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Volume X |

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

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).

Volume X |

The Dynamics of Forest Areas in the Vâlsan Basin

Abstract: This case study refers to forest area dynamics within the Vâlsan Basin, situated between his affluents: Mierlei Valley and Bunești Valley in 1904-2004 period. The dynamics was shown by maps on a temporal scale especially in reference years as 1904, 1973, 1981, 1994, 2004. Forest cover from our study area has been decreased substantially because of the impact of human activities. We can conclude at the end of our paper that forest ecosystems had lost the natural equllibrium, and barely can realize the protective and hydrological function, in the context of declaring our study a natural reserve.

Volume X |

The Problem of the Sanitary System in the Land of Severin With Respect to Regional Development

Abstract: The difficulties with the health system, occurred after 1989, are mainly induced by the lack of appliances and human resources and by the natural consequences due to the interruption of the reform process, which negatively influenced the repartition of medical service within the urban and rural spaces, in the Land of Severin. The supply and access to medical services are the major problems concerning the assurance of a better living standard and also social and economic development, especially in rural areas. Villages with a dispersed population (in the mountainous and piedmont area in the Land of Severin), represent quite a unique challenge for the management and use of medical services. The claim to improve the support is laid by vulnerable groups, as elders and those who live in isolated places (e.g. Marga, Negrușa and Moisești villages) or people who compulsory need dialysis three times a week. The low level of economic development have induced problems concerning the existence, the quality and accessibility of social services and difficulties in case of temporary or permanent health care services. The present reformation measures take into consideration the way of organization and operation of health care services, the problem concerning the financial means and equipment of sanitary units and, the provision of last generation medical technique correlated with a continuous training process of medical staff and health care personnel. Currently, by means of the Local Development Programme 2006 – 2013 and with the help of the European structural funds, the authorities want to establish and implement a special programme to modernize the medical cabinets in villages, to convey pharmaceutical products to this area, to eliminate the daily travel of doctors and to provide ideal conditions for them and for the nurses to integrate into local communities.

Volume X |

Orientation of the Voters in the Presidential Elections in Romania 1990-2009

Abstract: After the change of the political regime in 1989, Romania has returned gradually to democracy. This return is illustrated by the electoral process in which the presidential elections play an important role. The first elections after December 1989 represent the exception, the elections being won, detached, in the first round, by the candidate of the party which secured an absolute majority in the legislative (Ion Iliescu, the National Salvation Front), all other elections providing a winner after the second round. The victories were shared between the center-left and the center-right candidates, two decades of witnessing several electoral alternance in power (as in the case of parliamentary elections). It also requires the continuity in the electoral preferences of certain regions (the “Old Kingdom” voting, in general, for the centre-left Social Democrat candidates), while central and western regions and the capital have voted consistently with the right candidates. Between these consistency elements, the Hungarian electorate registers oscillation of voters between the center-left and center-right.

Volume

Floodplains – Links between Countries and Landscapes

Abstract: The primary function of floodplains remains to be to ensure the safe passage of flood waves. As flood control problems are serious along some river sections, this also requires international cooperation. In landscape ecology, floodplains perform two related functions: they are riparian buffer zones (vital for maintaining river water quality) on the one hand and ecological corridors (ensuring connectivity and high biodiversity) on the other. Floodplain wetlands play an important part of the ecological integrity of riverine ecosystems as they fundamentally influence the ecological status of adjacent water bodies. It is all the more important since along most of its length the Danube crosses densely inhabited areas with intensive agriculture, large-scale industries and well-developed communication networks. Consequently, environmental pressure on the active and protected floodplains is of considerable extent and sharp conflicts arise between different land use types. Land use types promoting the fulfilment of the riparian buffer zone function must have priority. Unfortunately, only restricted sections of the Danubian floodplain are retained in seminatural conditions. In the Danube catchment 80% of the former wetlands are now disconnected and cannot fulfil their nature conservation role. The national NATURA 2000 networks are so much dependent on seminatural riparian ecosystems that they cannot be efficient without floodplain restoration measures. Predictable climate change tendencies (increasing drought liability) are also a threat to the survival of floodplains as ecological corridors. Remediation efforts are necessary along extensive floodplain sections and better connectivity is identified as an important target. According to the Danube River Basin District Management Plan (ICPDR 2009, p. 76):”The ICPDR’s basin-wide vision is that floodplains/wetlands in the entire DRBD are re-connected and restored. The integrated function of these riverine systems ensures the development of self-sustaining aquatic populations, flood protection and reduction of pollution in the DRBD”.