Plant Conservation in Romania

National Red Data Books

Plant Group	EX	EN	VU	R	NE	Total threatened
Vascular plants	74	39	171	1256		1438
Bryophytes		18	16	31	9	74
Fungi				11		11
Totals	74	57	187	1298	9	1523

EX=Extinct, EN=Endangered, VU=Vulnerable, R=Rare, NE=Not evaluated.

There is not yet a Plant Red Data Book for Romania but there are a few Red Lists on vascular plants; among these, the most recent and comprehensive is:

Lista rosie a plantelor superioare din România [Red list of higher plants from Romania]. M. Oltean, G. Negrean, A. Popescu, N. Roman, G. Dihoru, V. Sanda, S. Mihailescu. 1994. Pp. 52. Institutul de Biologie, Academia Româna. (Includes 1235 species and 203 subspecies of vascular plants each with endemism code, IUCN category of threat, information source (according to the Romanian literature), presence on the Bern Convention and/or on the EU Habitat Directive).
The 74 bryophytes on the table above are listed on the European Red List on Bryophytes (information from Mrs Irina Goia, University ‘Babes-Bolyai’ Cluj-Napoca).

Data are not yet available for other lichens, algae and fungi.

Floras

Flora Ilustrata a României, Pteridophyta et Spermatophyta, Ed. a doua revazuta si adaugita [The illustrated flora of Romania, Pteridophyta et Spermatophyta, 2nd edition revised and enlarged]. V. Ciocârlan. 2002. Pp. 1138. Edit. Ceres, Bucharest. (Covers 3297 species and 498 subspecies of vascular plants; provides identification keys to phyla, families, genera, species and subspecies; ink drawings provided for almost all species).

Flora Republicii Socialiste România. T. Savulescu (Ed.). 13 vols. 1952–1976. Academiei Republicii Socialiste România, Buchurest. (Includes extensive notes on distribution, phytosociology and habitats; line drawings.)

Ciuperci parazite si saprofite din Romania [The Parasitic and Saprotrophic Fungi of Romania]. Vera Bontea. 1985, 1986. Ed. Academiei Romane, Bucharest. Two vols, 586 & 469 pp. Romanian Academy Ed. (Refers to 8727 species of fungi in Romania – Myxomycota 260 species; Mastigomycotina 422 species; Ascomycotina 1829 species; Basidiomycotina 2219 species; Deuteromycotina 3934 species; Mycelia sterilia 34 species; and fossil fungi 28 species.)

Vegetation

Three main lowland vegetation zones, comprising: a) a steppe zone, in the south-east, largely an agricultural landscape but with small areas of herbaceous vegetation dominated by grasses (Stipa and Festuca) and sparse bushes; b) a forest-steppe zone, in the south-east and west, with similar vegetation to (a) but with sparse isolated forests dominated by Quercus pubescens and Q. pedunculiflora in the south, and Q. robur and Q. dalechampii, with Acer tataricum, in the north; and c) a forest zone on the higher plains and on lower areas in the south and west, on the Transylvanian tableland, and in the north-east, dominated mainly by the oaks Quercus robur, Q, dalechampii, Q. frainetto and Q. cerris. The vegetation varies altitudinally: a broadleaved forest, either a mixed forest with deciduous oak (Q. petraea), at 300-600 m; beech forest (Fagus sylvatica) at 600–1200 m; in the Carpathian Mts a boreal belt of Picea abies forest, 1200–1700 m, and a subalpine belt, with Pinus mugo, Rhododendron myrtifolium, Vaccinium and Juniperus, on mountains at 1650–2000 m; and an alpine belt with dwarf shrubs of Salix and other subshrubs, and alpine grassland, over 2000m. There is also extensive wetland vegetation, especially around the Danube Delta, and coastal, sub-Mediterranean vegetation. Forests still cover c. 16% of the country.

Useful reference: Vegetatia României. Doina Ivan (coord.). 1992. Pp. 407. Edit. Tehnica Agricola. (Describes the vegetation of Romania).

