INTERNATIONAL CENTRE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR ADVANCED STUDIES FOR ADVANCED STUDIES “DANUBE RIVER – DANUBE “DANUBE RIVER – DANUBE

DELTA – BLACK SEA”DELTA – BLACK SEA”

a Romanian initiative for an a Romanian initiative for an International Centre International Centre

dedicated to rivers – deltas - dedicated to rivers – deltas - seasseas

GENERAL OBJECTIVEGENERAL OBJECTIVE

International point of excellence International point of excellence for fundamental and applied, for fundamental and applied, integrated and multi-disciplinary integrated and multi-disciplinary researches towards the researches towards the sustainable management of sustainable management of wetlands and river-delta-coastal wetlands and river-delta-coastal areas – seas macro-systems.areas – seas macro-systems.

Rationale (1)Rationale (1) The Centre will represent one of the most important EU The Centre will represent one of the most important EU

Research Infrastructures in the field of Earth and Research Infrastructures in the field of Earth and Environmental Sciences, oriented towards the Environmental Sciences, oriented towards the development of a modern and sustainable management of development of a modern and sustainable management of river- sea systems. river- sea systems.

The Centre will offer optimal working conditions to The Centre will offer optimal working conditions to researchers from all over the world – interested in researchers from all over the world – interested in processes which influence wetlands, deltas, lagoons and processes which influence wetlands, deltas, lagoons and coastal ecosystems. coastal ecosystems. (“Danube Delta” Natural Laboratory)(“Danube Delta” Natural Laboratory)

Focal Pan-European point for continous education for Focal Pan-European point for continous education for young researchers from the EU and other countries. young researchers from the EU and other countries.

Major role in the increase of the involvement of local Major role in the increase of the involvement of local communities in all stages of an efficient sustainable communities in all stages of an efficient sustainable wetlands` management (application – Danube Delta wetlands` management (application – Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve) Biosphere Reserve)

RationaleRationale (2) (2) Major role in the economic growth of the poorer Major role in the economic growth of the poorer

delta zone through developing the knowledge delta zone through developing the knowledge based economy. based economy.

Pole of international scientific cooperation (EU and Pole of international scientific cooperation (EU and extra-EU, including strong bonds with other parts extra-EU, including strong bonds with other parts of the Black and Caspic Seas)of the Black and Caspic Seas)

Estimated results – major contributions at the Estimated results – major contributions at the profound understanding of processes controlling profound understanding of processes controlling the evolution and environmental state of rivers, the evolution and environmental state of rivers, deltas, coastal areas, wetlands and seas; solutions deltas, coastal areas, wetlands and seas; solutions to major difificulties all managers of rivers- delta – to major difificulties all managers of rivers- delta – coast areas have in maintaining the systems coast areas have in maintaining the systems sustainability. sustainability.

As a Pan-European Research Infrastructure in the As a Pan-European Research Infrastructure in the field of the Environment, the Centre must: field of the Environment, the Centre must:

Find solutions to the great challenges in the Find solutions to the great challenges in the fields of energy, agriculture, health, food, fields of energy, agriculture, health, food, space- security, climate changes.space- security, climate changes.

Offer major impact results in:Offer major impact results in: ScienceScience: through scientific projects and publications at : through scientific projects and publications at

the best (highest) levelthe best (highest) level.. EducationEducation: optimal infrastructure for MSc, PhD, post : optimal infrastructure for MSc, PhD, post

doc students and researchersdoc students and researchers.. SocietySociety: security (diminishing of natural hasards and : security (diminishing of natural hasards and

risks) and public health (collaborations with GMES, risks) and public health (collaborations with GMES, GEOSS)GEOSS)

Politics and economicsPolitics and economics: sustainable use of natural : sustainable use of natural resources (including water, air, energy, bio resources)resources (including water, air, energy, bio resources)..

Innovation and TechnologyInnovation and Technology.. MonitoringMonitoring: supports the requirements of : supports the requirements of

environmental monitoring, as resulted from the EU environmental monitoring, as resulted from the EU directivesdirectives..

