Analele Științifice ale Universității „Al. I. Cuza” Iași, s. Biologie animală, Tom LVII, 2011
IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL
MOVEMENT ROUTES FOR EUROPEAN BISON IN
THE NORTH-EAST OF ROMANIA
Răzvan DEJU
The Vânători Neamț Nature Park Administration, Romania, e-mail: [email protected]
Abstract. The paper aims to identify and assess potential migration routes of European bison once released in
freedom in the Vânători Neamț Natural Park (Chitele area). Were taken for analysis the migration routes
between Vânători Neamț Natural Park and other 5 protected areas located in the north east of Romanian
Carpathians.
Keywords: European bison, migration routes, protected areas.
Rezumat. Identificarea şi evaluarea potenţialelor rute de migraţie a zimbrului în nord-estul României.
Lucrarea îşi propune să identifice şi evalueze potenţialele rute optime de migraţie a zimbrului o dată cu
reintroducerea sa în libertate planificată în Parcul Natural Vânători Neamț (zona Chitele). Au fost luate spre
analiză rutele de migraţie dintre Parcul Natural Vânători Neamț si alte 5 arii protejate situate in nord-estul
Carpaților românești.
Cuvinte cheie: zimbru, rutele de migraţie, arii protejate
Introduction
The European bison (Bison bonasus Linnaeus, 1758) is the largest herbivore in
Europe, being an indigenous species for the Carpathian Mountains’ fauna until its
extinction at the end of the 18th century (Nahlyk, 1992) from Transylvania region. The
reason of its extirpation was mainly overpoaching, habitat loss and habitat fragmentation.
The European bison is a prime example of large herbivore that nearly became
extinct due to habitat loss and overhunting (Krasinska & Krasinski, 2007; Pucek et al.,
2004). Thanks to a systematic breeding program, there are now about 3000 European
bison, 1600 which occur in about 30 reintroduced herds throughout Eastern Europe
(Daleszczyk & Bunevich, 2009; Krasinska & Krasinski, 2007; Pucek et al., 2004).
The goal of this study is to identify and assess the potential migration routes from
Vânători Neamț Nature Park (which intend to release first group of bison in freedom in
the winter 2011-2012) to five big protected areas located nearby. According to
experiences gained from other bison introduction projects in the Carpathians, after an
initial period the herd will extend range of its movements, searching for optimal
conditions that can secure easy access to forage and shelter during winter, and minimal
human related disturbance during summer. Therefore, this herd will require a routine
monitoring to identify its preferred habitats and major movement corridors, which will be
necessary for delineating boundaries of its summer and winter refuges. Because of relative
proximity of other five parks (Călimani, Ceahlău, Cheile Bicazului-Hășmaș, Rodnei
Mountains and Maramureș Mountains) bison movements among those units are very
likely, which implies the necessity to identify and protect adequate migration corridors.
Material and methods
The present paper intends to identify and evaluate the potential optimal migration
routes for the European bison herds starting from the planned reintroduction location in
Vânători Neamț (Chitele area). There were taken into consideration a group of 5 protected
- 97 -
Răzvan Deju
areas situated in the north-eastern part of the Romanian Carpathians, nearby the Vânători
Neamț Nature Park (Călimani, Ceahlău, Cheile Bicazului-Hășmaș, Maramureș Mountains
and Rodnei Mountains parks). These areas will be assessed as potential home ranges of
free-ranging European bison.
There were delineated 2 routes (using the informatics soft Corine Land Cover
2000) from the reintroduction site (Chitele area) to each protected area from N-E of
Romania. For each route, will be identified, evaluated and discussed the potential barriers,
obstacles etc.
Land cover information is crucial for the delineation of migration route and ecocorridors since it represents the most substantial characteristics of the habitat – availability
or absence of vegetation, its type and spatial pattern (Deodatus et al., 2010).
In order to determine the potential migration route from the reintroduction site,
located in Chitele area, the first step was to take into consideration the ecological profile
of species. The ecological profile basically embrace landscape features determining the
suitability of habitat. It should also be noted that the characteristics in the ecological
profiles are to a great extent determined by the availability of geospatial data. The
following geo-datasets were used for modelling: land cover, the altitude (meters above sea
level) and relative elevation (parameter which represents roughness of the terrain which
impedes the movement of some species, or, sometimes, makes the area less accessible to
humans. In our case was calculated as the relative elevation for a square km).
