The project will identify, map, field-verify and prioritise barriers in Moldova's Ciuluc River Basin to enable future barrier removal and restore river connectivity and ecosystems.
The Ciuluc River basin is a highly relevant target for barrier identification because it combines ecological degradation, hydromorphological alteration, and a clear need for practical restoration planning. The Stepa Bălțiului Emerald Site covers 12,460 ha and includes key sections of the Ciuluc River, wetlands, floodplains, riparian habitats, and steppe ecosystems. Preserving and restoring river connectivity is essential for maintaining biodiversity, ecological integrity, and achieving the site’s conservation objectives.
| Project status | Live |
|---|---|
| Project type | Barrier identification and prioritisation |
| Country | Republic of Moldova |
| River | Ciuluc |
| Focal species | Cyprinus carpio, Carassius gibelio, Pseudorasbora parva, Rutilus rutilus, Rhodeus amarus, Scardinius erythrophthalmus, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, Ctenopharyngodon Idella, Alburnus Alburnus, Cobitis sp., Pungitius platygaster, Perca fluviatilis, Sander lucioperca, Babka gymnotrachelus, Proterorhinus semilunaris |
| Organisation | AO Centrul National de Mediu - National Environmental Center |
| Website | environment.md/ro/proiecte |
Small rivers in Moldova are often fragmented by ponds, small impoundments, road crossings, culverts, and local hydraulic works, many of which have uncertain legal status, unclear ownership, or limited current utility. In such contexts, barriers reduce longitudinal connectivity, alter flow, trap sediment, obstruct fish and aquatic organism movement, and weaken the resilience of river ecosystems during drought periods.
This project will create the first focused, field-verified inventory and prioritisation of barriers affecting river continuity in the Ciuluc River basin in Moldova, especially in the Emerald zone of the river, with a practical emphasis on identifying small obsolete or low-value barriers that could later be removed through follow-on support.
The work is designed to move from desktop screening to field validation and finally to a prioritised shortlist of barriers with strong ecological restoration potential and realistic prospects for removal.
This project fills an important gap by moving beyond general basin-level environmental concerns and generating a targeted, field-based evidence base specifically for barrier removal. It will strengthen national and local capacity by introducing a replicable methodology for screening, documenting, and prioritising barriers using historical imagery, GIS analysis, field verification, and structured stakeholder engagement.
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