Structural Dynamics of Romanian Forests after 1990

Abstract

Abstract The Romanian forest area in 2010 was 6,515 million ha, which represents approx. 27.3 % of the national territory. At European level, Romania is ranked 13 in the areas occupied by forests, but below the average forest coverage of 32 %. After a decline in forested areas recorded between 1990 and 2000 there was a slight rebound in the last decade, with an FAO estimated growth of over 30 000 ha per year between 2005 and 2011. This growth is primarily attributed to natural regenerations. If the production function is intrinsically provided in different proportions by all the functional categories, the protective function has a special attention, having clear typological distinctions, based on well-established natural or social components. Only maintenance work is allowed in protection forests. The total volume of timber harvested in Romania in 2010 was about 17 million m3, according to NFA upon reading the regeneration cuts of an area of over 99 hectares, 5000 ha of which by cuttings Compared to 2000, when they harvested less than 14 million m3, one can see a substantial increase of approx. 20 %. In the same period, in 2010, the total area of artificial regenerations was about 10 000 ha, which represents a tenth of the cutting surface, the remaining land being regenerated naturally.