This project seeks to restore the natural flow and health of the Putna river catchment by inventorying and mapping barriers, prioritising their removal through GIS-based assessments, raising awareness of their negative impact among local communities and authorities, and developing a detailed plan to guide their elimination effectively.
The Putna River, originating from the Vrancea mountains, stretches 153 km with a basin area of 2,480 km² and includes 60 tributaries. As a key tributary of the Siret River – Romania’s largest hydrographic basin – the Putna is crucial for maintaining flow and biodiversity. The watershed spans alpine, continental, and steppe bioregions, intersecting 36 protected areas, including a Natural Park. The name “Putna”, of Slavic origin, means “road”, reflecting its historical role in connecting communities and fostering development and economic exchanges. The region supports diverse ecosystems and local communities, relying on the river for water, agriculture, fishing, and tourism.
| Project status | Completed |
|---|---|
| Project type | Barrier identification and prioritisation |
| Country | Romania |
| River | Putna River |
| Focal species | Lutra lutra, Romanogobio uranoscopus, Romanogobio kesslerii, Barbus petenyi, Sabanejewia vallachica |
| Organisation | Asociația pentru Conservarea Diversității Biologice (ACDB) |
| Website | ACDB - Putna River Barriers Identification Project |
The Putna River catchment is a vital area with rich biodiversity and historical significance. The river supports diverse ecosystems and communities, playing a crucial role in agriculture, fishing, and tourism. However, barriers within the river disrupt its natural flow, threatening species, habitats, and local livelihoods.
By systematically inventorying, mapping, and prioritising barrier removal, the project fills a knowledge gap, offering a clear understanding of the barriers’ impacts. It leverages GIS technology to build capacity and provide an effective framework for decision-making. The project’s methodologies and tools have the potential to serve as a replicable model for other regions, advancing the field of river restoration.
Furthermore, raising awareness and fostering collaboration among communities and authorities ensures sustainable impact. The opportunity to restore the river’s natural flow highlights its importance for ecological health and community well-being.
The project aims to address aquatic habitat fragmentation in the Putna River catchment by inventorying, mapping, and prioritising the removal of river barriers to restore natural flow, enhance biodiversity, and improve ecosystem health. Its goals include creating a comprehensive GIS database, identifying high-impact areas for restoration, and prioritising at least five barriers for removal. It also seeks to foster community and stakeholder support through interviews and public consultations and to develop a detailed action plan alongside an awareness campaign.
Expected outcomes include a multi-criteria analysis to prioritise the removal of at least five barriers, actionable insights for opening over 30 km of upstream habitats, enhanced local engagement and collaboration, and a roadmap for sustainable barrier removal. The project also serves as a replicable model for future river restoration initiatives, contributing to regional and global efforts in ecological conservation.
The project successfully delivered the first complete inventory and GIS mapping of river barriers in the Putna catchment, identifying 158 structures and creating a robust geospatial databasethat now serves as a foundation for future restoration efforts. Using a GIS‑based prioritisation methodology, the team evaluated each barrier’s ecological and functional impact, resulting in a shortlist of 85 high‑potential structures for removal. From these, two barriers located within Putna‑Vrancea Natural Park were selected to be prepared for removal.
A major achievement of the project was the extensive engagement with local communities, authorities, and technical experts. Consultations with more than 370 stakeholders revealed strongsocial and institutional support for restoring river connectivity, confirming favourable conditions for future implementation. A multi‑institutional working meeting further aligned local actorswith European biodiversity objectives and highlighted opportunities for continued collaboration through the Open Rivers Programme.
The project concluded with the development of an action plan outlining the steps and procedures for removing selected barriers. Communication and outreach activities increased public awareness of river restoration, strengthening the foundation for future ORP-funded implementation work.
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