GEO-DIVERSITY OF PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA (CASE STUDY)

Ala Donica, PhD.

Adam Begu, Proff., Dr. Hab.

Republic of Moldova

www.ieg.md

CONFERENCE ON GEOPARKS, GEO-EDUCATION AND GEO-TOURISM, PRIBRAM, CZECH REPUBLIC, 04-07.09.2022

INSTITUTE OF ECOLOGY AND GEOGRAPHY

INTRODUCTION

The Institute of Ecology and Geography is a public organization, in the field of research and innovation, which carries out fundamental and/or applied research activities, implementation of scientific results and innovations, training and improvement of highly qualified scientific staff in the ecology and geography fields.

Scientific research in the field of ecology and geography aims the evolution, structure, functioning of ecological and geographical systems and their basic components, their modification under the action of biotic, abiotic and anthropic factors, in order to protect the environment, the efficient use of natural resources, the estimation of the anthropic impact and ensuring ecological security and sustainable development of the country.

Begu A., David A., Liogchii N., Ursu A., et al. Starea mediului și patrimoniul natural al bazinului Dunării (în limitele Republicii Moldova). Chisinau, 2013. 300p.

www.ieg.md

Projects in this area:

- “Creation and maintenance of the State Database Register for State Protected Natural Areas information system” (2020-2022).

- “Integrated assessment of human impact on representative ecosystems for the purpose of conservation and extension of Natural State Protected Areas in the EU directives context” (2015-2019).

- “Impact of natural and anthropogenic factors on geo- and ecosystems on the territory of the Republic of Moldova in order to improve the management of natural resources and the preservation of representative areas” (2011-2014).

- “Complex assessment of State Protected Natural Objects in the Prut river basin for the purpose of formation and maintaining the Data Base and elaboration of the Protected Natural Areas Cadastre” (2010-2011).

- “Structure, Functionality, Stability, Dynamics and Bioproductivity of Natural and Anthropic Ecosystems in the Republic of Moldova” (2004-2010).

- “Assessment of environmental quality in different ecosystems based on bioindicators” (2002-2005) etc.

Government Decision no. 114/2000 establishes the fact that the Data Bank of the country’ natural protected areas, is formed and kept within the Institute of Ecology and Geography.

For all protected natural areas, research was carried out regarding:

• Evaluation of the natural/anthropogenic ecosystems’ state, with the scientific argumentation of their natural heritage and protection status;
• Complex evaluation of anthropogenic impact on protected areas for the purpose of their conservation and expansion, according to the requirements of the EU Directives;
• Creation, maintenance and completion of the protected areas’ database, with scientific argumentation for new natural protected areas;
• Evaluation of the anthropogenic impact on the environment in a local, regional and cross-border context, etc.

RESEARCH AREA (NW OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA)

Protected areas: Natural Geological Paleontological Monuments from Racovat River Basin (similar according to a series of physical-geographical characteristics):

• Trinca Gorge (Defileul Trinca)
• Fetesti Gorge (Defileul Fetești)
• Burlanesti Gorge (Defileul Burlănești)
• Buzdugeni Gorge (Defileul Buzdugeni)
• Volodeni Ravine (Rîpa Volodeni)
• Brinzeni old reefs (Recifele Brinzeni)
• Brinzeni grottos/caves (Grotele Brinzeni)

PURPOSE

Carrying out complex geo-ecological research to highlight the natural, touristic, educational, socio-economic potential of the Racovaț river basin (NW Rep. of Moldova), in the context of sustainable development’ principles (promoted by environmental conventions).

© Adam Begu

Gorges of Racovat river, North of Moldova.

The Republic of Moldova is signatory party to several environmental conventions, including:

• Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (1979);
• Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (1979);
• Convention on Biological Diversity (1992);
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1994);
• Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Justice and Public Participation in Environmental Decision-Making (1998);
• European Landscape Convention (2000) etc.

https://date.gov.md/

https://moldova.un.org/en/sdgs

PHYSICAL-GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES OF RESEARCHED AREA

©Tatiana Bunduc, Institute of Ecology and Geography

Hypsometric map of the Racovat River Basin and its tributaries.

A relatively fragmented relief by the Racovat river and its tributaries prevails, highlighting the asymmetry of the valleys: with short, affected by geomorphological processes right slopes and long, uniform left slopes.

HIDROLOGYCAL ASPECTS

• Racovaț is a river in the north of the Republic of Moldova: it is a left tributary of the Prut River.
• The length of the river is 67 km, and the area of the basin is 795 km².
• The river valley intersects several old reefs, forming numerous deep and narrow gorges, which have been declared natural monuments.
• The banks of the river with grottoes and caves, covered in places with forests, form picturesque natural landscapes over a distance of 25-30 km.

