The contrast of agricultural ambitions that were once set in the Danube Delta and the growing motivation to advocate for a sustainable future characterizes the cultural landscape of the biosphere reserve. In the Romanian part of the Danube Delta, farmers meet the strictest requirements to protect nature. The elusive water world stretches like a labyrinth of countless channels, swamps, and lakes at the edge of Europe. Wild buffaloes and cattle roam the Romanian Danube Delta without herds. On the coastal sand dunes, lianas grow in the Letea jungle, which is animated by numerous birds and wild horses. In the marshes of the Danube Delta, between cultivated land and steppe, lie long lagoons with floating reed islands. The keeping of livestock is becoming more common in the economic zones designated for agriculture and animal husbandry on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Especially in the western part, where areas were drained during 40 years of communism, intensive agriculture is still practiced today.
To compensate for this, projects promoting renaturation are being implemented, initiating a reconsideration towards sustainable and nature-compatible management. In line with this, the promotion of ecological tourism is also emphasized, providing an important perspective for the entire population. Preserving nature and planning land use open new perspectives for the inhabitants of the Danube Delta, supporting both nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
