Land use reconversion in the drought-and aridity-affected areas in SW Romania (Bechet, Dolj County)

In the terms of current climate change, reconversion of land use in the drought-and aridityaffected south-western Romania, is an issue of utmost priority. Thus, the present study aim represents a diachronic analysis of the land use within the Bechet town area and proposes viable solutions for soi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: IULIANA VIJULIE, ELENA MATEI, GABRIELA MANEA, LAURA TÎRLĂ, ROXANA CUCULICI
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Bucharest 2017-12-01
Series:Annals of the University of Bucharest: Geography Series
Subjects:
Online Access:http://annalsreview.geo.unibuc.ro/2017/Vijulie.pdf
Description
Summary:In the terms of current climate change, reconversion of land use in the drought-and aridityaffected south-western Romania, is an issue of utmost priority. Thus, the present study aim represents a diachronic analysis of the land use within the Bechet town area and proposes viable solutions for soil drought and aridity mitigation. Since 1989, uncontrolled and abusive logging affected the black locust forest areas, enabling the sand dunes expansion and causing ecological disturbance. The main research methods were: field observation, statistical-mathematical methods and GIS mapping. The analysis of topographic maps and orthophotographs in 1970 to 2008 revealed a very low spatial distribution of both the forest shelterbelts and shelterwoods. We proposed a reconstruction of these forest areas, which today can no longer perform their fundamental function of land protection, because of intensive degradation. The positive consequences on long term would be the mitigation of climate change impact and prevention of further land degradation.
ISSN:1013-4115
2247-238X