Assessment of Agricultural Land Fragmentation in Romania, A Case Study: Izvoarele Commune, Olt County

Agricultural land fragmentation is a common phenomenon in developing countries in general and for Romanian agriculture in particular. The aim of this study was to analyze the degree of fragmentation of Romania’s agricultural land, which is considered a major obstacle in the development of a modern agriculture. The analysis undertaken has shown that the degree of land fragmentation is high in the study area; the most fragmented are the big farms, while the small ones are more compact. At the same time, due to the scattered distribution of plots and the long distances between holdings, many fields have been turned into fallow land and consequently productivity has dropped. Under the circumstances, half of the owners are against the proposed process of merging plots because they are afraid of losing their properties again, as occurred during the communist regime

Changes in the Romanian Carpathian tourism after the communism collapse and the domestic tourists' satisfaction

In the context of Romania's transition to the market economy after the communism collapse, and the accession in EU, the study aims to analyse characteristics of tourism changes in the Carpathian destinations by correlation with the domestic visitors' satisfaction for tourist services and new forms of tourism by empirical field observations, and statistical analysis used to test the level of satisfaction for Carpathian tourism. The results show an increase of tourist demand for the Carpathian destinations in the framework of tourist establishments' structure changes, the spreading of agri-tourism, a need for improvement of accommodation services quality according to the visitors' profile. Tourism development, revealed by visitors' flows, has some similarities with the perception of tourists. The tourists' views can, with several limits, be considered as a barometer in tourism research and a useful instrument in building tourism offers

Ecological Reconstruction of the Plain Areas Prone to Climate Aridity through Forest Protection Belts. Case Study: Dăbuleni Town, Oltenia Plain, Romania

AbstractThe paper aims to make an overall assessment of drought related problems, and to shed some light on land degradation and aridity in Romania, with particular emphasis on Dăbuleni Town belonging to the Dolj County. The main research methods employed for this study were observation, survey and cartographic method, which made use of GIS techniques. A map with the current spatial distribution of the forest belt fragments overlapping the initial vegetation was accomplished. The investigation has found that these patches cover small areas lying in the immediate vicinity of the Dăbuleni town. We suggest that in order to mitigate the impact of climatic modifications and to prevent land degradation the reconstruction of forest protection belts created between 1970 and 1980 is a must, in as much as in their present condition they can no longer protect the hydrotechnical improvements and the lands. However, project implementation is hindered by the lack of cadastre and funds. At the same time, the population and the landowners in the area need to be explained the importance of forest protection belts for the improvement of environment and living conditions, for the gradual diminishing of drought effects and for the enhancement of agricultural production. Another problem that must necessarily be settled is the development of a methodology for granting compensations to those landowners who agree to change the use of their agricultural lands so as to allow the creation of forest protection belts

Arguments for Integrative Management of Protected Areas in the Cities – Case Study in Bucharest City

AbstractProtected areas should be considered as a complementary form of anthropogenic environmental intervention geared towards restoring its balance by removing the causes of its visible degradation. Taking into consideration the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems, the aim of the study is to argue the importance of integrative management of urban protected areas, based on a case study with respect to the Romanian capital (Văcăreşti wetland, in the built-up area of Bucharest city). The study objects are: addressing the conceptual issues of protected areas and in particular in urban areas; analyzing the geographical evolution of the study area (since 1700), as a determinant of the present situation; highlighting the relationships among biodiversity, ecosystem services, public use and social perception, as strong arguments in favor of the integrative management of the investigated territory. The research methodology was focused on reviewing national and international literature regarding protected areas (especially urban ones); a diachronic analysis of the study area identifying the evolution of human-environment relationships over historical times; applying the survey method in order to analyze the target group perceptions on the constraints and opportunities stemming from the urban protected area status of theVăcăreşti wetland. The main techniques employed for our scientific approach were the following: using GIS applications for diachronic and synchronic analysis; processing the semi-structured interviews in QSR NVivo 11 software; monitoring newspapers, TV channels, social networks and discussion forums. This analyses offered us opportunity to set up the main arguments for integrative management of the study area, under the circumstances of contradictions between the valuable natural and semi-natural potential and current anthropogenic and heterogeneous exploitation, leaded by the group interests

Economic Productivity vs. Ecological Protection in Danube Floodplain. Case Study: Danube’s Sector between Olt and Vedea

For a long time, wetlands were perceived as non-productive areas and were drained in an attempt to increase Romania’s agricultural surface, without acknowledging their ecological functions. This paper aims to identify possible ecological restoration models for the Danube floodplain according to the principles of sustainable development and the needs of the population living and working here. The research methodology included direct field observation, GIS techniques, and the survey method. The analysis proved the need for achieving the ecological restoration of this area while ensuring a harmonious relationship between nature and economic activities. After evaluating the views of local decision-making actors, different groups of stakeholders with divergent opinions emerged. While owners of agricultural holdings and agriculture experts pleaded for maintaining the status quo, NGOs voted for complete ecological restoration, and landowners with small farms, local authorities’ representatives, and environmental experts argued for partial ecological restoration. The study emphasises that the ecological restoration of the Danube floodplain is necessary but only possible through a consensus between the existing stakeholders and done based on the principles of sustainable development (conserving its biodiversity, protection against floods, economic activities)

