Moldova to publish updated endangered species register by 2027
Moldova is updating its national Red Data Book following a comprehensive two-year field assessment of rare and endangered species. The upcoming fourth edition will reflect major shifts in regional biodiversity, upgrading protection for critical wildlife while removing species that no longer face immediate threats.
Publication is scheduled for the first half of 2027. The project faced minor delays due to institutional funding constraints.
Scientific methodology and fieldwork
The rigorous assessment required extensive field expeditions across multiple seasons. Researchers evaluated both wildlife population sizes and the environmental health of local habitats.
Laurenția Ungureanu, Vice-Rector for Research at Moldova State University (USM), noted that habitat condition remains the primary driver of species distribution across the country. Comprehensive monitoring focused on species previously listed in the 2015 edition.
Shifting conservation statuses
The field findings reveal significant ecological adjustments. Several species escalated from vulnerable to critically endangered due to declining numbers.
Conversely, some species will be excluded from the 2027 edition. This occurs either because they have not been recorded in Moldova for decades, or because active protection measures successfully restored their populations.
Mammal and bird population trends
Recovering mammal populations include the European otter, wildcat, Eurasian pygmy shrew, beech marten, and various bat species. Conservation efforts for bats continue to receive support through a targeted international protection framework.
Among birds, the great egret, white stork, mute swan, ruddy shelduck, and common shelduck will be removed from the endangered list following a decade of steady growth.
However, environmental experts confirmed that the white-headed duck, red kite, little bustard, and great bustard have not been sighted in Moldova for 20 to 50 years.
Environmental policy and regulations
Biodiversity remains better preserved within state-protected natural areas. Local legislation strictly limits human activities that could destabilize these fragile ecosystems.
Scientists emphasized that long-term biodiversity preservation directly correlates with human environmental responsibility. Maintaining clean water systems, unpolluted soil, and air quality remains vital for both wildlife survival and public health.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
