The Danube River's length and the number of countries it passes through, as well as its connections to the Black Sea, make it an important system for navigation and travel in Central and Eastern Europe. The large amounts of fish and plants that live on the riverbank and in the Delta mean it has also provided food, fertile land for farming, and water for agriculture. The Black Sea is home to many ports where goods are transported to and from Romania and surrounding countries.
The biggest challenges that human populations living on or near the Delta face these days is how to maintain a healthy environment so both humans and animals can use the richness of the river and Delta to survive. Due to human influence, the Danube Delta has faced serious ecological challenges. During times of Communism, reed (which grows in abundance in the Delta) was overharvested, wetlands were drained, and sections of the Danube Delta were exploited for agriculture. Because of these challenges, fish populations have declined and tensions have arisen regarding construction in the Delta between Romania and Ukraine, which shares parts of the Delta with Romania. Damming has also resulted in a loss of sediment, causing erosion and disrupting the lives of many animals living in the Delta.