Results and discussions
The national and natural parks in Romanian Carpathians provide the largest
potential area for free-ranging bison population, covering over 1,000,000 ha from
Romanian Carpathians. The distribution of these protected areas allows establishing green
corridors between parks and suitable condition for further development in freedom.
Within the Romanian part of this eco-region there are some 20 national and
natural parks amounting together to almost 10 thousand sq. km out of which over 6.3
thousand sq. km are forested (Perzanowski & Deju, 2005).
The group of protected areas from the North-East of Romania comprise the area
of over 265 thousand ha, out of which almost 163 thousand ha is forested. They are
separated by commercial forests and rather sparsely populated agricultural land which
considering and average distance of only several tens of kilometres, makes a possibility of
spontaneous bison migrations among them quite real.
The Vânători Neamț Nature Park is situated at the north-eastern edge of
Romanian Carpathians is separated only by 55 km from Ceahlău National Park and by
140 km from Munții Rodnei National Park (Fig. 1).
Except of the large agricultural zones and some terrestrial and aquatic
ecosystems which are negatively influenced by polluting sources, and where changes in
the structure and dynamics of the biological diversity have already been registered, a
considerable part of natural environment of Romania remains in good condition allowing
for the conservation of biological diversity.
Main threats that are presently identified for the north-east of Romanians
Carpathians include the lack of sustainable forest management, development of intensive
agriculture and transportation infrastructure, improper water management and
uncontrolled tourism activities.
- 98 -
Analele Științifice ale Universității „Al. I. Cuza” Iași, s. Biologie animală, Tom LVII, 2011
Figure 1. General map of the virtual migration routes between Vânători Neamț Nature Park and
other 5 protected areas.
Table 2. The area and proportion of forests within the north-eastern Carpathian protected areas in
Romania.
No.
Name of protected area
1.
2.
The Calimani National Park
The Ceahlău National Park
3.
4.
5.
The Cheile Bicazului-Hășmaș National Park
The Maramureș Mountains Natural Park
The Rodnei Mountains National Park
6.
The Vânători Neamţ Nature Park
Total surface
24041
8396
6575
148850
46399
TOTAL
Surface with forest
ha
%
15871.6
66.0%
7672.0
91.4%
6256.3
79900.0
27792.9
95.2%
53.7%
59.9%
30818
26322.6
85.4%
265079
163815.4
75.27%
1. The route between Vânători Neamț Nature Park and Ceahlău National Park
In this case, there were assessed two migration routes from Vânători Neamţ
Nature Park and Ceahlău National Park (Fig. 2). The first route has a length of 44.7 km,
the elevation is between sea level and 980 meters, and as potential obstacles, the animals
must pass the Bicaz stream and two times the national road and a very close distance to
Bicaz town (a settlement with 5000 inhabitants).The second route has a length of 39.8 km,
the elevation is between sea level and 800 meters, and as potential obstacles, the animals
must pass the Bistrița river, Bistricioara stream, two times the national road (15B and
17B) and very close to Poiana Largului commune, a settlement with 1000 inhabitants.
Taking in comparison the above potential routes, each of them has several
advantages and disadvantages, but the most suitable route is route 2.
- 99 -
Răzvan Deju
Figure 2. Migration simulated routes of the European bison between Vânători Neamț Nature Park
and Ceahlău National Park.
2. The route between Vânători Neamț Nature Park and Cheile BicazuluiHășmaș
National Park
In this case, there were assessed two migration routes from Vânători Neamț
Nature Park and Cheile Bicazului National Park (Fig. 3). The first route has a length of
57.4 km, the elevation is between sea level and 970 meters, and as potential obstacles, the
animals must pass the Bicaz stream and Bistrița river and nearby is located the Bicaz
town. From the Bicaz town, the only possibility for animal movement to Cheile Bicazului
is a big valley for about 30 kilometres with several big communes, a national road (12 C)
and Bicaz stream.
The second route has a length of 70.8 km, the elevation is between sea level and
115 meters (it is well known that European bison very rarely use the habitats with an
elevation over 1000 meters), has for a length of 30 km the same route as route 2 Vânători
- Ceahlău, and as potential obstacles, the animals must pass the Bistrita river, Bistricioara
stream, three times the national road (15 B, 17B, 12 C) and several settlements with a
population over 5000 inhabitants.
