Scholarly record
THE EVALUATION OF FOREST LOSS IN ROMANIA-S MOST THREATENED COUNTIES. A MULTI-CRITERIA AND GIS BASED APPROACH
Abstract
Local or regional forest loss may be considered a forest management problem that mainly affects countries that lack proper forest monitoring and law enforcement procedures. Romania is an appropriate example regarding this matter, the main issue being the massive illegal cuts that are difficult to monitor, record and sanction. Therefore, the desiderata of precluding this outlawed practice and of preserving the forest cover ? which accounts for almost 29% of Romania?s territory (2015), are not attainable without revealing the areas where interventions are imperative. This paper aims to evaluate the overall dimensions of forest loss in Romania?s top twelve counties in terms of forest loss area by applying two multi-criteria decision-making methods. The relative importance (weights) of forest loss (area), regeneration works (area), private forests (percentage) and illegal cuts (cases) related factors is established via Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Complementarily, Weighted Product Model (WPM) is used to compute the total score of the alternatives represented by Valcea, Gorj, Maramure?, Suceava, Prahova, Giurgiu, Vrancea, Arge?, Alba, Ilfov, Constan?a and Ialomi?a counties, in relation to the considered factors. A clear image of the multi-criteria determined forest loss level is provided by the final maps obtained in GIS. This combination of multi-criteria decision-making methods and GIS techniques may serve as a functional and adjustable framework for further research. The practical value of this study is enhanced by using an updated data base that relates to 1990-2018 time period. Moreover, the results may serve as warning signs for the designated administrative units. Such knowledge is actually a prerequisite for the implementation of the effective forest loss mitigation plans that should be at the core of sustainable forest management.
Publication Impact Profile
Publication details
References15
Abrudan I.V., A decade of non-state administration of forests in Romania: achievements and challenges, International Forestry Review, vol. 14/issue 3, pp. 275-284, 2012;
Ananda, J., Herath, G., A critical review of multi-criteria decision-making methods with special reference to forest management and planning, Ecological Economics, vol. 68, pp. 2535-2548, 2009;
Anon, Law for amending and changing the Forest Act. Off. J. Rom. (1st section, no. 411, June, 10, 2015), Available online at: https://lege5.ro/Gratuit/g42dknrxg4/codul-silvic-din-2008;
Bouriaud L., Marzano M., Conservation, extraction and corruption: will sustainable forest management be possible in Romania. In Gilberthorpe, E. (ed.), Natural resource extraction and indigenous livelihoods: development challenges in an era of globalisation, Ashgate International, 2012, pp. 300;
Eurostat website, 2018, Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/EDN-20180321-1;
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, State of Europe's Forests, 2015, Available online at: https://foresteurope.org/state-europes-forests-2015-report/;
Greenpeace Romania Reports, Illegal cuts of Romania’s forests, 2009-2017, Available online at: https://www.greenpeace.org/romania/ro/campanii/paduri/publicatii/
Lawrence A., Forestry in transition: Imperial legacy and negotiated expertise in Romania and Poland, Forest Policy and Economics, vol. 11/issue 5-6, pp. 429-436, 2009;
Ministry of Forests and Waters, Report regarding the state of Romanian forests., 2017, [in Romanian] Available on-line at: http://apepaduri.gov.ro/paduri/
National Institute of Statistics, 2018. Available on-line at: http://statistici.insse.ro:8077/tempo-online/
Nichiforel L., Keary K., Deuffic P., Weiss G., Thorsen B. J., Winkel G., Avdibegović M., Dobšinská Z., Feliciano D., Gatto P., Mifsud E.G., Hoogstra-Klein M., Hrib M., Hujala T., Jager L., Jarský V., Krzysztof Jodłowski K., Lawrence A., Bouriaud L., How private are Europe’s private forests? A comparative property rights analysis, Land use policy, vol. 76, pp. 535-552, 2018;
Popa B., Niță M.D. and Hălălișan A.F., Intentions to engage in forest law enforcement in Romania: An application of the theory of planned behavior, Forest Policy and Economics, vol. 100, pp 33-43, 2019;
Saaty T., Decision making with the analytic hierarchy process, Int. J. Services Sciences, vol. 1/issue 1, pp. 83-98, 2008;
Stancioiu P.T., Abrudan I.V., Dutca I., The Natura 2000 ecological network and forests in Romania: implications on management and administration, International forestry review, vol. 12/issue 1, pp. 106-113, 2010;
Triantaphyllou E., Multi-criteria decision-making methods: A comparative study, Springer, Boston, MA, 2000, pp. 289.
View or Download full articleAccess options
SWS access login
Login as SWS Scientific CommitteeLogin as SWS Scientific PartnerLogin as SWS AuthorAuthors and approved SWS contributors will read and export their own linked papers after identity matching by SWS profile, email and SGEM GlobalID.
For librarian assistance: [email protected]
Purchase Instant Access
- Article can be downloaded after successful payment.
- Article may be used according to SWS library access terms.
- Article cannot be redistributed.
