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The research aims to identify potential High Conservation Value Forests (HCVFs) in Moldova, seen as crucial for biodiversity and providing long-term benefits. Despite the fact that forests only cover 11% of the Moldova's territory, they account for more than 80% of the country's biological diversity and have social, economic, climate, hydrological, and erosion-control benefits. The methodology involved mainly developing identification criteria of these forests, according to the approach developed by FSC, and processing the existing cartographic data using GIS techniques. The findings reveal that almost one-half of Moldova's forests have potential for HCVFs: approximately 175,500 ha of forest land, accounting for 47.3% of the total forested area, were identified as potential HCVFs. Most of these forests are owned and managed by the state. An important outcome of this research is to contribute to the protection of valuable forest ecosystems and establish discussion platforms with stakeholders for their future conservation and long-term resource management. Forest managers, landscape planners, and beneficiaries of forest ecosystem services can use the findings to align management plans, prioritize conservation, and promote sustainable land use. Proper implementation of HCVF principles can attract donors and investors to support Moldova's forestry sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of payments for ecosystem services (PES) has been identified as a promising mechanism for use in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, with several potential advantages and benefits, including the ability to raise new funding for landscape management, increase the efficiency of conservation approaches, secure ecosystem services (ES), and benefit poor rural communities. Starting from understanding the complex relationship between human dependence on natural resources and the environment, this paper aims to determine the degree to which the various criteria affect the success of PES that involve forests. Primary data were collected using a mixed questionnaire that was sent to institutions that had implemented PES schemes in the region and 25 case studies of PES implemented in the region from various publications were used for the secondary data. The data were mainly analyzed using comparative analysis. The results indicated that PES success is higher when bundled ES are considered, financing is medium- to long-term, implementation is at the regional level, combined transaction types (cash and in-kind) are used, and both private buyers and public sellers are involved. This paper provides a good benchmark for decision makers on PES performance and the model presented may serve as one of the tools for improving livelihoods and ensuring the achievement of sustainable development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood colour metrics are increasingly being used in wood technology and ecology studies. Researchers usually determine the colours of the wood after treatment or in different habitats. There is very little research dedicated to the problem of colour variations among one specific species harvested in different forests or regions. The main purpose of the current research is to reveal and estimate the colour variability of oak species. For this study, a total of 89 samples were taken from the heartwood of seven oak species (Quercus robur L., Quercus cerris L., Quercus rubra L., Quercus pedunculiflora K. Koch., Quercus pubescens Willd., Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl., and Quercus palustris Muenchh.). The CIELAB system was used for the assessment of the colour differences. To determine the colour groups and variations, K-means clustering was used. The results show that colour variations do exist. According to the cluster analysis, at least five types of oak wood can be distinguished (because in some clusters, very few samples were present) in the investigated forests. The differences are mainly observed in terms of the lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*). Redness is not a feature by which oak wood differs, but the wood can be brighter or more yellow in some of the samples. The density of the Romanian oaks in the sample does not influence the colour coordinates. The only coordinate affected is a*, but with a very small probability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PEFC is one of the most common certification schemes in forestry worldwide. The aim of this paper was to highlight the profile of the PEFC Chain of Custody certified companies from Romania. Data available in December 2018 on the official website of PEFC were taken into consideration. Until present, 43 PEFC CoC certified companies were recorded in Romania, more than half holding an individual certificate. The certified companies are located in fifteen counties plus Bucharest, one quarter of them being based in the capital city. 60% of the valid CoC certificates in Romania were issued only by two certification bodies. As regards the product category, the number of the companies involved in paper-related activities is almost equal with the companies acting in wood industry. Even though Romania is a country well known for its forest resources and its wood industry, PEFC certification is not very well represented. But, by taking into account that PEFC national certification system was endorsed in midsummer 2018, it might happen very soon that PEFC (both FM and CoC) will gain more interest in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Game species are among the main categories of non-wood forest products (NWFPs) in Romania. Thanks to its diversified relief and forests, Romania has a high diversity of wildlife species. The national hunting area is divided into 2.151 hunting grounds that are managed by private-owned or state-owned forestry units and hunting associations. On the current territory of the country, hunting was a regular practice since the Middle Ages, and the first modern regulation dates from the second half of the 19th century. According to currently valid legislation, hunting in Romania is permitted for 18 species of mammals and 39 species of birds. Special attention is given to three species of EU interest, namely brown bear (Ursus arctos L.), gray wolf (Canis lupus L.) and wildcat (Felis silvestris Schreber). The annual contribution of hunting products to the turnover of the forestry units is usually less than 1%. In order to increase this contribution, forest managers should develop and promote other hunting related activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than a third of Romania’s surface has low-productive soils, at the same time exposed to risks of climatic phenomena and generating high economic loss. Afforestation with pine has been the most common solution for the recovery of sheet erosion. Many of the pines grown on such land have run down. This paper presents the results of the first dendroecological investigation of degraded lands in Romania, 80 years after the first ecological reconstruction. In this way, the effects of reconstruction were assessed, supporting the adoption of future solutions for the improvement and efficiency of recovered ecosystems. Reconstructed radial growth was set against rainfall, air temperature, and management history. A total of 330 black pine and Scots pine trees (Pinus sylvestris L. and Pinus nigra Arn.) of different ages and social positions from 11 stands of different densities were cored for retrospective tree-ring analysis. Scots pine has made better use of these sites, with a better growth rate than black pine especially in plantations with lower survival and on dominant trees. The dynamics of radial growth distinguish the two pine species, with Scots pine showing an accentuated juvenile growth spurt and bigger growth range. The growth decline is predominantly a maturation effect that begins when the tree is around 40 years old and seems to be irreversible. After this age, weak or moderated removal is not enough to revive growth. The contribution of climate (air temperature and rainfall) to the last radial increments in decline is 3–57% and is higher than in the previous decades. On moderately degraded land by farming and grazing, the mixture of Scots pine and black pine, rather than monocultures, proved to be a sustainable solution. Dendrochronological surveying of restored ecosystems allows development of management strategies, which becomes critically important in the circumstances of climate warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]