The Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development (DDNI) was established in 1970 and its main objective is conducting fundamental and applied research for scientific support of the management of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (DDBR) and other wetland areas of national and international interest, with particular focus on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.
Due to its expertise and contribution to the local, regional and national research and development programmes, DDNI has been nominated as:
- Centre of Excellence for Deltas & Wetlands;
- National Reference Centre for Land Cover and Fisheries;
- Main Scientific Advisor of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development for the implementation of the NATURA 2000 Network in Romania;
- Centre of Technological Information for the Danube Delta of the National Authority for Scientific Research.
The relevance of DDNI’s research activities for local, regional, national and international environmental issues is sustained by the Danube Delta’s protection status and the international Conventions and Programmes adopted by Romania.
Scientific research is one of the most important components of these conventions, having been defined as one of the main functions of Biosphere Reserves by the MAB-UNESCO program. The research activities of the Danube Delta National Institute are oriented towards achieving the management objectives of the largest protected area in Romania and Europe:
- assessment of the ecological status of natural heritage and the elaboration of biodiversity conservation measures;
- monitoring of the DDBR biodiversity and environmental factors;
- assessment of natural resources and the exploitation levels in accordance with the regeneration potential and carrying capacity of the ecosystems;
- elaboration of hydrological scenarios in support of ecological restoration measures for improvement of the water circulation regime on the existing channels network;
- measures for the recovery of endangered species populations – fish, birds, reptiles, mammals;
- elaboration of technical solutions for the restoration of abandoned agricultural polders and fish ponds in order to increase the area of natural habitats of fish and bird species;
- modeling the basic processes of aquatic ecosystems;
- supporting studies for the harmonization of socio-economic interests with the concept of conservation of natural capital;
- developing a Geographic Information System for the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve.
At the European level, DDNI participates as partner in the consortia of projects financed under the EC Framework Programmes (FP 4 – 1 project, FP 5 – 3 projects, FP 6 – 6 projects) as well as in projects financed through other programmes and funds (PHARE, SOCRATES Programme, COST, LIFE).
The main users of DDNI’s research results are:
- The Ministry of Environment;
- ‘Romanian Waters’ National Administration;
- National Agency for Environmental Protection;
- National Agency for Fishing and Aquaculture;
- Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority;
- European Community;
- European Commission;
- SME’s.
Danube Delta National Institute for R&D
The Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development (DDNI) was established in 1970 and its main objective is conducting fundamental and applied research for scientific support of the management of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (DDBR) and other wetland areas of national and international interest, with particular focus on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.
Due to its expertise and contribution to the local, regional and national research and development programmes, DDNI has been nominated as:
- Centre of Excellence for Deltas & Wetlands;
- National Reference Centre for Land Cover and Fisheries;
- Main Scientific Advisor of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development for the implementation of the NATURA 2000 Network in Romania;
- Centre of Technological Information for the Danube Delta of the National Authority for Scientific Research.
The relevance of DDNI’s research activities for local, regional, national and international environmental issues is sustained by the Danube Delta’s protection status and the international Conventions and Programmes adopted by Romania.
Scientific research is one of the most important components of these conventions, having been defined as one of the main functions of Biosphere Reserves by the MAB-UNESCO program. The research activities of the Danube Delta National Institute are oriented towards achieving the management objectives of the largest protected area in Romania and Europe:
- assessment of the ecological status of natural heritage and the elaboration of biodiversity conservation measures;
- monitoring of the DDBR biodiversity and environmental factors;
- assessment of natural resources and the exploitation levels in accordance with the regeneration potential and carrying capacity of the ecosystems;
- elaboration of hydrological scenarios in support of ecological restoration measures for improvement of the water circulation regime on the existing channels network;
- measures for the recovery of endangered species populations – fish, birds, reptiles, mammals;
- elaboration of technical solutions for the restoration of abandoned agricultural polders and fish ponds in order to increase the area of natural habitats of fish and bird species;
- modeling the basic processes of aquatic ecosystems;
- supporting studies for the harmonization of socio-economic interests with the concept of conservation of natural capital;
- developing a Geographic Information System for the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve.
At the European level, DDNI participates as partner in the consortia of projects financed under the EC Framework Programmes (FP 4 – 1 project, FP 5 – 3 projects, FP 6 – 6 projects) as well as in projects financed through other programmes and funds (PHARE, SOCRATES Programme, COST, LIFE).
The main users of DDNI’s research results are:
- The Ministry of Environment;
- ‘Romanian Waters’ National Administration;
- National Agency for Environmental Protection;
- National Agency for Fishing and Aquaculture;
- Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority;
- European Community;
- European Commission;
- SME’s.