Plant Conservation Programmes

The Association of Botanical Gardens of Romania (see below) is coordinating a project to identify Important Plant Areas (IPAs) in Romania as part of the European IPAs Programme led by Plantlife International with the Planta Europa network. It is also is contributing to other pan-European projects through a grassland inventory in Romania and an inventory of macrophytes of the Danube delta and its tributaries.

A public-private partnership of NGOs from Romania, Germany, Norway and the UK, commercial companies, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Water and Environment is organizing a project to conserve the landscape and biodiversity around the Saxon villages in Transylvania and the Maramures.

Key Institutions

Ministerul Agriculturii, Padurilor, Apelor si Mediului [Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Water and Environment], Bdul Libertatii nr. 12, Bucharest.

Directia de Conservare a Biodiversitatii si Managementul Ariilor Protejate, Ministerul Agriculturii, Padurilor, Apelor si Mediului, Bdul Libertatii nr. 12, Bucharest.

Comisia Monumentelor Naturii a Academiei Române, Calea Victoriei 125, Bucharest.

Institutul de Cercetari si Amenajari Silvice (ICAS), Sos. Stefanesti 128, Bucharest.

EarthVoice-Romania, Schitu Magureanu nr. 1 et 4, Bucharest.

Institute of Biology, Romanian Academy, 296 Splaiul Independentei, P.O. Box 56-53, Bucharest 060031.

Institutul de Cercetari si Ingineria Mediului (ICIM), Splaiul Independentei 294, Bucharest.

Centrul National de Dezvoltare Durabila [National Centre for Sustainable Development], Str. Pitar Mosi nr. 20, sect. 1, Bucharest.

UNESCO Pro Natura, Calea Plevnei 61, Bucharest.

Centrul Regional de Protectia Mediului pentru Europa Centrala si de Est - oficiul local Romania, Str. Boteanu 3A, ap. 20, sect. 1, Bucharest.

Botanical Gardens

Asociatia Gradinilor Botanice din România [Association of Botanical Gardens of Romania], Str. Cotroceni, Nr. 32. Bucharest. (This NGO includes 9 botanic gardens in Romania and one from Moldova, the Kisinev Botanic Garden).

Botanical Garden “Dimitrie Brandza” of the University of Bucharest, Sos. Cotroceni 32, Sector 6, 76258 Bucharest.

Botanical Garden “Alexandru Borza” of the University “Babes-Bolyai” Cluj-Napoca, Str. Republicii nr. 42, 3400 Cluj-Napoca.

Botanical Garden of the University of Craiova, Str. Constantin Lecca 26, 1100 Craiova.

Botanical Garden of Complex Museum of Natural Sciences in Galati, Str. Domneasca 91, 6200 Galati.

Botanical Garden “Anastasie Fatu” of the University of “Al. I. Cuza”, Str. Dumbrava Rosie 7-9, 6600 Iasi.

Botanical Garden of the Biological Research Institute, Str. Parcului 14, 4675 Jibou.

Botanical Garden Macea of the University Vest “Vasile Goldis”, Comuna Macea, 2900 Arad.

Botanical Garden of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Str. Gheorghe Marinescu 38, 4300 Targu-Mures.

Botanical Garden of Children Palace of Tulcea, Str. Elizeului 74, 8800 Tulcea.

Key protected areas

Parcul National Piatra Craiului [National Park Piatra Craiului Massif].

Parcul National Masivului Retezat [National Park Retezat Massif]. Administration: Aleea Pescarilor 2, Deva 2700.

Parcul Forestier Vânatori Neamt [Forestry Park Vanatori Neamt], Sat Varatec, comuna Agapia, cod 5683, judetul Neamt.

Danube Delta National Institute, 165 Babadag Street, 8800 Tulcea.

Administratia Rezervatiei Biosferei Delta Dunarii, Casuta Postala 32, 8800 Tulcea.

Useful web page on protected areas in Romania:
http://enrin.grida.no/htmls/romania/soe2000/rom/cap5/ariiprot.htm

Acknowledgement

This page was prepared in November 2003 by Dr Adrian Oprea, Botanical Garden “Anastasie Fatu” Iasi and Professor Dr Catalin Tanase, Faculty of Biology, “Al. I. Cuza” University of Iasi.