Scholarly record

STAKEHOLDERS- PERCEPTIONS ON SOIL QUALITY RELEVANCE AND ON THE IMPACT OF SOIL PROTECTION POLICIES IN ROMANIA

Monica Dumitrașcu

Abstract

Recent studies emphasized rather skeptical views shared by the Romanian stakeholders with regard to the public recognition of the central role of soil resources for assuring food security as well as the fundamental role that soils play in climate change adaptation. As stakeholder views are particularly important for understanding their values and needs, the paper aims to explore the perceptions with regard to soil quality, soil threats as well as the existence and effectives of the national and European policies on soil protection, shared by a broad range of representatives from soil departments within research and education institutions, land-users (farmers), soil experts, consultants from public and private advisory bodies, non-governmental organizations, decision makers and planners from central and local public administration. The investigations were carried by a questionnaire-based qualitative approach. Most of the respondent Romanian soil stakeholders perceive soil as a factor essential to life on Earth and the most important soil threat perceived is ?erosion?. A large majority of respondents considers that the general public interest on soil issues and soil protection is negligible or even entirely absent. A significant majority of respondents revealed a strong agreement on the agricultural policies supporting practices under agri-environment measures. Among stakeholders, the awareness of the adverse environmental impact caused by conventional cropping systems seems is growing. It seems that the stakeholder community paid insufficient attention to the need and importance of a Soil European Directive, supposed to have a direct impact on soil national legislation.

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