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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.
Volume X |
Human and economic geography

The Drinking Water Infrastructure in the Oltenia Plain over the Last Decade. Territorial Characteristics and Quantitative Aspects of Production and Consumption

1, 1, 1, 1

Abstract: The aim of the paper is to analyse the territorial disparities of the drinking water infrastructure in the Oltenia Plain. The study focuses on the following main aspects, specific for the general dynamic of water infrastructure development in the last decade: – the increase in the number of human settlements connected to drinking water network;- quantitative aspects of drinking water production (cubic meters/ day) and different types of consumers (thousand cubic meters).The article intends to highlight the data-base on NUTS V level (TEMPO Online time series, National Institute of Statistics) and to map the main changes registered by the statistical indicators used for the analysis: the number of territorial-administrative units (ATU) connected to the drinking water network, the length of the drinking water infrastructure, the capacity of installations to produce drinking water, the consumption of water by the different types of consumers). In the Oltenia Plain the extension of the number of ATUs connected to the drinking water network was linked with the development of the regional operator in water management, Water Company Oltenia. Despite its weaknesses, this main actor on the water-market of Oltenia will install workstations in two small towns (Băileşti and Calafat), assuring better water services in a relatively large area of the Oltenia Plain. During the last ten years, the water infrastructure became more accessible for the rural settlements and population. The production of drinking water decreased (the capacity of installations to produce drinking water in 2008 was smaller by 1.1% than in 2000) in the last decade, this dynamic being related to the negative evolution of total population (a decrease by 98,736 inhabitants between 1990 and 2009) in the Oltenia Plain, and to decline of agricultural and industrial activities. The two types of consumers (the householders and other consumers = economic actors) differ concerning the rate of the decrease in their consumption: the household type consumption drops only by 17%, compared with 49.2% specific for the other consumers. This dynamic should be explained by the reduction in economic activities, great water consumers (e.g. agriculture and industry).

Keywords: , ,
Full article 10.5775/fg.2067-4635.2011.028.dDates:
Received: 18-01-2011 Accepted: 05-05-2011 Printed: 01-12-2011 Online: 24-08-2011
Affiliations:
  • 1 Institute of Geography, Romanian Academy, D. Racoviţă Street, no. 12, Bucharest, Romania
Citation:
APA 6 | Harvard 2008 | Turabian 6 | MLA 7
RIS | BibTeX
Acknowledgements: This contribution presents some results under the "Climate Change and Impacts on Water Supply (CC-Waters) part of the South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme".
Copyright: © 2011 The Author(s). Published by Forum geografic.
Provided under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License.
Open Access article.

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