People of Tulcea Discover the Biodiversity of the Zaghen Polder through RESTORIVER Activities at the “Scrumbii de Rusalii” Festival

Photo: Tulcea Municipality

As part of the recently held “Scrumbii de Rusalii” Festival in Tulcea, a wide-ranging citizen engagement activity took place aimed at raising awareness about the ecological importance of the Zaghen polder and the natural restoration measures underway in the area by the RESTORIVER project team.

The event featured two main components: a photo exhibition dedicated to the fauna of the Zaghen polder, created by Antal Boncoi, a local veterinarian and passionate nature photographer, and an educational tent managed by the Romanian Ornithological Society (SOR), located in the children’s area. The exhibition served as an opportunity for informal discussions about the RESTORIVER pilot intervention, while at the SOR tent, children and families participated in interactive activities focused on discovering, through play, 55 bird species present year-round in Zaghen, highlighting the essential role of the renaturation process for the community.

The festival attracted approximately 3,000 visitors, with the citizen engagement activity directly involving over 200 participants. Among them were local residents and tourists, bloggers, and journalists who took part in the “YOU & TULCEA” info trip organized by the Tulcea Destination Management Organization. They had the chance to get to know the Zaghen area through site visits and visual materials. Birdwatching enthusiasts were impressed to learn that pelicans and other rare bird species can be observed right on the city’s outskirts.

In addition to the local photo exhibition, a second photo exhibition by WWF Romania showcased the Carasuhat area, naturally renatured through flooding. This highlighted the benefits of wetland restoration and stimulated comparative discussions with the Zaghen polder. The event also provided a platform to present nature-based water retention measures (NWRM) implemented by RESTORIVER partners across the Danube region, demonstrating the relevance and replicability of these ecological solutions.