development of the hunting and fishing tourism; directing the Romanian and foreign tourists’ interest for the traditional ways to practice agriculture in Romanian villages; ‘ecologising’ the agriculture, forestry and fishing; raising the population’s employment rate in the forest field by promoting some traditional activities (osier twig knitting, etc); the existence of European funds for subsidizing and supporting agriculture; to get access for projects aiming the protection of the forest fund. The diversification of the activities within the rural space can be supported; Instruction and appointment of a new generation of exploitation managers; The professional training helps to improve the competencies of the farmers; The introduction of social-economic advisory services; Support programmes for the founding groups of producers The return to certain activities that were equine) produces damages both to the poplar, willow, acacia, oak plantations (Maliuc, Pardina, Chilia Veche) and to natural forests with valuable autochthon species with integral protection regime (the Letea forest); the fires (caused by the fishermen’s, animal breeders’ or tourists’ negligence) represent a threatening factor on the integrity of the forest fund 85 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Danube Delta is a famous and a unique tourist destination both on domestic and international market Good human and touristic resources; The existence of a relatively well represented tourist infrastructure (including also tourist information centres) The possibility to practice different form of tourism (ecotourism, rural tourism, cultural tourism, scientific tourism, cruises, fishing etc.) Good quality of services provided by accommodation establishments (over 80% of bed places are ranked 3 and 4 stars according with the Romanian classification by stars) and food because of the deficiencies well developed on certain floodplain registered at the level of the sectors in the past (eg: silk-worms infrastructure; also, there is no breeding). guest-house in the rural space; Old naval park Industrial units with old technology ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS Turism Low share of Danube Delta as national tourism policies and action plans; tourist destination in total tourism in Romania (1.1% in total arrivals Greater interest for ecotourism and sustainability of protected areas and 0.7% in total overnight stays The presence of strategies and other in 2010) documentation policies that underlines Limited accessibility only on water for the most areas in the Delta the development tourism along the Danube (e.g. European Strategy of Lack of bicycle tourist trails Danube) A low share of foreign visitors in total visitors in Danube Delta The increase in educational level of (only 22.1%) population and concern for environmental protection Lack of diversification of F & B services, mostly (83%) being The increase of cruise tourism on the Danube with Delta as one of a major provided by restaurants Danube Delta is an environmental hotspots sensitive area which limits the International interest for Danube Delta as a tourist product as a unique development of tourism attraction of Romania Small economic results from tourism activities; The increased access to tourist information (e.g. Internet, social Weak employment opportunities network) in tourism as well as for other Non-compliance in environmental protection which could hamper the tourism also Epidemics (such it was Bird flu in 2006) or other natural disasters (e.g. floods) which could keep tourists away from taking a trip a Danube Delta Climate change and global warming affecting ecosystems and also tourism Bureaucracy in accessing European funds for tourism and a low level of their absorption Development of an uncontrolled tourism who could put pressure on resources Lack of coordination of tourism policies and programmes affecting Delta at national, regional and local level 86 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) and beverage facilities (almost 90% are intermediate and upscale F&B facilities) Leisure services (spas, boat rentals, fishing, bird watching etc.), provided to tourist specially by upscale accommodation establishments The high preference for hotels among accommodation units (73.3% of total overnight stays) Approached strategic investments for tourism development (Ex:. Sulina Beach); Objectives with a strong tourism value: Enisala fortresses, Halmyris, Dinogeţia etc., “triangle of Tulcea Orthodox monasteries” - historical and artistic monuments Access to the bus routes; Relatively small distance to important urban centers; also, it is mostly covered by rehabilitated roads; The presence of three important ports - towns and the realization economic activities especially in The orientation towards tourist activities that would put to good use the natural the rural areas; and cultural specific of the Danube Weak touristic infrastructure Floodplain; Weak touristic attraction, due to poor promotion and less various Establishment of public-private partnerships in order to promote service structure; sustainable tourism No local touristic brands Development of ecotourism identified. Revival of traditional crafts with low Reduced presence of tourism environmental impact operators from Tulcea County at national and international tourism conventions. Reduced degree of management