Domnița MATEI1
Centre for Mountain Economy “CE-MONT” of the National Institute for Economic Research “Costin C. Kirițescu” – INCE, Romanian Academy, Str. Petreni, no. 49, Vatra Dornei, Romania
* Corresponding author: matei.domnita@ce‐mont.ro
DOI: https://zenodo.org/doi/10.5281/zenodo.13353753
Abstract
Deforestation and forest degradation, the conversion of forested areas to non-forest land uses, pose global challenges. Deforestation in Romania’s Carpathian Mountains is persistently expanding, primarily driven by the lucrative economic value of exploited coniferous wood. Suceava County stands out as one of the most extensively deforested areas in Romania. This study, utilizing Open Data from the Global Forest Watch portal and GIS, maps tree cover loss in Romania’s Dornelor land from 2000 to 2022. Combining mapping and statistical approaches, it provides a 20-year overview of forest changes. Emphasizing the climate impact in carbon-rich areas like the Dornelor land, the study underscores the need for climate-conscious land use planning. The findings, exemplified by the impact of tree cover loss, can guide broader efforts to identify and address dangerous changes in forest cover.
Keywords:
GIS mapping, long-term trends, tree cover loss, Open Data, Dornelor land