General National Id Romania_11 Site name Comana Forest Summary The main objective of the project is to conserve the biodiversity, the natural habitats, the wild species of flora and fauna and to assure an efficient management of protected natural areas, in particular, management of the ecological network Natura 2000 through reconstruction of Comana Wetland within Giurgiu County. Light or indepth? Light NUTS Code Sud - Muntenia RBD code RO1000 Transboundary 0 Data provider Imola Koszta, REC Source(s) Financing Natura 2000 in 2014-2020: Guidance Handbook, Part II, Case studies SURF nature, Good practice projects - examples from Romania The Guide to Multi-Benefit Cohesion Ploicy Investments in Nature and Green Infrastructure Integrated Management Plan of The Natural Park Comana Ecological Restoration of Comana Wetlands - Giurgiu County, Cod SMIS - CSNR 6725 NWRM(s) implemented in the case study Floodplain restoration and management Removal of dams and other longitudinal barriers Longitude 26.158891 Latitude 44.138207 Site information Climate zone warm temperate moist Mean rainfall 560 Mean rainfall unit mm/year Average temperature 11 Mean runoff 122,459999084473 Mean runoff unit 450 - 600 mm Average runoff coefficient 0,140000000596046 Type Case Study Info Average slope range 1-2% Vegetation class limit between the steppe and sylvo-steppe Monitoring maintenance Monitoring impacts effects 1 Monitoring parameters Monitoring system of bird species and environmental factors that will allow instantaneous observations and the opportunity to explore areas of avifauna interest without the presence of an operator; - Databases for monitoring environmental parameters characteristic for wetland habitats: precipitation, temperature and humidity in two areas of the pool and the monitoring of bird species, which constitute a source of information for those interested; - Storage all information received from the observatories within a Dispatcher and use the data in research activities. Performance Performance impact estimation method Catchment outlet Performance impact estimation information monitoring systems for the Natura 2000 sites and protected areas, including infrastructure and equipment for monitoring the natural habitats and the conservation status of flora and fauna species (monitoring system of environmental parameters and bird species) Design & implementations Application scale River Installation date 2011-04 Lifespan 50 Age 1 Performance timescale Immediate Area (ha) 1180 Area subject to Land use change or Management/Practice change (ha) 1180 Design capacity description increase of the river depth by more than 1.50m and to achieve a permanent retention rate of 43.60 mMB at Comana pond; extending the water surface to 490 hectares and maintaining the shallow water area below half a meter. Constraints N/A info Favourable preconditions N/A info Public consultation 1 Design contractual arrangement Arrangement type Responsibility Role Comments Name Design consultation activity Activity stage Key issues Name Comments caravans for promoting biodiversity conservation presenting information about nature and its protection, about Comana Natural Park (flora and fauna); The project had the support of local public authorities and business people who have invested in the area. dissemination of materials with key messages; round table for capacity building and improvement of cooperation with local authorities and stakeholders from the Comana Natural Park area thematic seminars with key messages: "protecting nature - protecting life" and "to teach both young people and local community, how important is the conservation of environment" Design land use change Land use change type Design authority Authority type Role Responsibility Name Comments Other Implementation the Giurgiu County Council County Authority / The project developer Other Initiation of the measure Comana Local Council NGO Other Administration of Comana Natural Park Initiation of the measure; Determination of design details of the measure; Implementation; Monitoring Private property owners Business people who have invested in the area Regional / sub-national water authority Monitoring Local Environmental Protection Agency Farmers Land users from the area of Comana wetland restoration area Lessons, risks, implications... Key lessons The project is the first wetland restoration and the first example of green infrastructure development in the region. The process of public procurement for contracts regarding the supply/works/services, might cause a barrier, delaying the implementation. Strong awareness raising campaigns creating the necessary local support for restoration is essential. Financing difficulties 0 Financing difficulties information The funding was sufficient for project implementation and the financial framework conditions support the financing of the nature conservation activities. Without the EU funding, the project would not have been possible. Comana Wetland restoration was initially funded through a LIFE Nature project (2002-2004). While the LIFE project did not yet achieve the planned restoration it was key to the successful planning of the restoration work (including identification of measures in view of increasing the wetland area, drafting a series of management recommendations and proposal to declare the site as a natural park) and laid the ground for the declaration of the area as a National Park in 2004. Success factor(s) Success factor type Success factor role Comments Financing possibilities main factor Attitude of relevant stakeholders secondary factor Other secondary factor Financing Financing type Comments EU-funds: LIFE+ National funds European Regional Development Fund, Sectorial Operational Programme Environment 2007-2013 Barrier Barrier type Barrier role Comments Other main barrier Barriers for the implementation of the measures were due to the process of public procurement for contracts regarding the supply / works / services, which consisted in appeals and had as a consequence procedures which led to delays in the project implementation. Addendum were necessary in order to extend the implementation period. This resulted from the inflexibility to redistribute savings and so required using beneficiaries own funds. Driver Driver type Driver role Comments Availability of subsidies main driver available EU funds Financing share Financing share type Share