Taking in comparison the above potential routes, both routes seem to be not very
favourable for bison movements.
- 100 -
Analele Științifice ale Universității „Al. I. Cuza” Iași, s. Biologie animală, Tom LVII, 2011
Figure 3. Migration simulated routes of the European bison between Vânători Neamț Nature Park
and Cheile Bicazului National Park.
3. The route between Vânători Neamț Nature Park and Călimani National Park
In this case, there were assessed two migration routes from Vânători Neamț
Nature Park and Călimani National Park (Fig. 4). The both route has until the Poiana
Teiului commune the same direction (15 kilometres). The first route has a length of 121.7
km, across a big and wide valley, the elevation is between sea level and 970 meters, and
as potential obstacles, the animals must pass the Bistrita river, two national roads (15 B,
15 C) and several settlements (Poana Teiului, Grințieș, Corbu, Lunca Bradului). The
second route has a length of 99.4 km, across a narrow valley, the elevation is between sea
level and 1200 meters (approximately 40 kilometres from the last part of the route are
situated at the elevation over 800 meters), and as potential obstacles, the animals must
pass the Bistrita river, Bistricioara stream, two times the national road (15 B, 17B) and
several settlements with a population over 25000 inhabitants (Poiana Teiului, Fărcașa,
Broșteni, Borca, Crucea, Cojoci, Neagra Șarului, Gura Haitii).
Taking in comparison the above potential routes, the first route, despite the fact
of long distance is the most suitable for bison movement taking in consideration the
known habitat preferences for the European bison.
- 101 -
Răzvan Deju
Figure 4. Migration simulated routes of the European bison between Vânători Neamț Nature Park
and Călimani National Park.
4. The route between Vânători Neamț Nature Park and Rodnei National Park
In this case, there were assessed two migration routes from Vânători Neamț
Nature Park and Rodnei Mountains National Park (Fig. 5). The both route has until the
Cozănești commune the same direction (95 kilometres). The first route has a length of
148.7 km, across a wide valley, the elevation is between sea level and 980 meters, and as
potential obstacles, the animals must pass the Bistrița river, Dorna, Someșul Mare and Ilva
streams, three national roads (15 B, 17 B, 17 D) and several settlements with a population
over 35000 inhabitants (Poiana Teiului, Fărcașa, Broșteni, Borca, Crucea, Cozănești, Ilva
Mare, Maieru). The second route has a length of 125.6 km, across a narrow valley, the
elevation is between sea level and 1000 meters (approximately 40 kilometres from the last
part of the route are situated at the elevation over 800 meters), and as potential obstacles,
the animals must pass the Bistrița river, Bistricioara stream, two times the national road
(15 B, 17B, 18) and several settlements with a population over 25000 inhabitants
(PoianaTeiului, Fărcașa, Broșteni, Borca, Crucea, Cozănești, Iacobeni).
Taking in comparison the above potential routes, the both of them are feasible to
be used by the European bison during their movements for new refugees and food
resources.
- 102 -
Analele Științifice ale Universității „Al. I. Cuza” Iași, s. Biologie animală, Tom LVII, 2011
Figure 5. Migration simulated routes of the European bison between Vânători Neamț Nature Park
and Rodnei Mountains National Park.
5. The route between Vânători Neamț Nature Park and Maramureș Mountains
National Park
In this case, there were assessed two migration routes from Vânători Neamț
Nature Park and Maramureș Mountains National Park (Fig. 6). The both route has until
the Cozănești commune the same direction (95 kilometres). The first route has a length of
147.4 km, across a wide valley, the elevation is between sea level and 980 meters, and as
potential obstacles, the animals must pass the Bistrița river, Bistricioara stream, two times
the national road (15 B, 17B, 18) and several settlements with a population over 25000
inhabitants (Poiana Teiului, Fărcașa, Broșteni, Borca, Crucea, Cozănești, Iacobeni,
Ciocănești, Cârlibaba). The second route has a length of 192.4 km, across a narrow valley,
the elevation is between sea level and 1180 meters (approximately 50 kilometres from the
last part of the route are situated at the elevation over 800 meters), and as potential
obstacles the animals must pass the Bistrița river, Dorna, Someșul Mare and Ilva streams
three national roads (15 B, 17 B, 17 D) and several settlements with a population over
35000 inhabitants (Poiana Teiului, Fărcașa, Broșteni, Borca, Crucea, Cozănești, Ilva
Mare, Sângeorz Băi, Parva, Vișeu de Sus).