Racovat River Valley (www.natura.md)

GEO-DIVERSITY OF RESEARCHED AREA

• The presence of the calcareous substrate is the distinctive characteristic of the natural protected areas investigated in this basin.
• They are part of the Prut’ Toltres (or Prut River Rocks) - a chain of calcareous reef-type formations, spread over a distance of about 200 km along the Middle Prut, in the Republic of Moldova (start from the northern border area of the country).
• These limestone reef chains are made up of fossils of corals, mollusks, clams, calcareous algae and other marine organisms that populated the tropical Tortonian and Sarmatian seas 10-20 million years ago.

Protected area:

Natural Geological Paleontological Monument

Buzdugeni Gorge

Protected area:

Natural Geological Paleontological Monument

Fetesti Gorge

©Adam Begu

• The researched area impresses with the presence of the gorges and grottos, formed by the Prut River tributary - Racovat river- in fragments of calcareous reef formations. The river forms narrow valleys with steep slopes, bordered on both sides by rocky walls.
• The depth of the gorge reaches its maximum value, about 200m deep in the area of Buzdugeni village. The slopes of the gorge are permanently subject to erosion, as a result of which the banks of the Racovaţ river and its bed are strewn with numerous limestone blocks, which are crumbling. In several places, these blocks of stones create dams and as a result appear small waterfalls.

Protected area:

Natural Geological Paleontological Monument

Trinca Gorge

©Adam Begu

PALEONTOLOGICAL ASPECT OF RESEARCHED AREA

• Racovat gorges present an impressive number of archaeological monuments.
• On the gorges’ slopes, in some places, there are caves, some with traces of the Paleolithic people’ existence (the absolute age of about 70-80 thousand years). Various work and hunting tools of primitive man, skeletal remains of cave bear, horses, woolly rhinoceros, reindeer, bison, black mountain goat and other animals, as well as some micro-mammals (Dicrostonyx guilielmi, Stenocranius gregalis, Microtus oeconomus, etc .), now extinct from the fauna of Moldova, were discovered there.

Protected area:

Natural Geological Paleontological Monument

Brinzeni grottos/caves

©Adam Begu

Кравчук Ю.П., Верина В.Н., Сухов И.М. Заповедники и памятники природы Молдавии. 1976

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Protected area:

Natural Geological Paleontological Monument

Buzdugeni gorge (with grot)

NATURAL HERITAGE

https://www.coe.int/en/web/bern-convention/emerald-network

The Republic of Moldova has made substantial progress by including 52 sites with the total area of 269871 ha into the Emerald network corresponding to 8.0 % of the country’s territory (2018).

Habitat types present on the site:

A1.11 - Mussel and/or barnacle communities

D5.2 - Beds of large sedges normally without free-standing water

E1.11 - Euro-Siberian rock debris swards

E6.2 - Continental inland salt steppes

G1.11 - Riverine Salix woodland

G1.A4 - Ravine and slope woodland

H1 - Terrestrial underground caves, cave systems, passages and waterbodies.

Protected area:

Natural Geological Paleontological Monument

Volodeni Ravine

www.wikimedia.org

Protected area:

Natural Geological Paleontological Monument

Brinzeni old reefs

TOURISTIC AND SOCIO-CULTURAL POTENTIAL

https://invest.gov.md/en/touristic-offer/

https://calatoriicugust.com/

Пешком по прекрасной Молдове

https://www.hikeme.club/2022/05/30-2022.html

www.visit.md

https://moldova.travel/en/north-of-moldova/

CONCLUSIONS

• The natural, socio-economic and cultural potential present in the study area, including the researched protected areas, needs to be made aware and rationally exploited, in the context of the sustainable development’ principles (environmental protection, economic growth, social equity), with the involvement of different levels actors, local public authorities and local communities;

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• The ensemble of geographical, geological, landscape and biotic elements, present in the Racovaț River basin, allow the inclusion of protected areas - geological and paleontological monuments - in the category of mixed natural areas (category poorly represented in the national legislation in the field);

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• The negative anthropogenic impact on the geo-diversity and bio-diversity of protected areas is represented by: the exploitation of useful rocks in quarries (Fetești quarry; Trinca quarry; Brinzeni quarry, etc.); poor management of landfills in nearby villages; incineration of vegetation; the increased impact of tourist activities against the background of the presence of a poor tourist infrastructure in the region, etc., actions that induce the visual alteration of landscapes, the destruction of the habitats of rare plant and animal species, the irretrievable loss of natural heritage elements.

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• Protected areas in the region can become cores of socio-economic development, by promoting geo-diversity, bio-diversity, cultural diversity (developing eco / agro / geo-tourism, revitalizing traditional activities/crafts, organizing festivals, competitions, etc., activities that can improve the quality of life , the development of local initiatives, the creation of family businesses, the formation of partnerships, etc.).

Thank you for your attention!

Ala Donica

aladonica1980@gmail.com