knowledge, of understanding the legislation. Lack of specialized emergency services in tourist areas (ambulances, fire fighters). Weak involvement of the local community in environmental issues INFRASTRUCTURE Transport system and Accessibility Poor urban and transport The fusion of the land plots and the infrastructure; appearance of exploitations can be Poor access infrastructure supported through well directed actions Limited access to the basic and measures; services (facilities for children, attracting foreign capital for new elderly etc.) technology implementation Very low technical endowment in promoting international exchange Poor capacity of EU funds absorption; The foreign competition on the market, sometimes even for the ecological products; Small involvement of local authorities and stakeholders in economic and particularly touristic strategic planning; Reduction or elimination of some fiscal facilities. Poor management of the natural and cultural heritage. Insufficient capitalization of opportunities for rural tourism. - - the economic development is conditioned by the removal of major restrictions among which the poor accessibility plays a very important role lack of coherent policies and strategies for infrastructure 87 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) of other connections across the Danube. location on the main European river course, the Danube existence of two ports included in the TEN-T network (Tulcea, Sulina) the study area includes both the River Danube and the Maritime Danube (two ports) existence of free areas (with fiscal and trade facilities) in the vicinity of customs (in ports) agriculture; The access roads to the Danube are often very difficult to use; the density of the road and railway networks is below the national average (for roads: 15/7 km/100 sq.km compared to 34.2 km/100 sq.km; for railway: 12.1 km/100 sq.km compared to 47.9 km/100 sq.km) rather poor accessibility of the inner area existence of one of the most isolated area in the country, the Danube Delta possibility to expand the roads and railways is hindered by geographical barriers lack of financial resources for the development of road and rail infrastructure lack of investment in road and rail infrastructure development inadequate capacity of passenger and freight transport border crossings and control points lack facilities and equipment of international levels possibility to access both European and national funding programmes development in the area and deterring of investors. 88 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) The existence of the optic fiber main line Brăila-TulceaBabadag- Constanţa. The existence of the Internet centers for public 100% covering for mobile phone Relatively high access to radio, television and mobile phone network; good quality of water sources, but insufficient amount of water; Funds for investment projects of rehabilitation, expansion and modernization of water supply, sewerage system and sewage treatment INFRASTRUCTURE Info communications Low degree of telephoning in the The possibility of extending the Danube Delta towns Internet access broadbad network The existence of towns without an owned phone unit Low Internet access degree INFRASTRUCTURE Living quality - Water Management European integration will lead to The basic rural infrastructure is improved quality of life as a result of poorly developed (roads, water supply/treatment, sewerage, gas); accessing structural funds; the expansion and modernization of poor endowment with central systems of drinking water supply drinking water supply and sewerage systems meet the requirements and sewerage; Lack of sewage and wastewater provided by European directives on treatment station or inadequate water and the natural environment treatment of sewage and industrial waste large losses of drinking water from the existing networks, as a result of the advanced state of decay; lack of wastewater treatment plants in cities that have a central system of water supply ; the lack of centralized systems of water supply and sewerage hinder the promotion of economic activities that would be a source of income for the local population; the lack of a sewerage system and wastewater treatment plant causes serious damages to the natural environment in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, where the study area of the pilot study is located Delayed development of the essential infrastructure (water distribution, sewage, waste 89 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) The existence of a centralized system of producing, supplying and distributing the heat carrier in Tulcea city The existence of a supplying and distribution network for natural gas. All the towns in the area are almost completely electrified The existence of a significant solar, aeolian and biomass potential High ratio of the households connected to the electric network; existing pluvial drainage systems are undersized, which results in water ponding in human settlements. Lack of integrated system for waste management Townships without water distribution systems Lack of sewage infrastructure and of wastewater treatment INFRASTRUCTURE Living quality – Public utility supply – The power supply The possibility of extending the natural Insufficient quantities of solid fuel (wood, coal) for houses heating gas supplying network and connection of other towns