Using palaeoecology to improve the effectiveness of conservation planning in the Apuseni Mountain, NW Romania
One region in Europe where there are still exceptionally large tracts of ‘undisturbed’ natural temperate forests is in Romania. In order to plan for the future management of some of the most biodiverse regions of Europe, it is essential that we understand their natural variability and probable response. The Apuseni Natural Park (PNAp) was founded in 1991 with the aim to protect the forests of the Apuseni Mountains and their high biodiversity containing a number of faunal and floral endemics and rare species. PNAp has been classified in 2001 as an IUCN (The World Conservation Union) ‘class V’ reserve with highly permissible policy in the management plan, allowing diverse human activities in the park (timber production, tourism, agriculture, encouraging traditional life style and economy). This project uses the palaeoecology and geochemistry to illustrate how the interaction between climate change, human activities and other disturbances have shaped the present landscape over thousands years. The results will provide managers with information that will help improve the effectiveness of conservation of PNAp habitats and its biodiversity.
