Romania is home to two thirds of the last old growth forest in Europe. The Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests (MMAP) is the central public body tasked with protecting the country’s shrinking 6.4 million hectares of forest. Within the Ministry, the Department of Forests is responsible, among other tasks, for planning and implementing forest-related policies in compliance with Romanian and EU legislation.

The challenge

The Carpathian Arc contains the largest contiguous forested region in Central Europe covering 27% of the country’s surface. Romania’s forests are home to almost half of Europe’s wild population of brown bears, wolves and lynx. Yet, the equivalent of three football fields filled with trees is disappearing every hour.

Up to 50% of the exploited wood in Romania is the result of illegal logging. According to Green Peace Romania, a total of 45 509 cases of illegal logging were registered between 2013 and 2014. Beyond the environmental damage and loss of habitat for wildlife, illegal logging translates into financial losses for government agencies. Romania, which is among Europe’s main timber producers, is estimated to have lost €52.1 million in 2013-2014 due to illegal forest cuts.

The satellite solution

In 2014, to fight illegal cutting and curb losses, the government first instituted a mandatory digital tracking system for trucks transporting wood. The system, which assigns a number to each logging operation, tracks everything from how many trees are being cut, to their pickup and delivery locations. Even the truck drivers are registered in the system. However, the GPS data records proved insufficient to curtail legislation breaches. To bypass the system, truck drivers would use fake GPS loading points. According to the Environmental Investigation Agency, nearly half of the GPS loading points analysed in a month’s time appeared to be fake.
To add an additional control, the Ministry turned to TerraSigna, a GIS service provider, and a team of volunteering IT specialists. They created “Inspectorul Padurii” (The Forest Inspector).

‘The Forest Inspector’ is a geographic information system that can ingest radar and high resolution satellite images from Sentinel 1 & 2, Landsat, OpenStreet and Google Maps. The software then scans successive images of the same areas to identify changes in the forest cover that indicate where logging has taken place. The data is refreshed every two to seven days (depending on the satellite crossing), which enables authorities to become aware of any illegal logging in almost real-time.

The satellite based map is further enriched with information coming from the government’s digital database and tracking system. Such information can include: who has permits to cut what and where, what the truck’s license plate number is, and when the logging took place. Protected areas are also monitored through the platform. In addition, the map can be used to identify fake GPS loading points, faster.

The result

Following the launch of the Forest Inspector in July 2016, the online platform and the mobile versions have been accessed by approximately one million users. Due to its multi-level access feature, both police and individuals can see who is doing the cuts, what type of wood is being cut, where and when. Thus, the platform brings together citizen activism, technology and authorities in the fight against illegal deforestation.

The successful implementation of the online portal has encouraged the team of volunteers involved in the project to look beyond Romania and extend its use to other countries and for other uses. The system could potentially present any other type of information, such as on waste management sites and wetlands, depending on user needs.

Thanks to a continuous stream of satellite data, public authorities are now better equipped to track illegal deforestation in almost real-time while empowering citizens to join in the fightBogdan Micu, Advisor, Ministry of Enviroment, Waters and Forests

The post Romania turns to satellites to crackdown on illegal deforestation appeared first on Eurisy.

The National Environmental Protection Agency is a specialised institution of the central public administration, subordinated to the Ministry of Environment. The Agency and its 42 regional offices are in charge of implementing policies and EU and national legislation on environment protection. This is done through strategic environmental planning which involves monitoring environment parameters, assessing the environmental impact of human activities, as well as reporting to the European Environment Agency on air quality, climate change, protected areas, soil, water and others.

The challenge

The Agency was created in 2004 as part of the reform of the national environment protection system, in view of the country’s accession to the EU in 2007. Until then its responsibilities were fragmented among various local and regional environment agencies on Romania’s territory. The Agency had to provide the regional agencies with the technical support and normative documents necessary for the harmonisation with the acquis communautaires. In particular, the Agency proceeded to the implementation of Natura 2000 – the centrepiece of EU nature & biodiversity policy which establishes a Europe-wide network of protected areas. However, given the previous fragmentation of protection measures on its territory, the Agency needed a common, online source of knowledge on Romanian habitats, seamlessly shareable with all local and regional actors with a role in protecting them.

