Biodiversity has been a core focus of CCMESI’s work since the mid-1990s. What began with conservation studies in the Iron Gates and the Banat Mountains now spans protected-area design, species recovery, large-carnivore ecology, invasive species management, biodiversity monitoring, wetland restoration, and Natura 2000 governance.
The team is led by Laurentiu Rozylowicz (spatial ecology, large-carnivore coexistence, environmental governance) and Viorel D. Popescu (wildlife population modelling, spatial conservation planning). Senior researchers anchor distinct strands of work: Cristian I. Ioja (environmental policy, protected areas), Marius L. Matache (environmental chemistry, pollutants), Andreea Nita (social network analysis, environmental impact assessment), and Iulian M. Niculae (landscape fragmentation and connectivity). Early-career researchers and doctoral students carry the work forward: Iulia V. Miu (systematic conservation planning), Steluta Manolache (protected-area governance), Marian D. Mirea (saproxylic beetles), Mihai I. Pop (brown bear ecology), Lavinia C. Pindaru (environmental policy), and Andra C. Neagu (carnivore coexistence).
Track record
Our earliest studies included The Geoecological Study of the Romanian Danube Valley (1996–1998) and Planning, Protection and Management of Natural and Sensitive Areas, which supported Romania’s first natural capital evaluation. Our first major EU project was LIFE Nature in the Iron Gates (LIFE00NAT/RO/007171). We have since worked on large carnivores in Vrancea, the Lower Prut Floodplain wetlands, Romania’s first national inventory of invasive species (SMIS 120008), urban wildlife, grassland governance, and movement ecology.
What the team brings
- Large-carnivore ecology and human–wildlife coexistence (M. I. Pop, A. C. Neagu, L. Rozylowicz, V. D. Popescu, S. Manolache)
- Saproxylic beetles and old-growth forests (M. D. Mirea, I. V. Miu, S. Manolache, V. D. Popescu, L. C. Pindaru, L. Rozylowicz)
- Herpetofauna and freshwater fauna (V. D. Popescu)
- Systematic conservation planning and population ecology (I. V. Miu, V. D. Popescu, M. D. Mirea, L. Rozylowicz)
- Landscape fragmentation and connectivity (I. M. Niculae)
- Invasive species management, including marine and Black Sea invasions (C. Preda, I. V. Miu, L. Rozylowicz)
- Next-generation biodiversity monitoring — sensors, eDNA, AI, and citizen science (L. Rozylowicz, C. Preda, M. D. Mirea, I. V. Miu)
- Natura 2000 governance and social networks (S. Manolache, A. Nita, L. Rozylowicz)
- Environmental impact assessment and biodiversity policy (A. Nita, I. M. Niculae, L. C. Pindaru, C. I. Ioja)
- Environmental chemistry and pollutants (M. L. Matache)
Current projects
RECOVER — Romanian Centre of Excellence on Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services and Society (PN-IV-P6-6.1-CoEx-2024-0124; 2026–2030). RECOVER is structured around four objectives: theoretical understanding of ecosystems, applied ecology, ecosystem-service co-production pathways, and governance for human–nature reconnection. It combines species-distribution and community modelling, time-series analysis, regime-shift databases, region-specific ecological experiments, and social and transdisciplinary approaches. The consortium is led by Babes-Bolyai University (PI Dr. Tibor Hartel), with the University of Bucharest, Ovidius University of Constanta, the Institute of Biology Bucharest, the Institute of Biological Research Cluj-Napoca (a branch of INCDSB Bucharest), GeoEcoMar, and the National Institute for Research and Development in Environmental Protection Bucharest. The University of Bucharest team is led by Laurentiu Rozylowicz and co-led by Cristian I. Ioja, Ileana Stupariu, Geta Risnoveanu, Paulina Anastasiu, and Constantin Stoenescu.
COMPLIAS — Strengthening Romania’s Invasive Alien Species Management System (SMIS 337191; 2026–2029). A national programme delivered with the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests. Activities include inventories and mapping of alien plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates; species-distribution modelling under climate scenarios; an early-detection network linking botanical gardens, customs, and citizen science; EICAT and SEICAT impact assessments; and eradication pilots for six priority species (Heracleum sosnowskyi, Ailanthus altissima, Trachemys scripta, Procyon lotor, Callinectes sapidus, Eriocheir sinensis). The project will deliver a revised national IAS Action Plan to be adopted by Ministerial Order.
BEAGLE — Next-generation biodiversity monitoring across European ecosystems (Horizon Europe). BEAGLE produces harmonised, FAIR-compliant data for terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems, aligned with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, the Nature Restoration Regulation, and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It combines automated sensors, eDNA, AI, and citizen science to generate up to a billion occurrence records, processed into Essential Biodiversity Variables. The 17-partner consortium will deploy more than 1,000 sensors and engage citizens through Pl@ntNet and MINKA.
Harmonia — A novel framework for human–wildlife coexistence (PN-IV-P1-PCE-2023-1119, UEFISCDI; 2025–2027). Led by Laurentiu Rozylowicz, Harmonia develops a transferable framework for designing and evaluating coexistence initiatives in human-dominated landscapes. Grounded in environmental governance theory, the project maps science–policy gaps, evaluates real-world interventions, and simulates supra-national policy proposals. Early outputs address wildlife poaching, translocated European bison, and evidence gaps in carnivore management.
IntraBear — Intraspecific interactions shaping human–brown bear conflicts (PN-IV-P2-2.1-TE-2023-0999, UEFISCDI; 2025–2026). Led by Mihai I. Pop, with Steluta Manolache, Teodora Sin, and Lavinia C. Pindaru. Using camera-trap data and occupancy models, IntraBear examines how dynamics within an intact brown bear population — including dominant-male behaviour and differences by sex and age — shape human–bear interactions. The project contributes population-dynamic evidence to Romania’s national debate on bear management.
LIFE ROsalia — Conservation of saproxylic beetles in the Carpathians (LIFE19 NAT/RO/000023, EU CINEA; 2020–2026). Coordinated by the Vrancea Environmental Agency together with CCMESI, Putna–Vrancea Natural Park, and the Association for Biodiversity Conservation. The project will create 22 stepping-stone habitats within the Putna–Vrancea Natura 2000 site to reconnect old-growth patches for five target species (Rosalia alpina, Osmoderma barnabita, Cerambyx cerdo, Morimus funereus, Lucanus cervus), and will deliver Romania’s first national action plan for saproxylic beetles.
Past projects
Our current work builds on a decade of completed projects: large-carnivore conservation (ROCarnivores, Carnivores Conservation), wildlife population estimation (WildPop), urban wildlife (URBANWILD), grassland governance, freshwater fish (Fish for LIFE), the first national invasive species inventory (SMIS 120008, INVASI-PLANT), habitat and conservation planning (ConHab), movement ecology, and the Iron Gates species work.