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Is There Sustainable Development after Mining? A Case Study of Three Mining Areas in the Apuseni Region (Romania)

Author

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  • Camelia Botezan

    (Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Research Institute for Sustainability and Disaster Management Based on High Performance Computing (ISUMADECIP), Babes-Bolyai University, 30 Fantanele Street, 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Veronica Constantin

    (The Regional Development Agency Centre, 12 Decebal Street, 510093 Alba Iulia, Romania)

  • Monika Meltzer

    (Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Research Institute for Sustainability and Disaster Management Based on High Performance Computing (ISUMADECIP), Babes-Bolyai University, 30 Fantanele Street, 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Andrei Radovici

    (Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Research Institute for Sustainability and Disaster Management Based on High Performance Computing (ISUMADECIP), Babes-Bolyai University, 30 Fantanele Street, 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Alina Pop

    (Department of Communication Sciences, Dimitrie Cantemir Christian University, 176, Splaiul Unirii, District 4, 040042 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Filip Alexandrescu

    (Research Institute for the Quality of Life, Calea 13 Septembrie No. 13, 050711 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Lucrina Stefanescu

    (Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Research Institute for Sustainability and Disaster Management Based on High Performance Computing (ISUMADECIP), Babes-Bolyai University, 30 Fantanele Street, 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

Abstract

The cessation or downsizing of mining activities induced complex challenges for entire regions in Romania, leading to depopulation, poverty, and pollution. Resource-dependency locked these regions in a mono-industry setting where it was difficult for new development paths to emerge. This paper presents a historical overview of a well-known Romanian mining region and identifies promising recovery opportunities that could shift the trajectory of its mining communities towards new sustainable paths. The research was based on official statistical data for the period 1965/1966–2018, complemented by qualitative data extracted from 39 semi-structured interviews with residents from the study area. The results revealed that the concentration of employment in the mining sector, together with other concurring factors, made it difficult for the communities to find sustainable ways of development while, at the same time, highlighting some possible revitalization and recovery opportunities. The findings contribute to a better understanding of mining communities, which will support the creation of tailored policies and planning strategies aimed towards their sustainable redevelopment.

Suggested Citation

  • Camelia Botezan & Veronica Constantin & Monika Meltzer & Andrei Radovici & Alina Pop & Filip Alexandrescu & Lucrina Stefanescu, 2020. "Is There Sustainable Development after Mining? A Case Study of Three Mining Areas in the Apuseni Region (Romania)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-20, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:23:p:9791-:d:449982
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Stefanie Streit & Michael Tost & Katharina Gugerell, 2023. "Perspectives on Closure and Revitalisation of Extraction Sites and Sustainability: A Q-Methodology Study," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-17, February.
    2. Isabel del Arco & Anabel Ramos-Pla & Gabriel Zsembinszki & Alvaro de Gracia & Luisa F. Cabeza, 2021. "Implementing SDGs to a Sustainable Rural Village Development from Community Empowerment: Linking Energy, Education, Innovation, and Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-13, November.
    3. Sergio Elías Uribe-Sierra & Pablo Mansilla-Quiñones & Alejandro Israel Mora-Rojas, 2022. "Latent Rural Depopulation in Latin American Open-Pit Mining Scenarios," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-23, August.

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