Difficult supply with fuel for heating The existence f the aeolian park in Valea Nucărilor Lack of buildings proper thermal insulation leads to the increasing Improvement of the energetic and of heat consumption and costs hydraulic efficiency of the irrigation infrastructure through rehabilitation The existence of towns without a works; supplying and distribution system for natural gas. The renewable energies potential is not properly exploited management) Environmental negative impact by using the solid fuel (wood, coal) fireplaces The natural gas network expanding difficulty in the Danube Delta due to the area specificity The interest decreasing for the solar and Aeolian energetic potential exploitation in the area The increase of the energy cost and the low hydraulic efficiency of the infrastructure will lead to the augmentation of the irrigation costs; SPATIAL STRUCTURE Sistem of settlements 90 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) the existence in the study zone of the Tulcea regional growth pole which ensures the balance and the dynamics in the settlement network of the study zone. - lack of rural settlements as polarization centres Isolation of the Danube Delta settlements, particularly in winter time, because of the total dependence on water transport mode and the unfit road connections; Difficult polarization of settlements; Rural administrative territorial units are prevailing and account for 85.7% of the total 14 urban and rural administrative territorial units of the study zone; 42% the communes with less than 1,000 inhabitants: Sf.Gheorghe-880 inhabitants, C.A. Rosetti-927 inhabitants, Maliuc – 974 inhabitants, Ceatalchioi – 756 inhabitants , Pardina – 605 inhabitants; Low functional diversity – fishing and farming activities prevail; tourism has no satisfactory impact on the local economy of the settlements. the presence of the Danube Corridor – Pan-European Transport Corridor VII shall strengthen the territorial role of the settlements through which the Danube flows; The Danube Strategy shall bring important benefits to Romania as a result of increased competitiveness and attractiveness of the towns and villages along the Danube bank. - Deeper social and economic gaps between urban and rural communities. Tourist pressure on the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve 91 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 3. SUGGESTED ACTIONS TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE AREA DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES Tulcea municipality Priorities: o Modernising the main streets; o Creating a sewerage network and cleaning plant; o Encouraging the practice of the tourism/agro-tourism/ecotourism activity; o Protecting dam against floods Sulina Priorities: • to save the original architecture patrimony; • design road Sulina – C.A. Rosetti, which would connect the most isolated towns in the delta (Cardon, Sfistofca, C.A. Rosetti, Letea); - developing; • The design of the beach in conformity with modern standards – developing; • to protect the Sulina historic centre; • the rehabilitation and modernisation of streets. o To build a transfer platform for domestic garbage; o To encourage local population to practice ecotourism; o To create some consultancy public services for the development of small enterprises connected to the area potential (navigation, fishing, tourism, etc.); o Protection against floods, both the right and left area of the Danube; o Modernise roads; o Modernise water supply networks, sewerage network and cleaning plant. Bestepe – the Baltenii de Jos and Baltenii de Sus villages Priorities : o Route infrastructure -asphalting village roads – evaluation stage; o Public services: sewerage network and cleaning plant, Bestepe village, water supply network and sewerage network in Baltenii de Sus, creating green spaces in the town – sent for financing; o Environment infrastructure; o Energy – creating some Aeolian turbines - project sent for financing; o Rehabilitation of the Cultural centre Crisan – Crisan, Caraorman, Mila 23 Priorities: o Maintenance/execution of the protection dams against floods; calibration of the Caraornam channel at the entrance mouth from the Sulina channel; creating a coffer dam on the Caraornam channel, in the crossing area of the Caraorman spit; o The extension of the network which distributes drinkable water, creating the sewerage network and cleaning plant; 92 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) o Creating the county road; village road between Caraorman and Crisan; village road between Mila 23 and the Sulina channel; o Ensuring public utility services; o Encouraging the development of ecotourism and agro-tourism. Ceatalchioi – Ceatalchioi, Patlageanca, Salceni, Plauru Priorities: o The modernisation of the intra-urban roads; o Damming and draining (for reintroducing lands in the agriculture circuit); consolidation of the fields that can be flooded by planting trees resistant to water – protection ‘curtains’; o designing a garbage ecologic pit and a dry well; o creating some economic and commercial modern utilities, for offering services; o unloading dock for agricultural products; o designing/modernising the gangway for ships; o capitalizing the area tourist potential. Chilia Veche - Chilia Veche, Tatanir, Câşliţa Priorities: o Revigorating the traditional economic activities o Improving the