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COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE PROTECTED AREAS IN THE HISTORICAL REGION OF MOLDOVA

Adrian Ursu

Abstract

The analysis of the actual situation of protected areas and their evolution over time, in an area located on the eastern border of the EU, represents a major interest in identifying national and international policies concerning the estate of conservation and the biodiversity protection. The region aimed to be studied is historical Moldova. It is situated mainly on the territory of two states, Romania (EU member) and Republic of Moldova (former state of the Soviet Union). In time, the historical Moldova existed as a state by itself, so Romania and Republic of Moldova have a common history and a similar socio-economic context. In terms of geopolitical view, it was separated into two entities, governed with major differences, due to political context and their affiliation at different geopolitical blocks. Now Republic of Moldova is part of the Eastern Partnership concerning its admission to the European Union. In terms of physical-geographical aspect, the Moldova historical territory is divided by the river Prut, which is also the national border that separates Republic of Moldova from Romania. In terms of administrative aspect, the territory of located on right side of Prut River (Moldova the Western) is divided into eight counties summation an area of 45025.3 sqkm. The territory of Moldova located on left side of Prut River (Moldova Eastern) is divided into 35 districts, which has a total surface of 30446.1 sqkm. In terms of biogeographic regions, the continental and steppe are dominant in both regions, but on the west of Western Moldova is present also the alpine region. For these reasons we wanted to emphasize the influence of political events on the size and number of protected areas in this region and influence Romania's accession to the EU on environmental protection. Until Romania's accession to the European Union in Western Moldova 160 protected areas were legislated. Meanwhile in Eastern Moldova were made official a total of 312 protected areas. The surface occupied by protected areas in Romania is 1294.9 sqkm, that representing 2.87% of the total area of Western Moldova, and 1935.26 sqkm, that representing 5.31% of the total area of the Republic of Moldova. After Romania joined the European Union, and also the unification of environmental legislation with the European one, in Western Moldova were defined and legislated 147 sites of Community importance sites (SCI) and bird protection sites (SPA). That generated an increase the surface of protected areas in the Western Moldova with another 17.47%. The biodiversity protection policies at continental level are more useful because they can create structures and common platform for managing and monitoring protected areas, and also generate a spatially coherent network of areas with natural important values for human society.

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