This is a list of protected areas of Romania.
About 5.18% of the area of Romania has a protected status (12,360 km2), including the Danube Delta, which makes half of these areas (2.43% of Romania's area).
National parks There are 14 national parks totaling 3,223 km2:
Name Location(county) Area(ha) Year ofestablishment Year ofdeclaration Image Website Buila-Vânturarița Vâlcea 4,186 2005 2005 Călimani Mureș, Suceava,Harghita, Bistrița-Năsăud 24,041 1975 2000 Ceahlău Neamț 7,742.5 1995 2000 Cheile Bicazului-Hășmaș Harghita, Neamț 6,575 1990 2000 Cheile Nerei-Beușnița Caraș-Severin 36,758 1990 2000 Cozia Vâlcea 17,100 1966 2000 Danube Delta Tulcea 446,100(on Romanian territory) 1991 2000 Domogled-Valea Cernei Caraș-Severin, Mehedinți,Gorj 61,211 1982 2000 Jiu Valley Gorj, Hunedoara 11,127 2005 2005 Măcin Mountains Tulcea 11,151.82 2000 2000 Rodna Mountains Bistrița-Năsăud, Maramureș 47,177 1990 2000 Piatra Craiului Argeș, Brașov 14,773 1938 2000 Retezat Hunedoara 38,047 1935 2000 Semenic-Cheile Carașului Caraș-Severin 36,664 1982 2000
Proposed hunting The Romanian parliament discussed in September 2008 a bill aiming to open 13 national parks to sustainable hunting, in order to manage the wildlife biodiversity in these areas and promote greater tourism and the accompanying revenue necessary to support and maintain the parks. However, after several protests from environmental organizations, the law was rejected by President Traian Băsescu. Nowadays, hunting is prohibited in national parks of Romania.
Natural parks There are 17 natural parks totaling 5,492.33 km2:
Name Location(county) Area(ha) Year ofestablishment Year ofdeclaration Image Website Apuseni Alba, Bihor,Cluj 75,784 1990 2000 Brăila Small Puddle Brăila 17,529 1978 2000 Bucegi Brașov, Dâmbovița,Prahova 32,663 1974 2000 Cefa Bihor 5,002 2010 2010 Cindrel Sibiu 9,873 2000 2000 Comana Giurgiu 24,963 2005 2005 Dumbrava Sibiului Sibiu 993 1963 2000 Grădiștea Muncelului-Cioclovina Hunedoara 38,184 1979 2000 Hațeg Country Dinosaur Geopark Hunedoara 1,023.92 2005 2005 Iron Gates Caraș-Severin, Mehedinți 115,665.8 1990 2000 Lower Prut Floodplain Galați 8,247 2005 2005 Maramureș Mountains Maramureș 148,850 2004 2004 Mehedinți Plateau Geopark Gorj, Mehedinți 106.5 2005 2005 Mureș Floodplain Arad 171.66 2005 2005 Putna-Vrancea Vrancea 30,204 2004 2004 Upper Mureș Defile Mureș 9,156 2007 2007 Vânători-Neamț Neamț 30,818 1999 2000
Natural reserves Natural reserves are natural areas protected by law in order to protect and conserve important habitats and natural species. The dimensions of natural reserves vary and depend on the area needed by protected natural elements. Besides scientific activities, the administrations of natural reserves encourage traditional activities and ecotourism that do not affect the natural landscape. Here is not permitted to use natural resources.
There are 617 natural reservations totaling 2,043.55 km2.
Scientific reserves Scientific reserves are also protected areas that, like the previous ones, aim at protection and preservation of natural habitats. The difference is that scientific reserves can not be visited by tourists. These areas typically contain rare plant and animal species or particular natural elements, reason why here are prohibited any human activities, excepting research and education activities. Entry without permission in scientific reserves is punishable by considerable fines.
There are 55 such reservations totaling 1,112.77 km2.
Natural monuments There are 234 natural monuments totaling 77.05 km2.
References
External links World Resources Institute