Background Small Island of Braila (SIB) is a very diverse area comprising many different habitats and several large populations of species listed in the Birds and Habitats directives as well as in the Bern Convention. SIB is a component of Lower Danube System and together with the Danube Delta Biosphere reserve and other ecological systems (e.g. Iron Gate Natural Park), it forms an important part of the Danube Green Corridor. The area is also very important as a stopover site on migration routes for many aquatic bird species and has been designated an Important Bird Area. The Small Island of Braila Natural Park has already received financial support from LIFE through another project (LIFE99 NAT/RO/006400) that developed an ‘integrated management plan’. As a result, SIB received international recognition as a Ramsar site under no.1074/2001. Its high biodiversity (habitats and species) has also resulted in it being proposed as a Special Protection Area in the Natura 2000 Network. Further action based on the existing integrated management plan is vital for the protection and conservation of this area. Objectives The aim of the project was to guarantee the long-term conservation of priority habitats and species of European importance in the entire area of the SIB Natural Park. This aim would be achieved through the implementation of conservation plans developed in close cooperation with all the interested stakeholders that were engaged during the previous LIFE project. A total area of about 2 949 ha of important habitats would be restored in different areas of the park. A publicity campaign that maintains and opens communication channels with local people and tourist would be another key aspect of the project. The specific objectives of this project were: Restoration of former floodplain forest (over a total surface of 449 ha); Restoration of the natural hydrological regime over an area of almost 2 500 ha (1 366 ha of lakes) affected by siltation; Removal of Amorpha fruticosa, an invasive species, from 212 ha; and Management of the Small Island of Braila as a ‘pilot area’ for gaining knowledge and acquiring managerial experience.Results The project drew up a management plan – including park regulations for the daily management of the project area – for Small Island of Braila, which was approved by the environment ministry. The plan provides a strong legal basis for the management of the area in the future. It also produced other documents for improving the management of SIB, namely communication and eco-tourism strategies. The proposal of the area as a Natura 2000 site was also completed and delivered to the ministry, and the project area was designated a SCI and a SPA site. The target area of the alluvial forest was successfully restored: the former alluvial forest was rehabilitated by planting native tree species in 449 ha and the invasive shrub Amorpha fruticosa was removed from 237 ha. The long-lasting floods in the project area, however, affected measures to improve the hydrological conditions of lakes in the Danube islands; while some were completed as planned, other were only partially carried out (e.g. actions planned for the Fundu Mare lake) or failed completely (e.g. Navodari). Also, the planting of an enclosure along the alluvial meadow was not successfully carried out. The first planting was damaged by drought and the second one by floods. Almost all activities, however, started during the project should continue in the future, based on the After-LIFE Conservation Plan. The ornithological study carried out by the project should be used for management of the bird populations in the park and as a background for the future management and monitoring. Nevertheless, the project was successful in its efforts to develop and maintain the basic tourism infrastructure and raise public awareness of the need for nature conservation. It produced and distributed printed materials, a CD and a movie, as well as organising public events and publishing the journal articles. The project also developed the eco-tourism strategy and provided support for the development agro-tourism. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).