Specialists from six countries are currently taking part in the international conference 'The History and Future of Wetland Health - 100 Years of Research for Sustainable Management in the Danube Delta,' organised by the National Institute for Research and Development of the Danube Delta (INCDDD) in Tulcea.

The event, which brings together experts from Georgia, Germany, Greece, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine, on Tuesday marked the centenary of research in the Danube Delta. The milestone is linked to scientist Grigore Antipa, who founded the Hydrobiological Research Station in Enisala in 1926, now operating under INCDDD. In recent years, the institute has also been involved in restocking the Razim-Sinoe complex with fertilised pike-perch eggs.

'In recent years, over 6,000 children have visited us, and opening our doors is an investment in the future of the institute. We have noticed that many people in Tulcea do not know what lies beyond our entrance. Combined with the near disappearance of school laboratories, this creates a turning point for children who, until they come here, learn physics, chemistry and biology only from books and blackboards, rather than through practical laboratory work,' said Marian Tudor, general manager of INCDDD, during the event.

He outlined the institute's activities and mentioned that the development plan for specialised infrastructure foresees an investment of 25 million euros by 2029.

'Independent experts who evaluated our institute on 29-30 April under Law 25/2023 proposed ranking INCDDD in Performance Class I, as a high-performing research organisation whose research, development, and innovation activities address societal and/or economic challenges,' Marian Tudor added.

The conference's opening brought together representatives from the Romanian Academy, the National Authority for Research, the Naval Forces, NGOs, foreign educational institutions, and Tulcea authorities. It included the signing of a cooperation agreement between INCDDD and Ludovika University of Public Service in Budapest, Hungary, as well as the launch of an exhibition created in partnership with the cultural project 'Lotca' by the FAAD cultural association.

'The idea for this project started in Tulcea. Forty-five artists contributed, and here we present only ten pieces. During the project, we gathered many interviews on traditional feeding and fishing methods and tried to include elements ranging from video art to theatre performances, which we have presented worldwide - in France, at the UN Summit, and in Spain at the University Museum. The feedback has been very positive because people are genuinely interested in the stories from northern Dobrogea,' said project manager Iulia Mihalcea.

The exhibition, hosted over the coming months by the eco-tourism museum centre Delta Dunarii, known as the 'Tulcea Aquarium,' also features panels with archival documents and data on INCDDD's activities.

The event continues on Wednesday in the Danube Delta with field applications.

INCDDD has been declared an EU Centre of Excellence for deltas and wetlands, has operated the national Integrated Physical, Chemical, and Biological Monitoring System in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, held scientific responsibility for implementing the Inspire Directive through the Lucas project, acted as the national focal point for the European Environment Agency on land coverage in Romania, served as Romania's scientific authority for CITES regarding sturgeon, provided expertise in applying Espoo Convention recommendations on transboundary impact in Romania's dispute with Ukraine, served as Natura 2000 expert, and partnered in Danubiu-RI. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Luisiana Bigea; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)