The satellite solution

Thanks to co-financing of European Regional Development Fund, the Environmental Protection Agency initiated SINCRON, a project aimed at establishing an IT infrastructure for an integrated system for the management of and awareness raising on Romania’s Natura 2000 network. The solution integrates a powerful Geographic Information System (GIS), combining background satellite data, derived from SPOT satellite high-resolution multispectral images, with very high resolution aerial imagery. These high-resolution images provide the necessary cartographic support for graphical delimitations of habitats and are used to identify relevant natural and man-made elements which have an impact on the protected sites. Structured geospatial information is integrated in the protected sites’ management plans and a lot of geographical information is automatically derived from highly accurate GIS data, ensuring the best information available to site administrators, NGOs and stakeholders. 

The result

Thanks to SINCRON, national as well as regional environmental protection agencies can share and act in a coordinated manner, on the basis of the same, up-to-date information, online. In terms of management issues, for instance, building permits are delivered with solid knowledge of any threats to habitats and their nature. Mitigation and awareness raising measures are taken where necessary. In October 2013 for instance, in the county of Caras-Severin, about 100 pupils from the county’s 10 high schools participated in a tree-planting campaign in Rusca Montana, a Natura 2000 site. 

Quote: “Much of Caras-Severin County are protected areas — parks, reserves, Natura 2000 sites. […] Protected areas management plans – including those resulting from the SINCRON project – set out measures to be taken for the conservation of species and activities that can take place in these areas”. Horia Irimia, Vice-President, ANPM

The post Integrated system for Natura 2000 management and awareness raising in Romania appeared first on Eurisy.

The Danube joins the Black sea in the South-East of Romania, where it forms the second largest delta in Europe. This delta is also the largest continuous marshland on the continent, and includes the greatest stretch of reedbeds in the world. It was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991 and as the largest Ramsar wetland of international importance, especially as waterfowl habitat . The Danube Delta is a natural genetic bank of incalculable value for the global natural heritage. The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority (DDBRA) was created in 1990 as a public agency in charge of the administration, protection and conservation of the natural reserve.

The challenge

The main challenge for the Danube Delta Biosphere Authority is keeping the fine balance between preservation and exploitation. The Delta is a biodiversity haven, with 300 species of birds as well as 45 of freshwater fish over a complex ecosystem of next to 600 hectares. But, at the same time, it is an area of significant economic potential thanks to tourism, fishing and reed harvesting. As an example of such potential conflicts, reed exports for luxury roofs are a significant source of revenue, while reed beds are also habitats for various species of insects, fish and vertebrates. Reconciling the two requires a fine and up-to-date knowledge of the evolution of habitats with regard to human activities and other sources of pressure, like climate change. The information the Authority disposed of was scattered in various paper records and manually entered after field visits. This made the follow-up of the situation on the field cumbersome, and not fully reliable.

The satellite solution

In 2009, the Authority applied for EU environment funds and co-funded an integrated geo-information system (GIS) for managing and monitoring the reserve. The GIS relied land cover information derived from SPOT satellite high-resolution multispectral images which gave the opportunity to analyse and study the vegetation and biomass and to have a complete pictures of the area at a specific time. Further information layers were included such as the strategic points of interest (reed harvest areas, fishing boat access sites and shore fishing sites, tourist accommodations, historic sites. Moreover, the GIS included detailed layers of habitats and species distribution, as well as the Natura 2000 sites.

Furthermore, the staff documenting many of the inventoried parameters (including finer levels of information such as water quality), were endowed with palmtop computers to digitally record their data in the field, and to geolocate it thanks to GPS. The collected data is then synchronised with the local database.

The result

The Authority now disposes of an unprecedented digital record of the Delta status which is constantly updated with fresh data from the field and other sources. Thanks to the different layers of information available in an integrated GIS system, the Authority can simultaneously compare the various relevant parameters to be considered, for instance, when deciding on a building permit. By not having to manually enter their observations by writing them on paper records, staff saves time which they can dedicate to other tasks.
The Danube Delta Biosphere Authority uses the system for both decision-making and to fulfil its national and European reporting obligations – such as those entailed by the Natura 2000 status of the area. The two years since the GIS has been operational have been too short a period to draw conclusions on the evolution of the habitats, but for the first time in the many decades it will be possible to monitor the Delta with precise and up-to-date information and to hold on to its status of the best preserved delta in Europe.

“Having an integrated monitoring system, available both in the office and outdoors, makes our job easier and less time-consuming. It has completely changed our approach to managing the Delta.” Camelia Caprita, Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority

[1] http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/588/

[2] http://www.ddbra.ro/en/danube-delta-biosphere-reserve/danube-delta

The post Integrated management system for the Danube Delta appeared first on Eurisy.

