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Cozmanciuc (MMP): Development of environmental tourism in RAMSAR sites receives priority in Romania
The development of the environmental tourism in the areas of international importance known as RAMSAR sites (wetlands - editor's note) represents a top priority to Romania, Environment and Forest Ministry (MMP) State Secretary Corneliu Mugurel Cozmanciuc told specialty conference, on Monday.
'To Romania, the development of the environmental tourism in the wetlands represents a priority and the Danube Delta (east) is an example in the respect. The Ramsar sites on Romania's territory must be the center of our attention, and the Ministry of Environment and Forest, along with the Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism will make sure this is fulfilled,' said Cozmanciuc.
Official data say that, at present, the areas which Romania has declared as wetlands of international importance are the Danube Delta (580,000 ha), the Small Island of Braila (17,586 ha), Mures Meadow (17,166 ha), Techirghiol Lake (1,462 ha), Dumbravita Piscicultural Complex (413.5 ha), Portile de Fier National Park (115,665.8 ha), Comana Natural Park (24,963 ha) and Tinovul Poiana Stampei (640.20 ha). More four Romanian-based wetlands of international importance namely the Bistret Lake, the Olt-Danube Junction, Iezer Lake (Calarasi) and Suhaia Pond, covering 943.6 sq. km. were proposed and approved during the Ramsar Convention in Bucharest, on Saturday July 7.
Nurturing a sustainable tourism in the wetlands was the topic of a press conference held on Monday at the Palace of Parliament during the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP11) held between July 6 and 13 in Bucharest.
The conference advocated a sustainable tourism based on the analysis of both the direct and indirect impact of tourism on the Ramsar sites and of other wetlands and preceded the official launching of the Destination Wetland - Supporting Sustainable Tourism publication.