The General Council of the Capital declared Valea Saulei a protected natural area after five years of research and monitoring

Valea Saulei in Bucharest’s Sector 2 was declared a protected natural area of local interest on Tuesday, through a decision adopted by the General Council of Bucharest Municipality. The decision was approved with 45 votes in favor and one abstention, following five years of research conducted by the Bucharest Natural Park Association in cooperation with Sector 2 City Hall and local communities.

The area covers 5.2 hectares and is home to more than 350 wild species, 12 of which are protected. They include the otter, European pond turtle, common kingfisher, grey heron and little egret. The research also identified the large copper butterfly, a species sensitive to pollution and chemicals whose presence indicates good ecological conditions in the grasslands.

Valea Saulei, located near the Andronache, Gherghiței and Doamna Ghica neighborhoods, includes former fish ponds, grasslands and wooded areas. Cleaning, access improvements and habitat conservation works will be carried out in the area. The site can already be visited, with access from 116 Gherghiței Street.

Visitors are not allowed to leave waste, light fires, feed animals, cut vegetation or abandon exotic animals. The area will be administered by Sector 2 City Hall, while conservation and information activities will be coordinated by the association. Valea Saulei joins Văcărești Natural Park and Petricani Grassland in Bucharest’s network of protected natural areas.