Transitional Dynamics Based Trend Analysis of Land Cover and Use Changes in Romania During 1990-2012

Abstract

Land cover and use changes, part of the ‘global changes’, are important for the global sustainability and resilience through their negative impacts on ecosystem services and biodiversity, and on the human welfare. In Eastern Europe in general and Romania in special, property restitution was a main driver of change. This study aimed to look at the land cover and use changes in Romania by their transitional dynamic using CORINE data in an attempt to identify the long-term consistent trends. The results show that deforestation and urbanization are more prominent, and the development of agriculture slows down, reflecting the consequences of an unplanned development and low environmental care. The hotspots concentrating land cover and use changes are characteristic to ex-socialist transition countries.

Keywords

• deforestation
• agricultural abandonment
• urbanization
• transition
• unplanned development