Taking in comparison the above potential routes, the first route identified has
optimal characteristics for bison usage.
- 103 -
Răzvan Deju
Figure 6. Migration simulated routes of the European bison between Vânători Neamț Nature Park
and Maramureș Mountains National Park.
Conclusions
Analysing the potential migration routes of the European bison and the obstacles
that they have to face during the virtual movements between Vânători Neamț Nature Park
and other 5 protected areas, we have observed that the most suitable corridors are those
between Vânători Neamț Nature Park and Rodnei National Park and the less favourable
are the routes to Cheile Bicazului Hășmaș National Park due to the highly number of
anthropic and natural obstacles found between these protected areas.
The analysis of the simulated routes to the other 3 protected areas (Ceahlău
National Park, Călimani National Park, Maramureș Mountains National Park) shows that
at least one of them are suitable for the movements of the bison herds (Fig. 7).
This assessment signalise that at least at level of scenario the European bison
herds once released in freedom will have possibility to move between different safe places
in searching for food and shelter and to meet the European bison herds found near to the
Ukrainian border in order to assure and maintain the gene flow among herds.
The Carpathians, Europe’s largest mountain range, has an exceptional
conservation value. Romania encompasses over 50% of the whole area of the Carpathians,
the largest mountain chain in Central Europe, covering in total about 210 thousand of sq.
km (Webster et al., 2001).
- 104 -
Analele Științifice ale Universității „Al. I. Cuza” Iași, s. Biologie animală, Tom LVII, 2011
Figure 7. Virtual migration corridors of the European Bison in the north-east of Romanian
Carpathians with the natural and anthropic obstacles.
Considering the total area of protected areas in the north-east of Romania a total
potential range of free ranging bison can be estimated at the level of 150 thousands.
Therefore, the north-east of Romania may be regarded as a future core area for the largest
mountain population of the European bison in Europe.
Establishing the first European Bison meta-population in the Romanians
Carpathians would be a milestone in efforts to conserve this species in the wild and
demonstrate a significant and hopeful step towards conserving large grazers and their
ecological roles in human-dominated landscapes across the Europe.
References
Daleszczyk, K., Bunevich, A.N., 2009. Population viability analysis of European bison populations in Polish and
Belarusian parts of Bialowieza Forest with and without gene exchange. Biological Conservation,
142:3068-3075.
Deodatus, F.D.,Protsenko, L. (eds.), 2010. Creation of ecological corridors in Ukraine. A manual on stakeholder
involvement and landscape ecological modelling to connect protected areas, based on a pilot in the
Carpathians. State Agency for Protected Areas of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of
Ukraine, Altenburg & Wymenga Ecological Consultants, InterEcoCentre. Kiev, pp. 58-60.
Krasinska, M., Krasinski, Z.A., 2007.European Bison, a nature monograph. Mammal Research Institute, Polish
Academy of Sciences, Bialowieza.
Kuemmerle, T., Perzanowski, K., Chaskovskyy, O., Ostapowicz, K., Halada, L., Bashta, A.T., Kruhlov, I.,
Hostert, P., Waller, D.M., Radeloff, V.C., 2010. European Bison habitat in the Carpathian Mountains.
Biological Conservation, 143 (4): 908-916.
Nachlyk, A., 1992. Pro transilvanskjhozubra. Lisovehospodarstvo, lisova, papirovaiderevobrobnapromyslovist,
2: 22-27 (in Ukrainian).
- 105 -
Răzvan Deju
Perzanowski, K., Deju, R., 2005. Romanian free ranging bison as a part of the Carpathian population of the
species. In Deju, R., Cătănoiu, S., (eds.) Studies and research in Vânători Neamț Natural Park, vol.
1, Ed. Terra Design, Gura Humorului.
Pucek, Z., Belousova, I.P., Krasińska, M., Krasiński, Z.A., Olech, W., 2004. Status Survey and Conservation
Action Plan European Bison. IUCN the World Conservation Union.
Webster, R., Holt, S., Avis, C., (eds.), 2001. The Status of the Carpathians. A reportdeveloped as a part of The
Carpathian Ecoregion Initiative. November 2001.WWF.
- 106 -