Abstract
At the beginning of the last century, natural complexes of the Danube Delta underwent significant anthropogenic transformations. Catastrophic and successive changes occurred in the last three decades as a result of the damming of the riverbed and near-channel ridges of individual islands and floodplain territories and their subsequent de-damming, the construction of the large-scale deep-water Danube-Black Sea shipping channel, the transformation of significant areas of delta into agricultural land, as well as quarrying of sand, grazing, mowing of reed straw in industrial scale, spontaneous burning, afforestation, pollution of water and terrestrial environment, etc. The coastal ecosystems of the eastern part of the Kilyan arm of the Danube Delta have also been catastrophically impacted by the military actions of the Russia. The paper highlights the main anthropogenic changes of vegetation identified based on long-term comparative phytocoenotic surveys, stationary studies, and the use of the successional series method. Strategy for optimizing the vegetation cover of the delta is offered. The established patterns can be used to develop methods for assessing the risk of ecosystems, and the intensity of their degradation, for the purpose of protection, management, and sustainable use of the biodiversity in the delta areas of the Northern Black Sea region.