The Mureș Floodplain Natural Park, set aside by the Romanian government in 2005, is located in western
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...
outside the city of Arad. The park covers 17,455 ha and follows the river Mureș westward from the city of Arad to the Hungarian border. The park is a typical ecosystem for wetlands, with running waters,
lake
A lake is often a naturally occurring, relatively large and fixed body of water on or near the Earth's surface. It is localized in a basin or interconnected basins surrounded by dry land. Lakes lie completely on land and are separate from ...
s,
swamp
A swamp is a forested wetland.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p. Swamps are considered to be transition zones because both land and water play a role in ...
s and
floodplain
A floodplain or flood plain or bottomlands is an area of land adjacent to a river. Floodplains stretch from the banks of a river channel to the base of the enclosing valley, and experience flooding during periods of high Discharge (hydrolog ...
s, with
forest
A forest is an ecosystem characterized by a dense ecological community, community of trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, ...
s, an important place for the passage and nesting of bird species and is subjected to periodical floods (a flood every three years). The forests (7,500 ha) in the park are made up primarily of common oak, narrow-leafed ash, black and white poplar, white willow, and American black walnut. This area is an important place for nesting and passage for nearly 200 species of birds, most of which are strictly protected internationally.
The main purpose of the Mureș Floodplain Natural Park is to protect and preserve the habitats and landscape diversity from the region. The park has been designated a
Ramsar site
A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention,8 ha (O)
*** Permanent 8 ha (P)
*** Seasonal Intermittent < 8 ha(Ts)
**
Natura 2000
Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas designated under the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive, respectiv ...
, the park was designated a SPA (
Special Protection Area
A special protection area (SPA) is a designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds. Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union (EU) have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and cer ...
) for birds, and a SAC (
Special Area of Conservation
A special area of conservation (SAC) is defined in the European Union's Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), also known as the ''Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora''. They are to protect the 220 habitats and ap ...
) for other species and habitats. Within the park, there are 4 strictly protected natural reserves: The Cenad Forest (310.5 ha), Big Isle of Cenad (2.1 ha), Igriș Islands (7 ha), and Prundul Mare (717.9 ha).
The park is a sister park with the
Körös-Maros National Park
Körös-Maros National Park is one of the 10 national parks in Hungary (area 501.34 km2), located in Békés county, in the Southern Great Plain. The park was created in 1997 for the protection of birds.
Körös-Maros National Park has a n ...
, in Hungary. The two parks border each other and have created a cross-border protected area with a future common management plan.
Biology
The Mureș Floodplain Natural Park has an ecosystem that is typical for wetlands, with running and still waters, large forests and periodic floods (every several years).
Flora
The vegetation in the park grows in a continental climate, with warm summers and moderate winters. The annual average temperature is and the average annual rainfall is . Many plants within the park need the periodic flooding in order to germinate and to consume the nutrients freshly dissolved in the water.
A large number of plants in the park are on "the red list of superior plants in Romania", meaning they are vulnerable or rare species. Some of these include: yarrow (''Achillea thracica''),
water soldier
''Stratiotes'' is a genus of submerged aquatic plant commonly known as water soldiers, described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753. Several specific names have been coined within the genus, but at present only one is recognized: ''Stratiotes aloide ...
Agrostemma githago
''Agrostemma githago'', the common corn-cockle (also written "corncockle"), is a herbaceous annual flowering plant a member of Caryophyllaceae, also called the pink family or the carnation family of plants. The name of this genus is derived from ...
Peucedanum officinale
''Peucedanum officinale'' is a herbaceous perennial plant in the family Apiaceae found mainly in Central Europe and Southern Europe.
It is also native to the UK, where it has the common names hog's fennel and sulphurweed, but it is a rare plant t ...
''), lesser butterfly-orchid (''
Platanthera bifolia
''Platanthera bifolia'', commonly known as the lesser butterfly-orchid, is a species of orchid in the genus ''Platanthera'', having certain relations with the genus ''Orchis'', where it was previously included and also with the genus '' Habenar ...
''), Scottish dock (''
Rumex aquaticus
''Rumex aquaticus'' is a flowering plant in the knotweed family, Polygonaceae. It is native to temperate Eurasia
Eurasia ( , ) is a continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. According to some geographers, Physical geogr ...
''), French vetch (''Vicia narbonensis'' L. ssp. ''serratifolia'').
