Abstract
The current study is seeking to highlight the biogeographical significance of the protected areas located in southern Romania, a territory continuously exposed to strong human pressure since early times (e.g., extensive/intensive agricultural use, industrialization, urbanization/suburbanization processes). As a result, the primeval vegetation has been massively transformed and forests have been significantly fragmented and reduced to even smaller surfaces (e.g., Călăraşi County has the smallest forest-covered area in Romania). Under these conditions, the current forest patches have suffered important floristic and faunistic structural changes. Some forest remnants have been assigned protected areas status of biogeographical significance, as they host and preserve valuable southern arboreta species and xerothermal associations, secular and multi-secular arboreta (even some virgin arboreta), relict, endemic or unique species, or having their world biological limit. To stress the biogeographical significance of the forest protected areas, the authors carried out in-depth investigations of the ecosystem structure focusing on the spatial and statistical changes occurring over recent centuries and the key phyto- and zoological elements relied on the cross-referencing the biological, biogeographical, and geographical scientific literature and on the reviewing of the historical data sources. The study provides a comprehensive analysis of the biogeographical elements based on selected indicative taxa (Quercus species) and witness species considered important for southern Romania, which were able to reconstruct the original ecosystems to explain and understand their significance for the preservation of the current ecosystems.
Highlights
Under increased and diversified population pressures, the human influence on forests in Europe is progressively increasing [1]
The current study focuses on six counties (Constanta, Călărasi, Giurgiu, Teleorman, Olt and Dolj) which lay in the south of Romania and overlap plain and low tableland relief forms
To highlight the biogeographical significance of the forest protected areas located in southern Romania, the authors carried out in-depth investigations of the forest ecosystem structure focusing on the spatial and statistical changes occurred over the last centuries and the key phyto- and zoological elements
Summary
Under increased and diversified population pressures, the human influence on forests in Europe is progressively increasing [1]. About 70% of the mostly semi-natural forest area is targeted for multi-purpose use and is located outside designated protected forest areas [1], requiring effective measures for protection and effective management. The Goals for European Forests and the European 2020 Targets for Forests had placed sustainable forest management (SFM) in the center of its objectives which is to be monitored through key indicators [3]. Apart from Northern Europe and mountainous regions, forest areas are highly fragmented by roads and railway systems, often becoming patches surrounded by agricultural land and urban areas [1]
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