The Impact of Forest Degradation on Rural Communities in Romania

The evolution of human society was always based on natural resources. A good example is the connection between man and forest, the best solution for covering the material needs. Romanian people, who have considered the forest their closest friend along the centuries, appreciate its multiple values. Nevertheless, the forest fund of Romania has been strongly affected in the last decades. Besides the maintenance and normal exploitation activities, which are traditional in this country, intensive deforestation activities for economic advantages have been lately carried out, far outstripping the rehabilitation capacity of the forest land. The resulting forest degradation has, thus, a strong impact on the environment, determining higher risk processes. Floods are the most common hazards caused by deforestation in Romania, local authorities being always overwhelmed by the situation. Flood risk management should be mainly based on sustainable forest exploitation, never outstripping the forest regeneration. The analysis of the community perception gives a better picture of reality. Interesting conclusions result out of this, the legislation impact on a better or worse forest management being in the centre of discussions.