The Bucharest City Hall in partnership with the Vacaresti Nature Park Association will manage the Vacaresti Nature Park, in southern Bucharest, following a contest organized by the Environment Ministry.

The area surrounding the Vacaresti Lake, also known as “Bucharest’s Delta,” was declared a nature park with protected area status last year. The park covers 184 hectares, the same as the well-known Herastrau Park in northern Bucharest.

The Vacaresti lake is an artificial lake, established as part of works alongside the Dambovita river. Works on it started in 1986, when the Vacaresti monastery was also demolished, but were stopped after 1989 and the site abandoned. During this abandonment period, a diverse vegetation and fauna developed. Over 95 species of birds and water animals can be found in the area. Several otters, a protected species, were spotted on site in 2014. Specialists say the presence of this mammal at Văcărești is a sign of the health of the ecosystem.

Several species found here, protected by the local and European legislation, are subject to illegal hunting each year. Under its new statute, the place is protected by law and administered following ecological principles.

“We will start projects and programs to make use of the scientific and educational potential of the Vacaresti Park, and, last but not least, to increase the eco-touristic potential of the southern area of the capital,” Bucharest mayor Gabriela Firea said in a press release.

Other 12 institutions, such as universities, NGOs and research institutes, are expected to join in managing the park, Hotnews.ro reports.

Romanian PM leaves suit for T-shirt to help clean up Bucharest’s Vacaresti Natural Park

Otter spotted in Bucharest’s Vacaresti Natural Park

editor@romania-insider.com

(Photo credit: Helmut Ignat)