Community Voices in Restoring the Danube Delta
Exploring a Public Participatory GIS Approach to Gather Community Priorities for Restoration
Photoset capturing slices of everyday life in the Danube Delta, focusing on the villages of Mahmudia and Sfântu Gheorghe. Photos by Gen Daquinan
Life in the Danube Delta revolves around its rich biodiversity, with communities relying on fishing, small-scale agriculture, and eco-tourism, while facing challenges from climate change and environmental degradation.
Last June 2024, EU member states adopted the EU Nature Restoration Law which requires EU countries to restore at least 30% of habitats in poor condition by 2030, 60% by 2040, and 90% by 2050.
To amplify the voices of delta communities in restoration efforts, we conducted a participatory mapping survey, asking members of the Danube Delta community to Place a point in an area that you think should be restored and tell us why.
The survey reached over 90 respondents, and interestingly, most points were concentrated in the agricultural lands.
Thirteen percent of the Danube Delta is agricultural land, much of which is either degraded due to fertilizer use and soil erosion or consists of reclaimed floodplains—or, in many cases, both. These lands are often leased to large, sometimes foreign-owned businesses under long-term agreements lasting up to 30 years, making restoration efforts particularly challenging.
One response talked about their memories in the delta:
"In my childhood this area was part of the Delta and was navigable by boats and fish farming activities were carried out. The restoration of this area would protect the localities against floods!"
Some talked about how restoration can contribute to their livelihoods:
"The Carasuhat area near Mahmudia is an area that was flooded about 8-9 years ago. During this period the vegetation developed and gradually the area became the home for many species of birds and animals. In the summer of 2023, the increased level of the Danube led to the breaking of a dike and the water flooded a large area located between the Carasuhat area and the village of Baltenii de Jos, an area that was used in the past for agriculture and grazing. This newly flooded area should be restored because in the space of only one year you can see hundreds of pelicans that have stopped here and not only pelicans. This would also represent a benefit for the local community because it would be a tourist attraction. Responsible tourism initiatives (as little intrusive as possible) should be encouraged. For example: tourism with slow boats, with oars, such as canoes, rowboats, kayaks, etc. would be beneficial to the area."
"Balta Dunavatului must be restored as it was in the 70-80s, in order to restore a natural reserve for fishing and recreation to the villages. Currently, this has disappeared and has been replaced by cornfields, intensive agriculture. This spoils this tourist area. In addition, the fertilizers and pesticides used pollute the water from which fish and other aquatic fauna disappear. As a Unesco reserve, this area must be allowed to regenerate by flooding agricultural land"
A powerful theme of place attachment emerges in these responses, reflecting deep connections rooted in memories, dependence on local resources, and hopes for the future, alongside other meaningful dimensions.
This data offers a unique lens for shaping restoration plans, reminding us that restoration isn’t solely about water tests or creating ecological models—it’s also about honoring the lived experiences and emotional ties of the people who call these places home. What if we supplemented our approach to restoration with this lens?
As EU countries create their restoration plans (and maps), due in July 2026, it’s important to ask: Who decides what is mapped? Who are the mappers, and whose priorities do they represent? Most importantly, how can we amplify the voices of those with less power to ensure fair and inclusive decision-making?
Community involvement is a priority. Not an afterthought.
Density map
Local communities possess a deep understanding of the area, offering insights that go beyond what satellite images and water samples can reveal. Their close connection to the environment, including the benefits they derive from it, provides valuable context that can help scientists and policymakers design restoration strategies that are not only ecologically effective but also aligned with the needs and livelihoods of the people who depend on these ecosystems. Furthermore, PPGIS data can provide additional legitimacy during negotiations. In this map, we see the points and the individual responses for their "whys"
This map highlights the most relevant and unique areas or responses provided by participants. These locations were carefully filtered and selected by WWF Romania for further analysis.
Funding Information This work was funded under the New Futures Fellowship of PlanetReimagined . The work is supervised by Jeff Opperman from WWF and was done in collaboration with WWF-Romania with Dragoș Bălea spearheading the coordination with communities, Mara Nilcă creating the map overlays, and Adrian Lungu and Camelia Ionescu providing feedback on the survey as well as insights for analyzing the data.
