Neajlov’s Delta in Comana has dried up due to the drought

The small delta formed near Bucharest by the Neajlov river has almost completely dried up due to the prolonged drought, Buletin de Bucharest reports. Until the summer of this year, the Neajlov delta was a refuge for many species of birds and fish, but the hot summer led to the drying up of a large part of the area.

The Neajlovu Delta is part of the Comana Natural Park which is home to 141 species of birds and 19 species of fish. The area has been a protected area since December 2014.

The decision a decade ago was based on scientific documentation developed by the Romanian Academy since 1954, which proposed the delimitation and protection of two areas of particular floristic importance: the Thorn Scientific Reserve (Ruscus aculeatus) and the Peony Scientific Reserve (Paeonia peregrina).

They were joined by Balta Comana, a natural reserve and aquafaunistic protection area.

The president of the Giurgiu County Council says that he wanted to make concrete investments for the lost paradise. However, he did not find any specialists, nor did he receive the money requested from the Government. 

“We wanted to do a project with European funds, to raise the level in the delta. And unfortunately, I didn’t find the technical solution supported by the guide. We have done some repairs now and are trying to find some solutions on our own, but we need to look for specialists. I talked to Romanian Waters about taking over the dam and they said they can’t. We asked the Government for money to do as extensive work as possible, they said maybe after rectification. For the management of that dam and the delta, specialists are needed, which a public institution obviously does not have”.

Comana mayor says in his turn that the delta had been dried up for about three months.

In order for it to recover as much as possible, no less than 2,000 liters per square meter would need to fall in the Comana delta, but it would also need to rain heavily upstream of Argeș.

On the other side, the Comana park administration refused to comment.

Greenpeace protest Greenpeace

Romania activists are protesting in the middle of the dry bed of the Comana Natural Park to draw the attention of the authorities to the climate emergency that is consuming Romania.

Activists displayed messages raising awareness of the effects of climate change: “The coldest summer we have left”, “The future is running out of water”, “Stop fossil fuels, protect water”, “Who pays?” (“Who Pays?”).

The Comana Natural Park, known as the Neajlovu Delta or Balta Comana, is the second in biodiversity, but also in area, after the Danube Delta. The Neajlovu Delta is home to 141 species of birds, half of which are internationally protected, 19 species of fish (two of which – the gypsy and the Comana tern are found only in this protected area) and 31 species of mammals.

“Romania is currently facing a period of severe drought, with a significant impact on water resources and ecosystems. 658 localities still receive water with restrictions, in certain time intervals.

Thus, 388 localities in centralized water supply systems receive water at certain time intervals. 270 localities that do not have centralized water systems, suffer from drought and have dry wells”, Apele Române stated.

Greenpeace calls on national and local authorities to take urgent action in the face of the devastating impact of the climate crisis. Romania must take climate change and other environmental factors into account when making licensing decisions for new fossil fuel exploration projects, but also ensure its rapid and fair transition to sustainable and renewable energy sources.