Besides this, there are also three species which are strictly protected according to the Bern Convention: European waterclover (''
Marsilea quadrifolia
''Marsilea quadrifolia'' is a herbaceous plant found naturally in central and southern Europe, Caucasia, western Siberia, Afghanistan, south-west India, China, Japan, and Vietnam, though it is considered a weed in some parts of the United States, ...
''), floating watermoss (''
Salvinia natans
''Salvinia natans'' (commonly known as floating fern, floating watermoss, floating moss, or commercially, water butterfly wings) is an annual floating aquatic fern, which can appear superficially similar to moss. It is found throughout the world ...
''), water caltrop (''
Trapa natans
The water caltrop is any of three extant species of the genus ''Trapa'': ''Trapa natans'', ''Trapa bicornis'' and the endangered ''Trapa rossica''. It is also known as buffalo nut, bat nut, devil pod, ling nut, mustache nut, singhara nut or wate ...
'').
Stands of oak (''
Quercus robur
''Quercus robur'', the pedunculate oak, is a species of flowering plant in the beech and oak family, Fagaceae. It is a large tree, native plant, native to most of Europe and western Asia, and is widely cultivated in other temperate regions. It ...
'') and ash (''
Fraxinus angustifolia
''Fraxinus angustifolia'', the narrow-leaved ash, is a species of ''Fraxinus'' native to Central Europe and Southern Europe, Northwest Africa, and Southwest Asia.Flora Europaea''Fraxinus angustifolia''/ref>Rushforth, K. (1999). ''Trees of Britai ...
'') are predominant in the park, together with the coppices of black and white poplar (''
Populus nigra
''Populus nigra'', the black poplar, is a species of Populus sect. Aigeiros, cottonwood poplar, the type species of section ''Aigeiros'' of the genus ''Populus'', native to Europe, southwest and central Asia, and northwest Africa.Flora Europaea' ...
'' and ''
Populus alba
''Populus alba'', commonly called silver poplar,Webb, C. J.; Sykes, W. R.; Garnock-Jones, P. J. 1988: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. IV. Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons. 4. Christchurch, New Zealand, Botany Division, D.S.I.R. si ...
'') and white willow (
Salix alba
''Salix alba'', the white willow, is a species of willow native to Europe and western and Central Asia.Meikle, R. D. (1984). ''Willows and Poplars of Great Britain and Ireland''. BSBI Handbook No. 4. .Rushforth, K. (1999). ''Trees of Britain an ...
). These species are mostly found in the small forest in the Cenad area and in the 6,000-ha forest along the Mureș River between Arad and the village of Semlac (which includes the Ceala Forest).
Fauna
The fauna in the park encompasses a multitude of species, from large mammals to species living on the river bottom.
There are large populations of mammal species living within the park. Among these are: European hamster ('' Cricetus cricetus''), European polecat ('' Mustela putorius''), brown long-eared bat ('' Plecotus auritus''), otter (''
Lutra lutra
The Eurasian otter (''Lutra lutra''), also known as the European otter, Eurasian river otter, European river otter, common otter, and Old World otter, is a semiaquatic mammal native to Eurasia and the Maghreb. The most widely distributed member o ...
''), European wildcat (''
Felis silvestris
The European wildcat (''Felis silvestris'') is a small wildcat species native to continental Europe, Great Britain, Turkey and the Caucasus. Its fur is brownish to grey with stripes on the forehead and on the sides and has a bushy tail with a b ...
''), red fox (''
Vulpes vulpes
The red fox (''Vulpes vulpes'') is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the order Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere including most of North America, Europe and Asia, plus ...
''), red deer (''
Cervus elaphus
The red deer (''Cervus elaphus'') is one of the largest deer species. A male red deer is called a stag or Hart (deer), hart, and a female is called a doe or hind. The red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Anatolia, Ir ...
''), wild boar (''
Sus scrofa
The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The species is n ...
''), fallow deer (''
Dama dama
The European fallow deer (''Dama dama''), also known as the common fallow deer or simply fallow deer, is a species of deer native to Eurasia. It is one of two living species of fallow deer alongside the Persian fallow deer (''Dama mesopotamica'' ...
'') and roe deer ('' Capreolus capreolus'').
In 1988, the area which is now the Mureș Floodplain Natural Park was designated as an
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) is an area identified using an internationally agreed set of criteria as being globally important for the conservation of bird populations.
