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Environmental fragility in a mining area is evaluated both in terms of its biophysical (natural) and socio-economic components and their anthropogenic interactions. We identified multiple criteria and indicators for this task, but then reduced these according to responses given by 60 experts in domains related to spatial planning. We used the selected criteria and indicators to develop environment fragility indices for each territorial administrative unit (LAU2) in Gorj County in south-western Romania. The resulting indices reveal quite large spatial variations in fragility and evidence that highly fragile human and physical environments are to some extent intertwined. In this respect, such environmental components as climate, soils, ecosystems, natural hazards and economic issues provide constraints on human activities, whilst humans themselves can, without sufficient care, increase fragility and adversely affect the quality of living environments for present and future generations. We also explore how such estimates of natural and anthropogenic fragility might enable better specific planning for local and regional development that aims to ameliorate both environmental and human adversity in an integrated way.

Under communist rule, the development of many small and medium-sized industrial towns in Southeast Europe saw manufacturing industry become the engine of the local economy. The resulting deindustrialisation of the 1990s severely affected them. This study explores community perceptions within Fieni - formerly the most industrialised Romanian town - about its present development conditions and prospects. It also seeks people's opinions to inform future planning through a participatory governance process. To analyse the inhabitants' insights on the impact of deindustrialisation on their community, 69 street interviews were conducted with randomly selected people. The results highlight both a sense of nostalgia and pride for the town's industrial past, and a deep dissatisfaction with its current socio-economic situation. However, younger respondents tended to hold optimistic hopes of discovering and developing new local economic niches. Additionally, there are conflicting perceptions between the general population and the decision makers on the planning of the town's future, suggesting the need for more intense and cooperative development approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]