aspect of the street tracks; improving the village road connecting the village to the Pardina town; o urban rehabilitation of the central area – there are many unfinished buildings for years; o finalising works for the town port; o creating some economic and commercial modern facilities; o protecting the Chilia arm border which presents erosions; C.A.Rosetti - C.A.Rosetti, Letea, Sfiştofca, Periprava, Cardon Priorities: o Creating the garbage deposit platform; o building the water supply network, the domestic sewerage networks, cleaning stations; o to offer new basic services for the population; o to encourage the practice of the tourism/agro-tourism/ecotourism activity; (to build a tourist complex – the Cardon village); o village road between the village and C.A.Rosetti (thus connections with the other component villages); o to build a Cultural centre; o to build an unloading dock on the Magearu channel; o creating a beach area on the border of the Magearu channel. Jurilovca - Jurilovca, Vișina, Sălcioara Priorities: o The rehabilitation of the Tulcea – Agighiol - Sarichioi – Enisala – Jurilovca – Două Cantoane (DJ 222) county road and connecting it to DN22 through Babadag - Enisala (DJ 223A); 93 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) o restoring, designing, equipping and improving the access ways of the chain of the north Dobrogea citadels (the Enisala, Argamum, Halmyris, Noviodunum, Dinogetia citadels) Mahmudia Priorities: o Ensuring the passenger transport daily, on the Danube; o Repairing the Danube dam, right near the village; o to modernise the access road; to build a road from DJ 222 C to the village; o to create places for evening sitting of villagers, rest, recreation; o re-equipping the pumping stations for draining; recreating the drained areas; o offering some sanitary services of first necessity: consulting, dental, room, analysis laboratory; o creating a beach near the Danube. Maliuc - Maliuc, Gorgova, Partizani, Vulturu, Ilganii de Sus Priorities: o The necessity to protect the piece of land lying between the Sulina channel and the ancient Old Danube riverbed; o solving the transport problem both on water (smaller ships, daily) and on road (designing the existing road on the dam); o to encourage the development of tourism by ensuring the specific infrastructure; o recreating some designed areas by ecologic reconstruction; o creating some economic and commercial modern facilities for offering services; o nature protecting measures and ecology actions. Murighiol - the Uzlina village Priorities: o To build the electric energy supply network which will be connected to the system (the only major investment being a motel with own generating group); the street illuminating will be ensured; o to build a transfer platform for domestic garbage; o to design the street network; o to build a water supply station and a distribution network, cleaning stations; o offering services of public utility; o building a gangway /unloading dock (equipped with electric energy, compressed air, deposit of fuels, etc); o to encourage investments in tourism/agro-tourism. Nufăru - Ilganii de Jos Priorities: o Hydro-technical works of damming/consolidation border-dam against floods; o to rehabilitate the existent built fund and building new apartments; o to modernise the street network; to modernise the village road by asphalting; stoning secondary road; 94 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) o water treatment station, drinkable water supply network, domestic waters sewerage network and cleaning plant; o to encourage the investments in tourism. Pardina Priorities: o To finish the drinkable water supply works; o to protect the area which can be flooded; protection works of the Chilia arm borders against the erosion phenomenon; o to design the gangway for ships and creating an unloading dock for travellers and goods; o to offer basic services for the population – agro-food market; o to finalise the building of the county road that connects the entire chain of towns on the border of the Chilia arm; Sfântu Gheorghe Priorities: o To preserve, protect the natural beauties and the reservation patrimony; o having in view the geographic position - neighbouring with the Black Sea - and the fact that it owns a large beach with very fine sand, they want to create a tourist area (a small resort) in the outer area of the town; to encourage ecotourism; o to build a road along the Tataru channel – which implies both a great investment and some special approvals; o to create some modern economic and commercial facilities, to offer quality services; o to build an Aeolian station; Sarichioi - Sarichioi, Zebil, Enisala, Sabangia,Visterna Priorities: o To build a supply network with drinkable water in centralised system – in execution; o to build a domestic sewerage in centralised system and a treatment station for used waters – in execution; o to build a domestic sewerage in centralised system and a treatment station for used waters in the Enisala town – the stage of Feasibility study; o to rehabilitate the Visterna - DJ 223 village road – handed in for financing; o to rehabilitate the Sarichioi cultural centre – handed in for financing; o to design tourist mini-ports (financed by the Tulcea county council); o to rehabilitate an intra-urban dam, dam for preventing the lacustrian erosion lake Razim Sarichioi – financing is being searched; o the Sarichioi informing centre (financed by the Tulcea county council and the Danube Delta biosphere reservation association); o restoring, designing, equipping and improving the accessing ways to the Dobrogea citadels. 