Scientific missionScientific mission

Assessing the river-delta-sea macrosystems` Assessing the river-delta-sea macrosystems` reference state of environmentreference state of environment

Global climate changes and related Global climate changes and related consequences for river-delta-sea macrosystemsconsequences for river-delta-sea macrosystems

Ecosystem response to climate change Ecosystem response to climate change Effects of increasing human activities on river-Effects of increasing human activities on river-

delta-sea macrosystemsdelta-sea macrosystems Changes in Societal Demand on river-delta-sea Changes in Societal Demand on river-delta-sea

macrosystems macrosystems

The mission will be transposed into reality in The mission will be transposed into reality in the “natural laboratory” offered by the Danube the “natural laboratory” offered by the Danube River – Danube Delta – Black Sea macrosystemRiver – Danube Delta – Black Sea macrosystem

1.1. Assessing the river-delta-sea Assessing the river-delta-sea macrosystems` reference state of macrosystems` reference state of

environmentenvironment

1.1.1.1. Origin and evolution, paleoclimate, Origin and evolution, paleoclimate, paleoenvironment, stratigraphic modelling, paleoenvironment, stratigraphic modelling, geodynamic processes influencing the geodynamic processes influencing the systemsystem

Present-day and pre-industrial ~ 100 years ago Present-day and pre-industrial ~ 100 years ago statestate

1.2.1.2. Hydrology and material transports Hydrology and material transports (sediments, pollutants etc.)(sediments, pollutants etc.)

1.3.1.3. Ecosystems and biodiversity, habitats, Ecosystems and biodiversity, habitats, trophic webs and interactions, soils, land usetrophic webs and interactions, soils, land use

2. 2. Global climate changes and related Global climate changes and related consequences for river-delta-sea consequences for river-delta-sea

macrosystemsmacrosystems

2.1. 2.1. Physical dynamics, sediment transport, Physical dynamics, sediment transport, erosion and morphodynamics, erosion and morphodynamics, biogeochemical cyclesbiogeochemical cycles

2.2.2.2. Geohazards and risk assessment: Sea Geohazards and risk assessment: Sea level rise, waves, floodslevel rise, waves, floods

2.3.2.3. Teleconnections and interactions of Teleconnections and interactions of wetlands and coastal zone with other wetlands and coastal zone with other components of the Earth systemcomponents of the Earth system

2.4. Regional climate impact modelling2.4. Regional climate impact modelling

3. 3. Ecosystem response to global Ecosystem response to global climate changeclimate change

3.1. Ecosystems and climate change: 3.1. Ecosystems and climate change: Regime shifts and ecosystem functioning, Regime shifts and ecosystem functioning, consequences for material cycles, nutrient consequences for material cycles, nutrient dynamics dynamics

3.2.3.2. System vulnerability and resilience to System vulnerability and resilience to climate change: Biodiversity, functional climate change: Biodiversity, functional diversitydiversity

3.3. Ecosystem modelling3.3. Ecosystem modelling

4. 4. Effects of increasing human Effects of increasing human activities on river-delta-sea activities on river-delta-sea

macrosystemsmacrosystems

4.1. 4.1. Changes in ecosystem structure and Changes in ecosystem structure and function under human pressurefunction under human pressure

4.2. 4.2. Ecosystem health and the Ecosystem health and the eutrophication cascadeeutrophication cascade

4.3. Impact of alien species on 4.3. Impact of alien species on ecosystemsecosystems

4.4.4.4. Strategies for improving ecosystem Strategies for improving ecosystem health and sustainability of the natural health and sustainability of the natural and man-made environmentand man-made environment

5. 5. Changes in Societal Demand on Changes in Societal Demand on river-delta-sea macrosystemsriver-delta-sea macrosystems

5.1.5.1. Natural resource assessment and Natural resource assessment and valuationvaluation

5.2.5.2. Social dynamics: Past, present and Social dynamics: Past, present and futurefuture

5.3.5.3. Expected impacts of human activities Expected impacts of human activities and and climate change on goods and servicesclimate change on goods and services

5.4.5.4. Evaluation of development scenarios Evaluation of development scenarios and and options for sustainable managementoptions for sustainable management

Functions in EducationFunctions in Education

Intensive courses, summer schools, Intensive courses, summer schools, specialized courses, working stages for specialized courses, working stages for BSc, MSc and PhD studentsBSc, MSc and PhD students

Post-doctoral stages: short, medium and Post-doctoral stages: short, medium and long term long term

Environmental education of local Environmental education of local communities for the awareness of communities for the awareness of specific problems.specific problems.