Geomorphological and structural patterns of the scarp‑related steep dry valleys in limestone ridges: A case study from South Carpathians, Romania

Scarp retreat is a common natural process which drives the evolution of landscape in monoclinal or horizontally bedded structures. The NW‑facing, retreating limestone slope of the Vânturarița‑Buila Massif, a mountain ridge in the South Carpathians, is incised by steep dry valleys (SDVs), parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ridge crest. We performed morphometric and structural analyses on these features in order to estimate the geomorphic control on the scarp retrogressive evolution and their relations to tectonics. Longitudinal profiles display most of their relevant morphometry. Average slope commonly ranges between 35° and 50°, often exceeding 60° on certain segments. Lengths reflect the variability of exposed caprock thickness, and changes in slope show the structural control of bedding on scarp morphology. Spatial distribution and development of the steep dry valleys, as well as the scarp retreat process, is controlled by tectonic lineaments. We performed a comparative orientation analysis on fractures of extensional origin, dextral strike‑slip faults, major faults, and steep dry valleys. Results show preferred orientations on the NW‑SE and NE‑SW. Variability in size and morphology of the amphitheater‑shaped scarp sectors depends on the exposed caprock thickness. Speleothems formed in crevice‑type caves and unearthed by scarp retreat were found along some of the steep dry valleys. This study shows that combined geomorphological and structural analysis of steep dry valleys from alpine limestone ridges can provide valuable information on the evolution and morphology of the retreating scarp they develop on.Le recul d'un escarpement est un processus naturel normal qui contrôle l'évolution du paysage des structures monoclinales ou tabulaires. Le versant calcaire, de regard N‑O, du Massif Vânturarița‑Buila, une chaîne de montagnes située dans les Carpates Méridionales, est fortement incisé par des vallées profondes et sèches, parallèles entre elles et perpendiculaires à la direction de la crête de la montagne. Nous avons effectué une analyse morphométrique et structurale de ces éléments afin d'estimer le contrôle géomorphologique sur l'évolution régressive de l'escarpement et ses relations avec la tectonique. L'analyse des profils longitudinaux permet de définir la plupart des paramètres morphométriques pertinents. La pente moyenne varie habituellement entre 35° et 50°, mais dépasse souvent 60°. Les longueurs reflètent la variabilité de l'épaisseur de la roche calcaire exposée et les changements des valeurs de pente expriment le contrôle structural de la stratification qui explique le caractère abrupt de la morphologie. La distribution spatiale et le développement des vallées sèches encaissées (type 'cheminée') et le processus de retrait de l'escarpement sont contrôlés par des linéaments tectoniques. Nous avons effectué une analyse comparative de l’orientation des fractures extensionnelles, des failles décrochantes dextres, des failles majeures et des vallées sèches escarpées. Les résultats montrent une orientation préférentielle le long de l’axe NO‑SE et NE‑SO. La variabilité de taille et de morphologie des secteurs escarpés en forme d'amphithéâtre dépend de l'épaisseur de la roche calcaire de couverture. Le long de quelques-unes des vallées sèches (type 'cheminée') ont été trouvés des spéléothèmes formés dans des grottes de type "fissure", exposées lors du recul de l'escarpement. Cette étude montre que l'analyse combinée, géomorphologique et structurale, des vallées sèches encaissées de montagnes calcaires peut fournir des informations utiles sur l’évolution et la morphologie de l’abrupt régressif sur lequel elles se développent

Urban, Environmental and Tourism State of the Romanian Carpathian Small Towns

In Romania, after 1990, tourism is seen as a univer sal solution for the economic development of any region. In fact, some areas are appropriate to this. One of them is the Carpathian area, where a quarter of the Romanian sma ll towns exist. These settlements are still trying to adapt to the market economy hence many of them, as former mono-industrial centers, have shrank their activities and try to subscribe i n the new economic landscape. In the context of a great tourism potential given by the Carpathians resources and benefiting by urban development, few environmental changes analyzed through tourism p otential indicator (Tp), urban development indicator (UDI), environmental change indicator (ECh I), many of the mountainous small towns can successfully revive through tourism development . Their good economic, urban and environmental state influences the surroundings, ru ral area and their communities' wellbeing; hence their revival through tourism may increase th e mountain economy

Digital Elevation Profile: A Complex Tool for the Spatial Analysis of Hiking

One of the current attributions of mountain geomorphology is to provide information for tourism purposes, such as the spatial analysis of hiking trails. Therefore, geomorphic tools are indispensable for terrain analyses. Elevation profile is one of the most adequate tools for assessing the morphometric patterns of the hiking trails. In this study we tested several applications in order to manage raw data, create profile graphs and obtain the morphometric parameters of five hiking trails in the Căpățânii Mountains (South Carpathians, Romania). Different data complexity was explored: distance, elevation, cumulative gain or loss, slope etc. Furthermore, a comparative morphometric analysis was performed in order to emphasize the multiple possibilities provided by the elevation profile. Results show that GPS Visualizer, Geocontext and in some manner Google Earth are the most adequate applications that provide high-quality elevation profiles and detailed data, with multiple additional functions, according to user's needs. The applied tools and techniques are very useful for mountain route planning, elaborating mountain guides, enhancing knowledge about specific trails or routes, or assessing the landscape and tourism value of a mountain area