95 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) 4. SUGGESTED FURTHER CROSS- BORDER CO-OPERATION National policies Cross border projects to be submitted for the next EU programming period (2014-2020) Support and a framework for the initiation and development of cross-border cooperation projects are cross-border cooperation programme Romania-Ukraine-Moldova. This programme includes from Romania - Tulcea, Braila and Galati Counties and from Ukraine, Odessa area. In the framework of this Pilot Project is interested in the relationship Tulcea-Odessa. Cross-border cooperation programme Romania-Ukraine-Moldova aims to improve the situation of economic, social and environmental programme in the area, in the context of secure borders, by enhancing contacts between partners on either side of the border. This will be followed in the spirit of partnership and cooperation, which encourages cross-border contacts and activities and make improvements to the infrastructure. To achieve this, the two partner countries have identified the following priorities: 1. To improve the economic performance in the border area through diversification and modernization of the economy of the border by: Development of initiatives for cooperation in the field of transport, border infrastructure and energy networks. Improving productivity and competitiveness in rural and urban areas. 2. The development of long-term solutions to environmental problems in the area of the border on the following issues: Emergency situations where a coordinated approach is essential. Management of water resources and waste. 3. Promotion of good interaction between people and between communities in the border area through social and cultural exchanges, in the field of education. Considering the need to turn on cross-border collaborative relationships within the territories of territorial cross-border area and initiating and supporting programs and projects of the common neighborhood and cross-border development has in mind: Initiation of links for sustainable development. Partnership areas: Economics, transport, the environment, public health, education, culture, tourism, improving the social infrastructure of the agricultural sector, public administration. Facilitation of contacts and relations between communities, public, private, professional and citizens. 96 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Regional policies Cross-border projects to be submitted in the frame of the last call (2007-2013) Another program which may initiate cooperation projects is the one who sees "cooperation within the euro-region" Lower Danube "which follow: Creating a regional center and cross-border prevention and intervention in cases of pollution of the river Danube; Creating a cross-border information centre; Promotion of green tourism in the euroregion; promotion of protected areas; Development of new tourist facilities in administrative units, members of the euro-regionregion and promoting the image of a sustainable economic development: Ecoturistic Center-partnership: Danube Delta biosphere reserve Danube Delta Administration, Institute of Eco-Museum's Administration building of the Danube, Tulcea in Ukraine and Danube Tourist information centre in Valkovo (Ukraine). Integrated system for monitoring of environmental factors, biodiversity and natural resources in the Danube Delta Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Romania/Ukraine - beneficiaries: Danube Delta Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Romania/Ukraine; 97 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Cross-border cooperation for the restoration of wetlands (polders- Stensovsko Zhibrianskie and Zagen in Romania) Biosphere Reserve in the Danube Delta Transboundary Romania-Ukraine. Cross-border Centre of environmental protection, Customs and traditions on both sides of the Danube Improving cross-border cooperation in the integrated management of water resources in the Danube region "Danube Delta" Partners in Europe: Danube Delta Biosphere Reservation Administration, NGO "Friends of nature Romania", Association for the promotion of Ecotourism, branch of Odessa/Ukraine, cross-border cooperation lower Danube Euroregion "" Reni/Ukraine. "A River Delta without borders – the promotion of tourism in Danube Delta transboundary level" Local policies Cross-border projects to be submitted in the frame of the last call (2007-2013) Building a collection of solar energy - creation of conditions for the installation of solar panels on public buildings, for the supply of hot water in Ceatalchioi, Pardina, Chilia veche, Somova Improving and modernizing the heating system in Ceatalchioi, Pardina, Chilia veche, Somova by using renewable energy resources. 