FOREST BELTS IN SOUTH-WEST OF ROMANIA (OLTENIA REGION)

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the evolution of windbreaks areas in Romania, especially in the South-West Oltenia area, the importance and the measures that can be applied in order to increase these areas. Due to climate change and massive deforestation, some of the most serious problems facing most frequently Romania and in particular the SW Oltenia are: desertification and landslides. The role of forest curtains is found primarily in the benefits of agriculture, protecting human settlements and ways of communication and transport and not least the environmental benefits. The period taken into analysis was 8 years starting from 2005 and ending with 2013. Analysis was carried in the dynamics of some indicators such as: surface of the forest fund, the surface subjected to the regeneration process, the surface of the forest curtains and were contextual presented their interpretations. In Romania the forest fund covers an area representing approx. 27.3% of the total land surface below the European Union average, which is around 32%. The share of forest area in the South-West Oltenia is 12.4% of the total forest in Romania. The area subject to regeneration process, in the analysed period decreases and also in Romania forest area decreased from 36% in the nineteenth century to 27% today. The areas subjected to the regeneration process in Romania decreased by 12.2% in 2013 compared to 2005. It also note that natural regeneration decreased abruptly. It is recommended to increase the area subjected to natural regeneration because it is more efficient from economic perspective. In Romania there are about 2.2 million ha of degraded agricultural land, which are no longer suitable for an efficient agriculture and are recommended to be introduced into the forestry fund. In the South-West Oltenia setting up of protective forest curtains is a necessity. Reality ascertained ever since 1880. In this region it was proposed setting up of forest curtains on a surface of 12009 ha but being achieved so far only 63 ha. In order to increase the area covered by forest curtains it is recommended give some facilities to the landowners who give their consent for the setup of these curtains.