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, including the Danube Delta, which makes half of these areas.

National parks

There are 14 national parks totaling 3,223 km²:
NameLocation
Area
Year of
establishment		Year of
declaration		ImageWebsite
Buila-VânturarițaVâlcea4,18620052005
CălimaniMureș, Suceava,
Harghita, Bistrița-Năsăud		24,04119752000
CeahlăuNeamț7,742.519952000
Cheile Bicazului-HășmașHarghita, Neamț6,57519902000
Cheile Nerei-BeușnițaCaraș-Severin36,75819902000
CoziaVâlcea17,10019662000
Danube DeltaTulcea5,762.1619912000
Domogled-Valea CerneiCaraș-Severin, Mehedinți,
Gorj		61,21119822000
Jiu ValleyGorj, Hunedoara11,12720052005
Măcin MountainsTulcea11,151.8220002000
Rodna MountainsBistrița-Năsăud, Maramureș47,17719902000
Piatra CraiuluiArgeș, Brașov14,77319382000
RetezatHunedoara38,04719352000
Semenic-Cheile CarașuluiCaraș-Severin36,66419822000

Proposed hunting

The Romanian parliament discussed in September 2008 a bill aiming to open 13 national parks to sustainable hunting, in order to manage the wildlife biodiversity in these areas and promote greater tourism and the accompanying revenue necessary to support and maintain the parks. However, after several protests from environmental organizations, the law was rejected by President Traian Băsescu. Nowadays, hunting is prohibited in national parks of Romania.

Natural parks

There are 17 natural parks totaling 5,492.33 km²:
NameLocation
Area
Year of
establishment		Year of
declaration		ImageWebsite
ApuseniAlba, Bihor,
Cluj		75,78419902000
Brăila Small PuddleBrăila17,52919782000
BucegiBrașov, Dâmbovița,
Prahova		32,66319742000
CefaBihor5,00220102010
CindrelSibiu9,87320002000
ComanaGiurgiu24,96320052005
Dumbrava SibiuluiSibiu99319632000
Grădiștea Muncelului-CioclovinaHunedoara38,18419792000
Hațeg Country Dinosaur GeoparkHunedoara1,023.9220052005
Iron GatesCaraș-Severin, Mehedinți115,665.819902000
Lower Prut FloodplainGalați8,24720052005
Maramureș MountainsMaramureș148,85020042004
Mehedinți Plateau GeoparkGorj, Mehedinți106.520052005
Mureș FloodplainArad171.6620052005
Putna-VranceaVrancea30,20420042004
Upper Mureș DefileMureș9,15620072007
Vânători-NeamțNeamț30,81819992000

Natural reserves

Natural reserves are natural areas protected by law in order to protect and conserve important habitats and natural species. The dimensions of natural reserves vary and depend on the area needed by protected natural elements. Besides scientific activities, the administrations of natural reserves encourage traditional activities and ecotourism that do not affect the natural landscape. Here is not permitted to use natural resources.
There are 617 natural reservations totaling 2,043.55 km².

Scientific reserves

Scientific reserves are also protected areas that, like the previous ones, aim at protection and preservation of natural habitats. The difference is that scientific reserves can not be visited by tourists. These areas typically contain rare plant and animal species or particular natural elements, reason why here are prohibited any human activities, excepting research and education activities. Entry without permission in scientific reserves is punishable by considerable fines.
There are 55 such reservations totaling 1,112.77 km².

Natural monuments

There are 234 natural monuments totaling 77.05 km².