Comments European funds 67 ERDF Sectoral Operational Programme for the Environment (SOP ENV) in Romania View National funds 33 State budget + County Councy Giurgiu has contributed separately ; € 27,579 View Policy, general governance and design targets Policy description Prior to 1990, three fourths of the wetlands were drained to be used for agriculture. This had a significant negative impact on biodiversity.Comana wetlands were restored between 2009 and 2011, to improve biodiversity and ensure the conservation of natural habitats and wild species of flora and fauna. The area covered by the restoration project was 1800 hectares. Quantified objectives 1) construction of a dam with sluice on Neajlov River, downstream of Comana Lake, in order to increase the river depth by more than 1.50m and to achieve a permanent retention rate of 43.60 mMB at Comana pond; extending the water surface to 490 hectares and maintaining the shallow water area below half a meter; 2) construction of a fish scale downstream of the dam to avoid aquatic habitat fragmentation and the disruption of the migration route of some fish species. Part of wider plan 1 Policy target Target purpose Improved Biodiversity Increase Water Storage Policy pressure Pressure directive Relevant pressure Policy area Policy area type Policy area focus Name Comments Primary Environmental Policy Lower Danube Green Corridor strategy Policy impact Impact directive Relevant impact Policy wider plan Wider plan type Wider plan focus Name Comments Local Environment & Biodiversity Management Plan of the protected area Local Environment & Biodiversity Visit Strategy of the protected area Regional Environment & Biodiversity Giurgiu County Development Strategy Local Environment & Biodiversity Region Development Strategy. Policy requirement directive Requirement directive Specification Socio-economic Direct benefits information The restoration of the Comana wetlands greatly improved biodiversity in the area. The construction of the dam on the Neajlov River, downstream of Comana Lake, increased the level of water in the floodplain area and has maintained it at a constant level, which has had positive effects on avi-fauna. New feeding sites for duck and heron species in the area previously occupied by reeds were established. It is estimated that the land available as habitat for bird species was increased by at least 30% and the number of birds increased by at least 5%. Moreover, the improved ecological conditions increased the quality of habitats and hence species richness for fish and invertebrates. Ancillary benefits information 20 temporarily new jobs were created during the construction of the dam. Permanent economic benefits from establishing ecological research area in cooperation with nearby scientific institution. More permanent economic benefits are to be expected from the development of tourism (the restoration of Comana wetlands is attracting an increasing number of tourists, especially during weekends) and from collaboration with scientific institutions in nearby cities.Business investment is coming also to the area. The park administration organises guided visits for school children and other groups, and thematic seminars and workshops with local authorities and interested local stakeholders.Benefits: 1. Tourism and recreation †“ 10.000 visitors to protected sites per year; 5.000 users for camping, nature walks, jogging, water sports, cycling per year 2. Education †“ 500 educational excursions per year 3. Conservation benefits - existence value of habitat, species and genetic diversity Costs investment information N/A info Costs operation maintenance N/A info Costs total 1807319,125 Costs total information The funded measures were the following: - Ecological restoration of habitats and reinforcement of species population, through 1) construction of a dam with sluice on Neajlov River, downstream of Comana Lake2) construction of a fish scale downstream of the dam; - Setting up monitoring systems for the Natura 2000 sites and protected areas, - Construction and improvement of the infrastructure of the national protected areas and Natura 2000 sites (building of visitors and information centres and of information panels, risk management / fire prevention and control etc.). - Preparation of information and publicity materials to contribute to awareness raising on the issues of protected areas and Natura 2000 Ecosystem improved biodiversity 1 Information on Ecosystem improved biodiversity The construction of the dam on the Neajlov River, downstream of Comana Lake, increased the level of water in the floodplain area and has maintained it at a constant level, which has had positive effects on avifauna. New feeding sites for duck and heron species in the area previously occupied by reeds were established. It is estimated that the land available as habitat for bird species was increased by at least 30% and the number of birds increased by at least 5%. Initially there were 157 species, and after project implementation were inventoried 212 species, of which 78 species protected at national and European level.Moreover, for fish populations and their invertebrate prey, the new conditions such as oxygen concentrations, changing water levels and their daily fluctuations have improved the quality of habitats and species richness. Ecosystem provisioning services 1 Information on Ecosystem provisioning services -increased tourism Ecosystem impact climate regulation No information available Information on Ecosystem impact climate regulation N/A Biophysical impacts Information on retained water retention rate of 43.60 m.a.sl. at Comana pond Information on increased water storage n.a Information on runoff reduction n.a Water quality overall improvements Positive impact-WQ improvement Information on Water quality overall improvements Traps sediments and retains excess nutrients and other pollutants such as heavy metals. This is important as the Comana wetland is connected to groundwater sources used by local communities for drinking, and surface water sources (rivers and lakes) used for swimming, fishing, or other activities. These same functions are also critical for the fish and other wildlife that inhabit these waters. Soil quality overall soil improvements N/A info Information on Soil quality overall soil improvements N/A info Full Context Pathway(aka Context) Default view Area(aka Level or Site) ALL