The Romanian and Bulgarian environment ministers yesterday (April 16 ) signed an agreement to protect three wetland areas on the banks of the Danube. Late last year, conservation NGO World Wide Fund (WWF) recommended protected status for the three areas, which lie in Romania and Bulgaria along the River Danube.

The Srebarna-Lake Călăraşi, Belene Island Complex -Suhaia and Ibisha-Bistreţ Island areas will now be preserved, according to the WWF. This will “allow full protection of colonies of birds nesting and feeding in Bulgaria and Romania. The two countries will be able to take coordinated, cooperative action to better protect wetlands and migratory species that feed, winter, nest and breed on both sides of the river,” said Regional Freshwater Coordinator Laurice Ereifej.

In the past three years, WWF monitoring has found herons, small cormorants and pelicans nesting in colonies in the protected areas.

“We propose the implementation of measures to combat the threats and pressures on wetlands, including: ecological restoration in the Delta and flood plains of the River Danube and the Danube tributaries, habitat restoration, development of protected areas and farming,” said WWF-Romania project coordinator for the Danube basin Cristian Tetelea.

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