The creation of the Centre does NOT start from zero – The creation of the Centre does NOT start from zero – it will be built on what was already existing (research it will be built on what was already existing (research partners, already existing infrastructures in the partners, already existing infrastructures in the Danube Delta, along the Danube River and in the Danube Delta, along the Danube River and in the Black Sea, as well as in other countries)Black Sea, as well as in other countries)

The Centre should enter the ESFRI roadmap for major The Centre should enter the ESFRI roadmap for major EU Research InfrastructuresEU Research Infrastructures

It will be connected from the beginning with other It will be connected from the beginning with other major ESFRI projects, avoiding thus redundancies: major ESFRI projects, avoiding thus redundancies: LIFE WATCH LIFE WATCH - - Science and technology infrastructure for biodiversity Science and technology infrastructure for biodiversity

data and observatoriesdata and observatories European Plate Observing System (EPOS) - Research Infrastructure European Plate Observing System (EPOS) - Research Infrastructure

and and ee-Science for Data and Observatories on Earthquakes, Volcanoes, -Science for Data and Observatories on Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Surface Dynamics and Tectonics. Surface Dynamics and Tectonics.

EURO-ARGO Research infrastructure for ocean science and EURO-ARGO Research infrastructure for ocean science and observationsobservations

EMSO European multidisciplinary seafloor observation infrastructureEMSO European multidisciplinary seafloor observation infrastructure

WHY DANUBE DELTA?WHY DANUBE DELTA?

• Position: interface between the Danube River (the most important river in EU - over 2 800 km long) and the Black Sea.

• Unique place: the largest delta of the European Union (~6 000 km2), less affected by human activities, high biodiversity ( over 30 natural and modified ecosystems).

• Conservation status: Ramsar site (1991), Biosphere reserve, UNESCO MAB Program, UNESCO World Heritage site.

WHY DANUBE DELTA?(Continuation)

• International conventions: Convention on international important wetlands, especially as habitat for waterfowl (Ramsar, 1971); Convention on protection the wildlife and their habitats (Bern, 1979), Convention on biological diversity (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), Convention on protection of migratory species (Bonn, 1979), Convention concerning the trade of endangered species (Washington, 1973), Convention on preventing the desertification (Paris,1994).

Location of the International Centre Location of the International Centre ““Danube-Danube Delta-Black Sea”Danube-Danube Delta-Black Sea”

WHY MURIGHIOL?WHY MURIGHIOL?

• Position: placed on the Danube River (St. George distributary, within the Danube Delta, the location was selected from other 10 proposed places).

• Access facilities: by road and by the Danube River, immediate access to the Danube Delta, access to the delta coastal zone, as well as to the Danube River.

• Land availability: Murighiol Local Council approved about 10 hectares area for the Centre

Is Murighiol to Is Murighiol to become: become:

Headquarters of a Headquarters of a single-sited centre?single-sited centre?

Or the hub of a Or the hub of a distributed research distributed research infrastructure?infrastructure?

Questions to be Questions to be answered:answered:

Questions to be Questions to be answered:answered:

Working on:Working on:

Integration with existing Integration with existing networksnetworks

Use of e-infrastructuresUse of e-infrastructures Legal aspectsLegal aspects Data managementData management Access rightsAccess rights Policy of personnelPolicy of personnel Intellectual property rightsIntellectual property rights Management of the centre Management of the centre

and continuous improvement and continuous improvement of scientific agendaof scientific agenda

GENERAL VIEW OF DANUBE DELTA IRCGENERAL VIEW OF DANUBE DELTA IRC

DANUBE DELTA IRC: partial viewDANUBE DELTA IRC: partial view

DANUBE DELTA IRC: partial viewDANUBE DELTA IRC: partial view

……. To be continued…. To be continued…