5. IMPACT ASSESMENT The impact on the hydrological network of the Danube Delta The hydrological network of the Danube Delta suffers a strong anthropogenic impact during the postwar period, after 1950, when the natural resources of the delta are subject to extensive and intensive exploitation. During this period a series of enclosures for fish breeding and reed growing is built, and an impressive system of canals. Consequently, the natural hydrological network of the Danube Delta has been affected by the construction of an artificial system of canals with a length of approximately 1,000 km; the canals were built for various purposes, without proper justification, which led to an uncontrolled movement of water and silt inside the Danube Delta. Change of water and silt movement on the Danube branches and into the delta The Delta morphology is also changing, as the hydro development works performed in the recent past on the Delta, as well as the change in the hydrologic regime of the Danube entering the delta have considerably changed the general flow of water and silt movement on the Danube branches and into the delta, which changed both the mudding into the delta, and the development conditions of the related maritime area. 98 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Moreover, maintenance and preservation works on Sulina Canal embankment were neglected; consequently, the canal have broadened and deepened as a result of the intense traffic of ships sailing at excessively high speeds. At the same time, the morphology of Chilia and Sf. Gheorghe branches, which have preserved their relatively natural state until recently, remain unchanged. As a result of silt-flow reduction at the mouth of the Danube and the extension into the sea of breakwaters at the mouth of the Sulina canal, as well as the natural phenomenon of Sacalin Island formation south of the mouth of Sf. Gheorghe branch, along the sea shore in the coastal area of the delta, between Sulina and Vadu, the erosion became more widespread and the morphological assessment of the coast became a difficult process with an annual loss of land of about 47 ha. In terms of the coastal morphological dynamics of Danube Delta, an estimate shows that the waves and currents in the Black Sea carry annually towards south an average of 69 million tons of coastal sediments. Considering the continuing reduction of sediments carried by the Danube River into the Black Sea, the estimates show that the coastal erosion will prevail over the silt and, by 2020, the erosion will spread to the whole coastal slope of the Danube Delta, up to a depth of 10 m. The supraterritorial economic activities that impact the Danube Delta are based in metropolitan areas within the neighbouring counties of Constanta, Braila, Galati, and the capital. These regional poles, with functions of “city gate”, are interconnected by major transport corridors and existing or future infrastructures. Tulcea City, the gravity centre of the area, is located at equal distances from two regional poles the in neighbouring counties and at a long distance from the country's capital. The modernization of inland transport and telecommunications will improve the partnership and cooperation relations in various fields of economy. Tourism and transport (especially on sea and road) are two supraterritorial activities that will most influence the regional space. Braila - Sulina navigation section – for sea vessel transit and local traffic – also benefits of varied tourist resources, interesting enough to allow developments that impact the regional economy. These resources attract forms of tourism such as sport fishing, cultural and religious tourism, wine tourism, water sports, cruises on the Danube and the Danube Delta - Black Sea route. The development of congress tourism in important tourist centres of Braila, Galati and Tulcea should also be considered. Transportation towards the Danube Delta is mainly done by road, rail and waterway for regional and international traffic. Impact of tourism development on the Danube Delta Sustainable tourism development occurs particularly in three areas: The economic impact is reflected by tourism expenses/income, and represents a direct impact. The positive economic impact of tourism activity consists in: increasing the viability of towns with poor natural resources; stimulating profitable activities (hotels, restaurants, transportation etc.); using low productive agricultural land for the building of appropriate tourist facilities; 99 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) increasing residents’ income; encouraging the development of traditional activities and trade based on local craftsmanship products; revenues from tourism could be used to support environmental rehabilitation. The social impact of tourism relates to its influence, both positive and negative, on the living conditions of the inhabitants of an area. A positive social impact is reflected by the creation of new jobs, ensuring social development, reducing disparities between socio-professional categories in terms of income, etc. A negative social impact refers to the gradual disruption and destruction of traditional lifestyles within social structures and the acceptance by local population of the negative social influences, by abandoning the traditional lifestyles and occupations (forestry, pastoral activities, crafts, etc.) in favor of tourism activities, which bring quick and substantial income. The cultural impact is the relationship between tourists and the local community. The positive cultural impact consists in the development and revival of cultural and religious traditions, the diversification of handicraft, increased interest of local inhabitants for the preservation and conservation of tourist attractions etc. The negative cultural