Bucharest approves Valea Saulei as third protected natural area
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
The Bucharest General Council approved the creation of the Valea Saulei Protected Natural Area of Local Interest on October 27.
The council passed the decision with 45 votes in favor and one abstention. This move establishes the site as the third officially protected natural area in the Romanian capital, joining Văcărești Natural Park and Petricani Meadow.
The Bucharest Natural Park Association (APNB) conducted five years of field research to support the move, working alongside the District 2 City Hall and local communities. Valea Saulei, a former tributary of the Colentina River, currently consists of a network of abandoned fishponds near the Andronache, Gherghiței, and Doamna Ghica neighborhoods. These local areas currently face a shortage of green spaces.
The protected area contains water, woodland, and meadow habitats that support more than 350 wild species, including 12 protected species. The association noted the presence of otters, European pond turtles, and the marbled white butterfly, which serves as an indicator of a healthy meadow habitat. The city plans to clean and manage the site to make it safer for recreation and wildlife observation.
These plans will also be integrated into a winning project from an international design competition for the Colentina River chain of lakes in District 2. The initiative is part of the Rewilding Bucharest program, which aims to secure protection for five urban natural areas totaling more than 1,500 hectares. Visitors to the site are now prohibited from dumping waste, lighting fires, feeding wildlife, or cutting vegetation.
