Human Pressure on the Environment in the “Munţii Maramureşului” Natural Park

Abstract

In order to protect the natural environment in the Romanian Carpathians, 22 major protected areas totalling approximately 1 million hectares, as well as some 600 reserves and natural monuments totalling 50,000 ha, were declared. The chapter is aiming to point out the main human-related pressures characteristic for the mountain natural landscapes, by selecting as case study “Munţii Maramureşului” Natural Park (MMNP). This protected area can be considered as a landmark in the Romanian Carpathians protected areas assessment, taking into account both its environmental stressors and its landscape qualities for acceding to UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status. Although MMNP was declared in 2004, later than other similar protected areas in Romanian Carpathians (Apuseni Natural Park and Bucegi Natural Park in 1990 etc.), its landscape and biodiversity features are no less significant and valuable. The authors are aiming to identify and assess the main present-day human impact categories encountered in MMNP: deforestation and over-grazing, mining activities, poaching, waste deposits, etc. in order to prevent their expansion and diminish their negative impact upon the environment.