impact becomes obvious after a relatively long period of time through changes in mentality, copying by the locals of attitudes and behavior of tourists. Environmental Impact Ecotourism is one of the forms of tourism with the weakest impact on the environment, especially since the preservation of the biodiversity is one of its strategic objectives. Therefore, the positive impact is a result of the interest to preserve natural resources and to adopt such development proposals that would least affect the environment. Positive impact is generated by: sustainable use of tourism resources; reducing the exploitation of exhaustible resources and preserving biodiversity; building appropriate facilities for the Biosphere Reserve; promoting friendly tourism activities (bird-watching, photo safaris, etc.); 6. LOCAL INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES Local touristic investment possibilities in Tulcea county Danube Delta - Investment in tourism and sports tourism leisure, creation of aquatic parks Sports tourism and approvals do not introduce at this moment of great interest to local authorities, although it just might be the key factor in attracting tourists in Tulcea County. The City Council may focus on the organization of sports events "sport fishing" or the creation of aquatic parks, having as main target audience in children and people between 18-30 years. Potential stakeholders: Tulcea County council, Biosphere Danube Delta Rezervation, Local councils 100 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) Tulcea Municipality-Improve accessibility by building an airport to serve exclusively for the carriage of domestic and international tourists wishing to visit both the Tulcea County and surrounding areas. Currently existing Airport "Danube Delta" has a view of a strategy of development in the short term and medium that is transforming the airport into an international airport, wishing to make efficient the airport Danube Delta, create of new jobs for residents of the area, but also the relaunching of tourism throughout the County. Investment in transport infrastructure of the connection between the municipality of Tulcea and Freeway of the Sun. The creation of a road junction that will link Munincipality of Tulcea and Freeway of the Sun, will have consequences in streamlining traffic, increasing the quality of national roads and shorten the time of access in/of Tulcea Municipality Potential stakeholders: Consiliul Judetean Tulcea Danube Delta Villigies/ Investments in agritourism. Agritourism is very poorly exploited in Tulcea County, in the light of the potential it holds. Being positioned in an area with a wide range of areas and different ethno-folkloric, agritourism could be one of the most productive forms of tourism which could reduce the considerable discrepancies between the population of the rural and the urban revitalization of local economy through preserver of tradition. Potential stakeholders: Local councils, county councils 7. MAIN LESSONS OF THE SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE DIFFERENT PILOT PROJECT (EXEMPLE FROM DELTA PO EXPERIENCE - PROGRAMMA PER LA COOPERAZIONE TRANSFRONTALIERA ITALIA-SLOVENIA 2007 – 2013: SLOW TOURISM) Strategic Project SLOW TOURISM Project- funded under the Programme for Cross-Border CooperationItaly-Slovenia 2007-2013, by the EuropeanRegional Development Fund and nationalfunds Project Description SLOW TOURISM project involves 30 partners coming from all the eligible areas of the program and it has a total duration of 36 months. The partnership is made of Local Development Agencies and Local Action Groups, institutional bodies as Provinces, Municipalities, Park bodies, the Sciences Department of Trieste University and bodies specialized in tourist marketing sector. 101 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) The project aims at increasing and promoting slow tourist itineraries in Italian and Slovenian area, particularly involving the territories with naturalistic and environmental peculiarities as park areas, protected areas, the presence of river courses, through the structuring of slow tourist circuits and itineraries. SLOW TOURISM in fact aims at supporting and increasing forms of slow tourism and at structuring eco-friendly tourist niche products, through interventions turned to the integration and putting on the net of environmental and rural resources for the joint and integrated development of tourist potentials, through the creation of a circuit and with actions of promotion and increasing of “Slow Tourism” net in the cross-border area of High Adriatic, as well as through impact pilot projects on the whole territory. Besides the interventions of marketing, training, communication, the project will be realized through the organization of real “Slow” points in Italian and Slovenian territories. The presence in the partnership of public bodies, park bodies, Slovenian Municipalities, partners working in tourist sector and Local Development Agencies and Groups will contribute to the achievement of the results for the structuring and the promotion of Slow Tourism offer that will characterize Italian and Slovenian tourist circuit along water ways and in valuable naturalistic sites. Slow Tourism Network - The tourist operator wanting to approach slow philosophy should focus his attention to the six dimensions composing slow tourism: - time, - slowness, - contamination, authenticity, - sustainability, - emotion General Objective To valorize and to promote slow tourism forms in Italian and Slovenian areas, characterized by naturalistic and environmental elements and by “water” elements, through joint and integrated actions. Specific Objectives: to introduce new philosophy – slow tourism To strengthen and improve tourist resources To improve the accessibility and the utilization of tourist resources connected with water following a “slow” philosophy; To promote slow tourism forms and structure eco-sustainable niche tourist products; To integrate and put on the net environmental and rural resources for the joint and integrated development of tourist potentials; to organize a “Slow Tourism” net in Upper Adriatic cross border area; To develop a common market strategy and place the program area at international level; to promote sustainable mobility forms; To create new opportunities for the local population in nature and environmental tourism sector The project areas Territorial areas involved in the project, extending from the Delta of the Po to the Gorenjska region with the Triglav National Park, Lake Bled, crossing the lagoon and the Carso, are characterized by a 102 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) strong and diverse tourist attractiveness and have a rich heritage of landscapes and environmental tourism resources including particularly fine nature areasPark areas, and NATURE 2000 areas, SIC and SPAS. These areas characterized by the presence of the Po Delta, one of the most important wetlands in Europe, by the presence of parks, rivers, canals, lakes and lagoons, factors, common to all the Territories concerned, in which the environment plays a special role as both naturalistic habitats, laboratory to observation, study, teaching and as a playground, i.e. quality areas for activities, especially sports-outdoors. In this sense are different products, from those consolidated as the cycling to the "new", at least for Italy, as the activities along the waterways (River tourism, canoeing, etc.), and birding, i.e. that together varied itineraries "green" (the so-called greenways) and consumption practices "slow and careful" of territories with high environmental value. Inside extraordinary environmental records, which are interwoven with history, tradition, culture and art, offering the visitor a unique landscape and surprise. The richness of the Park is due to the great diversity of environments, where many species find refuge. A place made of traditions and ancient crafts, artifacts and examples of how over the years the men we have been able to manage the balance between nature and culture, between land and water: pots, elements and instruments of the salt civilization, culverts, dams, towers and abbeys. Sources: - The National Statistic Institute, the Dolj county division, The main territorial indicators at the level of the Calafat, Cetate, Maglavit, Poiana Mare, Desa and Ciupercenii Noi towns, during 2008-2009; - Opportunity study concerning the capitalization of the tourist potential of the Danube, Stage I, INCDT, 2001, Bucharest; - Tourism study for the carrying out of the Danube Delta biosphere reservation inter-county territory designing plan, INCDT, Bucharest, 2008; - Economic-social development strategy of the Dolj county, Dolj County council, 2008; - Local development strategy of the Calafat municipality, 2007-2013; - Development strategy of the public utility services of the Calafat municipality, 2007-2013; - The Danube Delta biosphere reservation – Master Plan, 2005; - Strategic plan for the development of sustainable tourism in the Danube Delta, the Tulcea county council, 2009; - The Danube Delta territory designing plan, the UrbanProiect national institute of researchdevelopment for urbanism and territory design, Bucharest, 2008; - Tulcea County Council – www.cjtulcea.ro – component towns records - Town of Sulina – Integrated Development Plan - Zone Development Plan (PATZ) of Danube Delta, 2007 - Environmental Report on Strategic Plan for Tourism Sustainable Development in the Danube Delta, 2010 - Local Agenda21 in Tulcea County - Environmental report for Up-dating the General Urban Plan for Nufăru Commune, Tulcea County - National Regulatory Authority for the Community Services of Public Utilities (A.N.R.S.C) Heating Supply Status on January 31, 2010. 103 Transnational Strategy for the Sustainable Territorial Development of the Danube Area with special regard to Tourism – DATOURWAY WP 5 Pilot Projects PiP 4 – DELTAS (DANUBE DELTA) - - Energy Strategy of Romania for 2007-2020 – The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business Environment. www.info-delta.ro/ www.ghidulprimariilor.ro www.primaria-bestepe.ro www.sfantu-gheorghe.ro www.delta-dunarii.ro http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cetate,_Dolj http://maglavit.info.ro/?page_id=8 http://www.poianamare.ro/ http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poiana_Mare,_Dolj http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comuna_Ciupercenii_Noi,_Dolj Study concerning the assessment of the present energy potential of renewable energy sources in Romania, identification of best locations for the development of investment in unconventional electric power production – ICEMENERG S.A., 2006. “Biblionet” National Program – www.biblionet.ro 104