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Romania has one of the most important biodiversity at European level, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Much of this biological diversity is preserved within declared protected natural areas all over the country, which are heterogeneous both in terms of typology and content. Ecosystems/habitats diversity is complemented by the remarkable diversity of species. Romania has continuously participated to the international environment politics, signing and ratifying the most important conventions, resolutions, declarations and environmental agreements. Based on these aspects, the need arises to declare new protected areas to increase the area occupied by them at the national level. This is because we found in many parts of our country located natural areas, especially in the high mountain area requiring immediate and sustainable protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romania's commitment and ability to protect its environment in the long term is challenged by several problems: insufficient financial mechanisms, monitoring, enforcement, and the information dissemination capacity of local environment protection agencies. History indicates that periods of economic and social transition are very dangerous to biodiversity conservation. The demonstrated tendency during such periods gives priority to short-term income-generating activities. Romanian conservation policy has had to adapt to this change of circumstances. New sites have been included in the national protected system and new legislation has been developed. But is this enough? Do these satisfy progressive concepts and IUCN recommendations? This paper is intended to make recommendations, based on intersectoral participatory planning, for nature resources management. It focuses on how biodiversity conservation is being encouraged and developed at a national level.

Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) proposes environmental policies developed around action-based conservation measures supported by agri-environment schemes (AES). High Nature Value (HNV) farming represents a combination of low-intensity and mosaic practices mostly developed in agricultural marginalized rural areas which sustain rich biodiversity. Being threatened by intensification and abandonment, such farming practices were supported in the last CAP periods by targeted AES. This study aims to identify the most important farming trends in a recognized HNV grasslands Romanian site, subject to public conservation actions. The content analysis of multi-actor focus groups transcripts identifies innovation needs for alternative sustainable HNV farming systems, assessing also the most important barriers for their local deployment. Results show that stakeholders have strong awareness about the existence of HNV farming practices in their territory and their negative trends (abandonment; intensification) that might irreversibly affect biodiversity and cultural values. Current AES could not compensate for the existing innovation gaps. Although local stakeholders have basic awareness about alternative innovative approaches, they failed in their deployment mainly due to the lack of collective actions. Access to adapted knowledge reservoirs and the promotion of local innovation catalyzers are essential for the future sustainability of HNV farming practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global current environmental situation and its impact on humanity, and multiple interference with all existing fields, require efficient reorganization, through a sustainable perspective, and adoption of all necessary measures and practices to remedy the situation and ensure the necessary balance to achieve effective sustainable development. Adaptive management occurs within the ecological approach by identifying problems and solutions, adapting to new situations arising, design some programs to conserve biodiversity and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]