NCI 2024
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    Moldova, officially known as the Republic of Moldova, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. Moldova is one of the smallest countries in Europe, covering an area of approximately 33,846 km² (13,068 mi²). Its climate is temperate continental, characterized by warm summers and cold, snowy winters. This climate supports various agricultural activities, which are central to the country’s economy. Moldova’s fertile soil, particularly in the central and southern regions, is ideal for growing grapes, fruits, and vegetables.

    Moldova’s landscape is predominantly hilly, with rolling plains and river valleys. The Dniester River, which flows through the eastern part of the country, is the longest river in Moldova and plays a crucial role in its agriculture and hydroelectric power. The Prut River forms the western border with Romania. The country’s biodiversity includes a range of flora and fauna adapted to its diverse habitats, such as forests, steppes, and wetlands. Moldova is home to several nature reserves, including the Codrii Forest Reserve, which protects one of the country’s last remaining tracts of old-growth forest.

    Score Rank Change
    Total Score – NCI 2024 53.86 110 N/A
    Land Management 34 175 N/A
    Protected Areas (Terrestrial) 28 147 N/A
    Ecological Representativeness of Terrestrial Protected Areas 23 171 N/A
    Connectedness of Terrestrial Protected Areas 35 148 N/A
    Protected Areas (Marine)
    Pristine Habitat (Converted Land) 45 176 N/A
    Sustainable Nitrogen Management (Soil Pollution) 61 16 N/A
    Sustainable Pesticide Use 11 132 N/A
    Threats to Biodiversity 78 15 N/A
    Threatened Species (Terrestrial) 92 45 N/A
    Threatened Species (Marine)
    Threatened Species’ Coverage by Protected Areas 93 81 N/A
    Species Coverage by Marine Protected Areas
    Species with Declining Populations (Terrestrial) 31 84 N/A
    Species with Declining Populations (Marine)
    Depleted Fisheries
    Fishery Pressure in the High Seas
    Invasive Species Pressure 95 88 N/A
    Capacity and Governance 58 128 N/A
    Total Management Cost 97 84 N/A
    Conservation Culturomics 49 62 N/A
    Conservation Legislation 28 143 N/A
    Ratification of CBD 100 1 N/A
    Ratification of CITES 100 1 N/A
    Political Stability and Absence of Violence 30 124 N/A
    Control of Corruption 44 85 N/A
    Government Effectiveness 44 97 N/A
    Future Trends 45 75 N/A
    Climate Change Mitigation 45 75 N/A


    Four pillars elaborated:

    Land Management

     Moldova is home to a diverse array of protected areas, covering approximately 5.8% of its territory. This includes scientific nature reserves, natural monuments, landscape reserves, and national parks, each providing sanctuary for a variety of plant and animal species, including many endemic to the region. Scientific nature reserves are strictly protected zones where activities are limited to research and education. Natural monuments preserve unique geological, botanical, or zoological features. Landscape reserves protect areas of scenic beauty and cultural significance, while national parks are maintained for their natural beauty and the recreational opportunities they offer.

    Threats to Biodiversity

     Moldova faces several challenges in protecting its biodiversity, including widespread non-compliance with environmental laws by businesses and individuals, and a lack of effective strategies to halt biodiversity degradation. Economic incentives to achieve biodiversity targets are insufficient, and there’s a notable underuse of scientific and traditional conservation methods. Additionally, biodiversity conservation isn’t adequately integrated into economic and sectoral planning.

    The landscape’s ecological balance is further threatened by intensive agricultural practices. Pollution is deteriorating natural habitats, while overexploitation of flora and fauna continues unchecked. Budget cuts have severely impacted efforts to rejuvenate the country’s plant and animal life. Moreover, public awareness regarding environmental issues remains disappointingly low, highlighting a critical area for improvement.

    Capacity and Governance

     Moldova has put into action a Biodiversity Conservation Strategy aimed at protecting and restoring ecosystems across the country. This strategy is dedicated to conserving, restoring, and sustainably using the nation’s biodiversity and landscapes. To support this, action plans have been established to protect diverse ecosystems and the species living within them. Additionally, efforts are underway to increase the size of natural protected areas, with a goal to preserve at least 8% of Moldova’s territory by 2020.

    Future Trends

     A project is currently in progress to integrate biodiversity conservation into Moldova’s territorial planning and land-use policies. The goal is to revise current policies and practices to more effectively incorporate biodiversity considerations. As Moldova aims for EU accession by 2030, “Environmental Transformation” has become a critical area of focus. This includes enhancing biodiversity conservation efforts and meeting EU environmental standards.


    Biodiversity

    Moldova’s river systems, particularly the Dniester and Prut rivers, are vital for the country’s biodiversity. These rivers and their floodplains provide habitats for a wide range of aquatic species, including fish such as the carp, pike, and catfish. The wetlands and riparian zones along these rivers are important for bird species, including the white stork, herons, and various species of ducks and geese. These areas also support amphibians, reptiles, and numerous plant species adapted to wetland conditions.

    The Codru forest region in central Moldova is another important area for biodiversity. This region is known for its dense, deciduous forests, which are home to a variety of plant and animal species. The Codru forests support species such as the red deer, roe deer, and wild boar, as well as a rich diversity of birdlife, including the tawny owl and the black woodpecker. The undergrowth in these forests is rich in wildflowers, ferns, and other plant species.

    In the table below are the number of known species in several main groups, how many of these species are Threatened with extinction, and how many of them are Endemic (unique to Moldova only):


    Species
    (World rank)    		 Threatened % Threatened Endemic % Endemic
    Mammals 74 (#147) 4 5.4%
    Birds 236 (#160) 12 5.1%
    Reptiles 15 (#169) 2 13.3%
    Amphibians 14 (#125)
    Fishes 62 (#198) 7 11.3%
    Plants 5,513 (#59) 512 9.3%


    Go To 2024 National Nature Conservation Index Main Page

    Moldova

    Where rich soils nurture world-class wines

    Score:

    53.86 / 100

    Rank:

    110 / 180