THE ECOLOGICAL RECONSTRUCTION OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS AFFECTED BY LANDSLIDES

Abstract

Landslides mainly affect agricultural lands in Romania’s hill areas or in proximity of water sources. They are caused by a complex number of factors (of geological, geomorphologic and climatic origin) as well as by the land’s use. A significant part of Romanian’s land fund is in an improper state ecologically-wise and productivity-wise, as a result of landslide processes. This imposes a series of actions, for both the agricultural and forestry sectors, in order to mitigate landslides. The present paper emphasises the results of the investigations performed before 2000 and during 2015-2017, regarding the characteristics of landslides, their management / consolidation works, the forest culture species and types used on landslides, as well as their behaviour and efficiency. Experimental forest cultures established on landslides are 35 and 65 years old, so they can offer valuable scientific information regarding the types of cultures and silvotechnical works necessary for underlying ecological reconstruction solutions. The characteristics of landslides require the installation of forest vegetation only after the proper management of lands. The most important works are capturing and steering waters from outside the affected area, draining micro depressions with water excess, modelling the land as well as consolidation works for detachment ravines and versant basis. The forest vegetation installed on landslides ensures the land’s stabilization as a result of regulation of the hydric regime and mechanical consolidation by roots.

Keywords

• landslide
• ecological reconstruction
• forest vegetation
• management/consolidation works