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Volume XIII |
Regional geography

The Romanian urban system – an overview of the post-communist period

1, 2, 1,

Abstract: The Romanian urban system reveals both the influence of the central-based inter-settlement relations and the influence of the historical conditions (persistence of regional influence centres inside the historical provinces). Its 12 urban sub-systems are formed of towns that gravitate towards the Capital city – Bucharest and the second and third-rank cities. The Romanian urban network appears to be insufficiently developed in terms of number of towns versus the total population and surface. In 2012, there were 320 towns, when 400–450 were expected to be as referred to the overall surface of the country. This proves an excessive polarisation area/town ratio compared to other West and Central European countries. Under the socioeconomic transformation determined by the fall of the communist regime, profound changes in terms of intensive spatial development (urban/suburban sprawl, metropolisation etc) were experienced, similar to other post-communist urban systems. Subsequently, the EU accession opened the former socialist cities to new challenges related to urban phenomena, turning them into points of connection at European level by promoting cohesion and competitiveness for a polycentric metropolitan development. The paper attempts to summarise the urban development in Romania and the particularities of the Romanian urban system in relation to the legislative and political context of the post-communist period and the EU accession.

Keywords: , , ,
Full article 10.5775/fg.2067-4635.2014.179.dDates:
Received: 16-06-2014 Accepted: 25-11-2014 Printed: 30-12-2014 Online: 20-03-2015
Affiliations:
  • 1 Human Geography and Regional Development Department, Institute of Geography, Romanian Academy, Romania
  • 2 Dimitrie Racoviţă Str., no. 12, sector 2, Bucharest, Romania
Corresponding author:
  • inesgrigorescu@yahoo.com
Citation:
APA 6 | Harvard 2008 | Turabian 6 | MLA 7
RIS | BibTeX
Copyright: © 2015 The Author(s). Published by Forum geografic.
Provided under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License.
Open Access article.
Volume XIII |
Environment

Assessing long-term changes in forest cover in the South West Development Region. Romania

1, 1,, 2, 3, 4, 1

Abstract: The paper is discussing the importance of assessing forest dynamics based on several statistical and cartographic supports considered to be the most representative for the last century. The selected maps are able to point out the forest cover changes for three time frames (1912-1971; 1971-1990; 1990-2006) related to the relevant multi-temporal statistical and cartographic data as well as historical events such as land reforms, political changes related to the transition to the intensive and extensive communist agriculture and the post-communist period strongly related to the decolectivisation and privatisation of agriculture leading to the emergence of new types of property, an excessive land fragmentation and deforestation (illegal logging). The authors are aiming to analyse land use conversion and forest covered areas dynamics in relation to the main socio-political and natural driving forces by means of GIS methods (binary change index and trend index) based on a series of significant cartographic documents and a large and complex geodatabase.

Keywords: , , , ,
Full article 10.5775/fg.2067-4635.2014.159.iDates:
Received: 20-01-2014 Accepted: 27-05-2014 Printed: 02-06-2014 Online: 08-08-2014
Affiliations:
  • 1 Institute of Geography, Romanian Academy, 12 Dimitrie Racoviţă Street, sector 2, 023993, Bucharest
  • 2 Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest, Nicolae Bălcescu Avenue, 010041, Bucharest
  • 3 Faculty of Geography, Spiru Haret University, 56 Timişoara Blvd, sector 6, Bucharest, Romania
  • 4 National Forest Administration, Protected Areas Unit, 31 Magheru Street 010325, Sector 1, Bucharest
Corresponding author:
  • inesgrigorescu@yahoo.com
Citation:
APA 6 | Harvard 2008 | Turabian 6 | MLA 7
RIS | BibTeX
Copyright: © 2014 The Author(s). Published by Forum geografic.
Provided under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License.
Open Access article.
Volume XI |
Biogeography

Invasive terrestrial plant species in the Romanian protected areas. Case study: Fallopia japonica in the Maramureş Mountains Natural Park

1, 1, 1,, 2,

Abstract: Assessing invasive terrestrial plant species in protected areas is of major importance, taking into consideration the role they play as key drivers in conserving biological diversity. The paper is aiming to argue the Invasive Terrestrial Plant Species (ITPS) in the Romanian protected areas with a special focus on the species Fallopia japonica in the Maramures Mountains Natural Park. Fallopia japonica, also known as Polygonum cuspidatum or Reynoutria japonica is an herbaceous perennial plant, largely occupying the riparian ecosystems and causing serious damages to native vegetation. The species is broadly regarded as one of the most invasive plant species in Europe, also listed by the World Conservation Union as one of the world’s one hundred worst plant invaders. The paper seeks to analyze the potential spread of Fallopia japonica in a protected area-Maramures Mountains Natural Park – V IUCN category as well as Natura 2000 site (SPA and SCI) integrating comprehensive statistical and field data with modern computing methods (GIS-based). Consequently, based on accurate mapping and field investigation of Fallopia japonica in the study-area, the authors were able to identify specie’s main ecological requirements and preferences, spreading conditions etc. The current research will have great contribution to undertaking further studies on invasive terrestrial plant species development, distribution potential and impact upon native habitats.

Keywords: , , , ,
Full article 10.5775/fg.2067-4635.2012.031.iDates:
Received: 19-03-2012 Accepted: 11-05-2012 Printed: 01-06-2012 Online: 29-07-2012
Affiliations:
  • 1 Institute of Geography, Romanian Academy, Romania
  • 2 Protected Areas Department, Romanian Forest Administration, Bucharest
Corresponding author:
  • inesgrigorescu@yahoo.com
Citation:
APA 6 | Harvard 2008 | Turabian 6 | MLA 7
RIS | BibTeX
Acknowledgements: The authors are grateful to Vasile Popovici, member of “Ivan Krevan” Association for Local Development, Repedea, Maramureş County for all his help and support. The entire study is developed in the framework of the FP7 Project – Building Capacity for Black Sea Catchment Observation and Assessment System supporting Sustainable Development (EnviroGRIDS); http://www.envirogrids.net/.
Copyright: © 2012 The Author(s). Published by Forum geografic.
Provided under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License.
Open Access article.

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