Data Zone
Country/territory: Romania
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, A4ii, A4iii, B1i, B1iii, B2, B3 (2000)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 442,000 ha
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | Threat (pressure) | Condition (state) | Action (response) |
| 2006 | not assessed | not assessed | not assessed |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (baseline)
The most extensive wetland in Europe after the Volga delta, comprising three arms of the Danube (Chilia, Sulina and Sf. Gheorghe) interspersed with marine and river sandbanks, fields, marshes, lakes and canals. Reedbeds (Phragmites) cover large areas (totalling 160,000 ha), and include a type of floating reed habitat known as `plauri'. Two forests, Letea and Caraorman, cover 22,700 ha, and Salix is widespread. Also present are sand-dunes and beaches, wet and dry grassland, salt vegetation (in the south), agricultural lands (some abandoned), fish-ponds and human settlements. The Razim-Sinoe lagoon complex is situated to the south of the delta. Formally brackish, the lagoons have become fresh following the closure of the link to the sea. Reed-harvesting takes place (`Other' land-use).
Key biodiversity
This is one of Europe's most important sites for breeding, passage and wintering waterbirds, particularly wintering Anatidae. It is also an important site for breeding and passage raptors and passerines. The site regularly holds more than 20,000 waterbirds breeding, on passage and in winter. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Anser erythropus (wintering), Haliaeetus albicilla (breeding), Falco naumanni (passage), Gallinago media (passage) and Acrocephalus paludicola (passage).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Danube Delta and Razelm-Sinoe complex. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/457 on 10/06/2023.
