Stop the consolidation works on the Chituc Levee from the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve

On 27 May 2008 NGOs met the Dobrogea-Seaside Water Directorate of the Romanian Water National Administration to discuss the proposed access road consolidation works in the Chituc Levee protected area of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. The Directorate wants to broaden the road to 7 metres and raise it above its current level. Following the meeting, the Romanian Ornithological Society and other NGO’s including “Saving Danube and Delta” Association, Eco Pontica Foundation, Societas Herpetologica Romaniae and “Oceanic Club” Organization remain extremely concerned about the project and continue to ask the Romanian authorities to stop the works. To gather further support, the deadline for signatures has been extended until the end of June 2008.

To:  The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Romania; The Romanian Waters National Administration; Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration

Stop the consolidation works on the Chituc Levee from the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve

The ROMANIAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, non-governmental organization, society for the study and protection of birds, their habitats and nature, requests to stop the consolidation works on the Chituc Levee from Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (DDBR), Romania.
The Romanian Waters National Administration, DOBROGEA-SEASIDE Water Directorate intends to carry out o series of consolidation works on the seaside of the North – Midia Sector, including the consolidation of the access road from the strictly protected area on the Chituc Levee.
The Chituc Levee is a protected area and it is situated in the southern part of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. It separates the Black Sea from Razelm-Sinoe lagoonal Complex. The north part of the levee is a strictly protected area. The Chituc Levee includes typical costal sand dunes and lakes with a fan disposal. The levee presents a high biodiversity and it is an important area for many species of birds, especially for the wintering and migrating populations. Here is the last natural costal sand dune of the Romanian seaside.
The consolidation works proposed by the Water Authority threaten the habitats and many species, especially birds which are protected by many international conventions (Bern, Bonn, Washington Conventions, Bird and Habitat Directive) and national laws (the DDBR Law 82/1993; HG 248/1994; HG 367/2002; H.G. 1284/2007 and O.M. 776/2007).
The consolidation/building of the access road through the strictly protected area on the levee will create the possibility for secondary development in the future with a major negative impact on the biodiversity, practically an ecological disaster. This consolidation work represents a high risk for the integrity of the strictly protected area and according to the law it can not be justified by any socio-economic interests in this area.
This works are carried out without respecting Romanian’s environmental laws, regulations and international obligations. It is in strong conflict with the EU legislation: the Habitats and Birds Directive and the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive.
For secure the Favorable Conservation Status of the habitats and the populations of species on the Chituc Levee (according with the management plan of DDBR and Habitats and Birds Directive) we request to stop any consolidation works on the Chituc Levee.
We need as many signatures as possible at the beginning of May, 2008.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Stop the consolidation works on the Chituc Levee from the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Petition to The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Romania; The Romanian Waters National Administration; Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration was created by and written by dr. Mariana Cazacu (czinaida2001@yahoo.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.