FOREST CANOPY LOSS TRENDS (2001-2020) IN THE MOLDAVIAN COUNTIES OF ROMANIA. A GIS-BASED ANALYSIS

Forests rank at the top of the natural assets of Romania, both because of their rich biodiversity, and their livelihood-sustaining role. In the ex-socialist countries that entered the tumultuous early-democratic era and faced many socio-economic adjustments, the monitoring of this valuable biome becomes critical for its sustainable management. This study aims to examine 20 years (2001-2020) of forest canopy loss in the Moldavian counties in Romania, using the spatial dataset provided by the GLAD laboratory and the Global Forest Watch. A GIS-based analysis was performed in order to compute the forest canopy loss and the percentage of this loss in the total forest cover, specific to five time intervals of equal duration. The results are placed on the timeline of major forestry-related legal framework and forest ownership changes, facilitating a context-integrated interpretation. Forest canopy loss in the study area varies between more than 15,270 ha (2001-2004) to more than 24,000 ha (2005-2008), and different evolution trends can be identified at county scale. In addition, a West-East division of the high and low forest canopy loss values was identified, in correlation with natural and administrative factors. These findings add to our understanding of forest cover dynamics in post-socialist countries, also highlighting the influence of the changes in forest ownership and forestry regulation framework triggered by the political and social transition, and by the alignment to the international environmental governance.