At the national level, the Natura 2000 ROSCI0201 site is the largest and most representative of the steppe bioregion. The area of the Ponto-Sarmatian steppes in Romania is estimated at about 60,000 ha, half of which is in Tulcea county, where there are the largest and most compact areas of this habitat. Also, this bioregion is found in the European Union only in Romania.
The forests occupy large areas, standing out for their great diversity: beech, cer and gorun forests, a mixture of gorun, linden, dogwood and ash. The transition zone between the steppe and forest vegetation is represented by the silvosteppe, with forests of brumaria oak, downy oak and thickets with scum, hawthorn and dovecot.
The diversity of natural habitats ensures the existence of a large number of species of wild flora and fauna, many of which are endemic to this area or rare, vulnerable or endangered.
Among the remarkable species of flora we mention the steppe peony and the Dobrogean carnation, the lily (specific to the steppes), and among those of community interest the Dobrogean bell, the merinana, the snake’s head, eggplants, etc.
The fauna includes many species of insects (the grasshopper, the tailor, the horned beetle, the devil’s horse – a European vulnerable species of grasshopper).
The Dobrogean tortoise is among the endangered species, and the Dobrogean big dragon is the largest snake in Romania, being able to reach dimensions of up to 2.5 m. In the arid zone, the spotted ferret and the steppe ferret live, which feed on rodents: popandai , grivans or steppe jumping mice. The caves, although few in the area, harbor bat species such as the common bat or the large horseshoe bat.