The Danube is the longest river in the European Union. Originating in the German Black Forest, it crosses ten countries (Romania, Hungary, Serbia, Austria, Germany, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Croatia, Ukraine and Moldova), before flowing into the Black Sea. Its drainage basin also extends to Italy, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Poland, Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The challenge

In the Danube Basin climate change-related floods are an ever greater threat to industrial activities, crops and urban settlements. In 2006 for instance, exceptionally high river levels caused considerable economic losses in Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania; numerous buildings were destroyed, leading to the evacuation of thousands of people. Danubian countries which had used until then different hydraulic models and planning systems were led to reconsider their risk prevention strategies and to look for common solutions.

“In the case of international river basin districts (…) Member States shall ensure that exchange of relevant information takes place between the competent authorities concerned”. EU Floods Directive 2007/60/EC

The satellite solution

Since 2010, under the lead of the Romanian Ministry of Environment, 24 public and research bodies from eight Danubian countries partnered to implement the EU-funded Danube Floodrisk project. After an in-depth consultation on the requirements of water managers and stakeholders, satellite imagery was combined with other sources in producing a common cartography of flood hazards and risks in the whole basin area. The carthography can be accessed on an online portal.

The flood hazard map shows extreme event scenarios, displaying the water at 1000-years return period and flood extent for 100-years return period. Furthermore? it shows potential flood damages in euro/m2 for different land use types (industry, residential areas, forestry/cultivated fields and other areas) and the number of inhabitants likely to be affected.

The result

These international flood hazard and risk map offers a more global, EU-scale overview on the Danube flood-risks than maps produced by single member states, and allows them to coordinate their mitigation efforts, according to the EU Flood Directive.. Finally, by creating the risk map jointly, each country was able to save money and resources.

 “The use of satellite imagery allows us to integrate a big amount of data to assess, prevent and manage the flood risk in a common map shared among all stakeholders responsible for flood management in the Danube basin.” Mary-Jeanne Adler, Scientific Director, Romanian National Institute of Hydrology and Water Management

The post Danube River Basin: Flood risk maps for an integrated mitigation appeared first on Eurisy.

The protected area of the Mures river floodplain is located in the West of Romania, stretching from the city of Arad to the Hungarian border, along the river Mures, covering an area of 17 455 ha.

Since 2006, it is the fourth area in Romania that has been designated for inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. The Park is also part of the Natura 2000 network, and a Special Bird Protection Area. The diversity of the Park’s fauna and flora confers it an outstanding scientific value, in addition to its potential for the development of ecotourism.

The challenge

The Mures Lower Floodplain is a typical wetland ecosystem that hosts approximately 200 species of birds, of which some are internationally protected. Being a wetland, it is also a highly sensitive area, exposed to floods and river erosion (flooding occurs about once every three years).

One of the development axes of the park is the promotion of eco-tourism as a source of economic welfare for the community. The associated socio-economic risks, as well as environmental ones, put pressure on the natural heritage conservation and require an integrated, sustainable management strategy. The Park Management Team, and its Scientific Committee, required a detailed knowledge of the area in order to make informed decisions over its sustainable use, and advise regional stakeholders (the Water Administration, the Forest Directorate etc.) accordingly.

The satellite solution

Starting from 2005, the Park has used a combination of aerial and satellite images, Quickbird and WorldView 2, to chart and analyse the entire Park area. These images – part of a Geographic Information System (GIS) system implemented by the park – have replaced old paper maps, which were more difficult to use and update. The satellite image used by the Park offers a unique opportunity for vegetation analysis and biomass studies (see more on lm.geoprtal-mediu.ro/home). In order to better use satellite technology for current and future activities, three members of the park’s staff participated to training courses.

The result

The digital maps obtained through a combination of aerial and satellite data has been evaluated as an excellent, independent, objective and transparent monitoring tool for decision-making related to the park activities. It is a useful, daily tool when advising on new infrastructure development authorisations, calling for river bank protection measures against erosion, for trees to be replanted in areas of loss, and others. The web portal is an important tool for the promotion of eco-tourism in the region and biodiversity educational programmes.

 “Since 2005 satellite images became a very important part of our everyday work at the Park. We use them for administrative purposes, eco-tourism and research.” Paul Hac, Mures Floodplain Natural Park Administration.

The post Mures Floodplain Natural Park: satellite information helps manage natural heritage appeared first on Eurisy.