IBA was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife Int ...
because of the existence of numerous bird species. Nearly all the birds living in The Mures Floodplain Natural Park are included in the annexes of the Bern Convention and the EU's Habitats Directive. Among them is the lesser spotted eagle ('' Aquila pomarina''), whose numbers within the park are low, but which was chosen as symbol of the natural park.
Approximately 200 species of birds live or pass through the park every year. Among these are: great cormorants (''
Phalacrocorax carbo
The great cormorant (''Phalacrocorax carbo''), also known as just cormorant in Britain, as black shag or kawau in New Zealand, formerly also known as the great black cormorant across the Northern Hemisphere, the black cormorant in Australia, and ...
''), black-crowned night-heron (''
Nycticorax nycticorax
The black-crowned night heron (''Nycticorax nycticorax'') r black-capped night heron commonly shortened to just night heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world, including parts of Europe, Asia, and Nort ...
Anas platyrhynchos
The mallard () or wild duck (''Anas platyrhynchos'') is a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa. It has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Argen ...
''), black-headed gull (''
Larus ridibundus
The black-headed gull (''Chroicocephalus ridibundus'') is a small gull that breeds in much of the Palearctic in Europe and Asia, and also locally in smaller numbers in coastal eastern Canada. Most of the population is migratory and winters fur ...
''), Eurasian coot (''
Fulica atra
The Eurasian coot (''Fulica atra''), also known as the common coot, or Australian coot, is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae. It is found in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and parts of North Africa. It has a slaty-bla ...
Tachybaptus ruficollis
The little grebe (''Tachybaptus ruficollis''), also known as dabchick, is a member of the grebe family of water birds. The genus name is from Ancient Greek ''takhus'' "fast" and ''bapto'' "to sink under". The specific ''ruficollis'' is from Latin ...
''), water rail ('' Rallus aquaticus''), European bee-eater ('' Merops apiaster'').
There is also a very large number of sand martins ('' Riparia riparia''). Nearly half of the entire population of sand martins on the Mureș River can be found within the Mureș Floodplain Natural Park.
All six of the species of reptiles and nine species of amphibians identified within the park are mentioned in the annexes of the Bern Convention and the EU's
Habitats Directive
The Habitats Directive (more formally known as Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora) is a directive adopted by the European Community in 1992 as a response to the Berne Convention. The ...
. Their inclusion in these lists is due to the regress of these species, which are considered barometers for the state of an ecosystem's health. Among these are: European pond terrapin (''
Emys orbicularis
The European pond turtle (''Emys orbicularis''), also called commonly the European pond terrapin and the European pond tortoise, is a species of long-living freshwater turtle in the family Emydidae. The species is endemic to the Western Palearc ...
''), dice snake ('' Natrix tessellata''), European fire-bellied toad (''
Bombina bombina
The European fire-bellied toad (''Bombina bombina'') is a species of fire-bellied toad native to eastern parts of mainland Europe, where it can be found near waterbodies such as ponds and marshes. It is known for its red colored belly used to wa ...
''), and the great crested newt (''
Triturus cristatus
The northern crested newt, great crested newt or warty newt (''Triturus cristatus'') is a newt species native to Great Britain, northern and central continental Europe and parts of Western Siberia. It is a large newt, with females growing up to ...
'').
For the fish species in the park, the periodic flooding of the Mureș River is a blessing; this process provides new spawning grounds, as well as generating new food and protection. The ichthyofauna in the park has a rich diversity and contains more fish species than any other section of the Mureș River. It is only in this section of the Mureș River that some species exist: white-eye bream ('' Abramis sapa''), zarte (''
Vimba vimba
''Vimba'' is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Leuciscidae, which includes the daces, Eurasian minnows and related fishes. Ths fishes in this genus are found in Europe and western Asia.
''Vimba'' are found in brack ...
''), crucian carp (''
Carassius carassius
The crucian carp (''Carassius carassius'') is a medium-sized member of the common carp family Cyprinidae. It occurs widely in northern European regions. Its name derives from the Low German ''karusse'' or ''karutze'', possibly from Medieval Lati ...
''), brown bullhead (''
Ameiurus nebulosus
The brown bullhead (''Ameiurus nebulosus'') is a fish of the family Ictaluridae that is widely distributed in North America. It is a species of bullhead catfish and is similar to the black bullhead (''Ameiurus melas'') and yellow bullhead (''Ame ...
