Promoting Payments for Ecosystem Services and related sustainable

Promoting Payments for Ecosystem Services and related sustainable Mu financing schemes in the Danube Basin Ciocăneşti pilot site 4 April 2012 Cristina Munteanu, WWFDCPRO, Local coordinator

The Danube PES project Ciocanesti Profile of the site Conservation values • Location: South of Romania; 30 km from Călărași city, 255 ha • Part of 1 Natura 2000 site – Ciocăneşti Dunăre – 904 ha • Important place for migration of 20000 individuals of waterfowel birds • Important feeding place for Ferruginous Duck (endangered species), White tailed-eagle, Pygmy cormorant and other protected species – 77 Euro/ha (19500 Euro) Date 04 April 2012 +15

The Danube PES project Ciocanesti Profile of the site Other environmental services • Fish production - 3202 Euro/ha • Carbon sequestration – 5856 Euro/year +15 • Carbon retention – 3550 Euro • Landscape • Recreational services • Educational services • Water quality improvement? Date 04 April 2012

The Danube PES project Ciocanesti Profile of the site Socio-economic features • Rural area, 1 commune, population 4990 • Migration of young &educated to the regional centre • Fish ponds (90%), agricultural land (10%) • Main economic activities: fisheries Date 04 April 2012

The Danube PES project Ciocanesti Profile of the site Developments & pressure • Different responsibilities in area administration • Custodian of the Natura 2000 site: Echilibru Association • Under water land owner: State Domain Agency • Infrastructure (buildings, dikes) owned by 2 concesionaires • Water price rose 3 times in 2010 • Could generate land use change • Semi-intensive practices, potential nutrients pollution Date 04 April 2012

The Danube PES project Ciocanesti Profile of the site Developments & pressure • Fishpond owners suffer damages from cormorants and other fish eating birds • Restrictions imposed by Natura 2000 existence: • No reed burning (cut by locals) • No damaging measures for chasing eating fish birds (just use of nets above some basins or gas guns) • Economic crisis • Cheaper fish products from other countries Date 04 April 2012

The Danube PES project Ciocanesti Profile of the site Environmental goals • The importance of the place for birds migration and feeding conserved • Water management as quality and quantity improved • Landscape conserved • Activities maintained and diversified • Other natural resources sustainable used (reed, wood) Date 04 April 2012

The Danube PES project Ciocanesti Our proposal PES/ sustainable financing schemes in place • No land tax, the level of land tax too low to encourage the maintenance of activities (tax is 1000 -2000 Euro/year and the lost is around 2000 Euro/ha) • Axis 2, measure 2. 2. from Operational Program “Fisheries” – “Aqua-environmnet measures” – Action 3 – Natura 2000 payments (200 Euro/ha for 2 years) • Water price has been reduced 6 times in 2011 but if National Agency for Land Improvement infrastructure is used the price is higher than in 2010 Project Steering Committee Date 01 st June 2011

The Danube PES project Ciocanesti Schemes options • PRIVATE: eco-tourism/bird-watching programs • PUBLIC: Natura 2000 payments under OP Fishery Measures for aqua-environment • PUBLIC: funds mobilization under OP Fishery Measures for aqua-environment – Environmental protection Date 04 April 2012

The Danube PES project Ciocanesti Our project Problems and lessons learnt • There is a lack of quantitative data regarding some of the (potential) services provided by the area • PES concept is not easy to understand • Sometime, even there are funds available they cannot be accessed because of administrative problems • Management of the environment depends a lot on the experience and interests of people • Available funds and experience exchange could generate ideas for a better management of the environment Date 04 April 2012

Thank you • www. panda. org/dcpo • cmunteanu@wwfdcp. ro Date 04 April 2012