Zingel zingel
''Zingel zingel'', the zingel, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish in the family Percidae. It is found in fast-flowing streams in southeastern Europe. It is the type species of the genus ''Zingel''.
Description
''Zingel zingel'' has two s ...
'').
Recreation/tourism
Because of the proximity of the park to so many municipalities, the area that is now the Mureș Floodplain Natural Park has been used for recreation for centuries. Throughout time, local citizens have depended on this area for both recreation and to sustain their lives. The creation of the park in 2005, insures this will continue in the future, but with oversight and regulations. The most visited areas of the park are the Ceala Forest (due to its proximity to the city of Arad) and the Bezdin area (widely known as the most natural section of the park).
The Ceala Forest Visitor Center
Between 2001 and 2005, the Mureș Floodplain Natural Park implemented, at what was then the largest
Phare
The Phare programme is one of the three pre-accession instruments financed by the European Union to assist the applicant countries of Central and Eastern Europe in their preparations for joining the European Union.
Originally created in 1989 a ...
grant in Romania (co-financed for 2.6 million Euros). Among other infrastructure projects, this grant built the park's current visitor center.
In May 2007, the Ceala Forest Visitor Center, just outside the city of Arad, had its grand opening. The building houses a 34-bed hotel, a conference room that seats up to 70 people, a kitchen and dining area, a laboratory, and the park's administrative offices.
Eco-tourism
The park's eco-tourism program has two components: a guided/unguided canoe trip on the Mures River from the city of Arad to the town of Pecica; and bicycle rentals to be used on the park's bicycle trail network. Both are extremely popular during the spring and summer months.
Cultural
There are three monasteries within the park boundaries. All three monasteries are owned and operated by their respective churches, but due to their proximity to the Mureș River and its important ecosystem, these lands fall under the supervision and protection of the Mureș Floodplain Natural Park.
On the northern side of the river is the Saint Paraschiva Monastery, which can be found just outside the village of Bodrogu Vechi. This is the newest monastery in the park and is accessed from the town of Pecica.
On the southern side of the river are other two monasteries. The
Hodoș-Bodrog Monastery
The Hodoș-Bodrog Monastery is one of the oldest monastic institutions in Romania. It was originally a Roman Catholic (Benedictine) monastery, built before 1177 and destroyed before 1293. The present monastery, which belongs to the Romanian Ortho ...
, dating from 1177, is one of the oldest monastic institutions in the Romanian Orthodox Church. The monastery is accessible from the village of Bodrogu Nou and is 17 km from the city of Arad. The monastery is active and has many monks living and working there.
The Bezdin Monastery, dating from 1539, is one of the few Serbian Orthodox monasteries in Romania which is still preserved. In comparison to the Hodoș-Bodrog Monastery, Bezdin is very isolated and is situated in what is considered the most natural part of the Mureș Floodplain Natural Park. The monastery is accessible from the commune of Munar and is 31 km from the city of Arad.
Bird watching and wildlife viewing
Because of the rich bird life within the park, the park administration constructed two structures in the Bezdin area. In 2004, the park erected a wildlife viewing tower in an area of the forest that is known to have wildlife viewing potential. In 2005, the park erected a bird watching tower near the Bezdin marsh. Both of these towers are accessible from the Bezdin Monastery and the commune of Munar.
Hunting and fishing
Hunting is allowed within the park during certain seasons and in specific areas. Fishing is also allowed, but only with a fishing license.
Environmental education
Because of the close proximity to a large city and the potentially large impact this causes the park, the park's environmental education program grew rapidly in the first three years in existence: 100 students (2006), 900 students (2007), and over 2,000 students (2008).
The park administration was trained by
Outward Bound
Outward Bound (OB) is an international network of outdoor education organisations that was founded in the United Kingdom by Lawrence Holt in 1941 based on the educational principles of Kurt Hahn. Today there are organisations, called schools, i ...
Romania on experiential education strategies in the summer of 2007. The park has the Romanian park system's first low ropes course and has received notoriety in Romanian national news and within the park system for its education efforts.
Protected areas of Romania
This is a list of protected areas of Romania.
About 5.18% of the area of Romania has a protected status (12,360 km2), including the Danube Delta, which makes half of these areas (2.43% of Romania's area).
National parks
There are 14 nation ...
Notes
References
* Pîrv, Ovidiu (2004). "The Mures Floodplain Natural Park" (15).