Chapter 9
Deforestation and Frequency of Floods
in Romania
Daniel Peptenatu, Alexandra Grecu, Adrian Gabriel Simion,
Karina Andreea Gruia, Ion Andronache, Cristian Constantin Draghici
and Daniel Constantin Diaconu
Abstract The extent of forest cuts is one of the greatest challenges of contemporary society, principally through the effects on ecosystems, air quality, hydrological
regime and society. Changes in water leakage regime from the slopes are immediate
responses of the ecosystem to short time cutting of forests from large areas. In this
study, an assessment was made of deforested surfaces in the period 2000–2016, as
well as the frequency of floods at the level of each administrative unit from Romania
for the same time. Detailed analyzes focused on the main mountain groups and on a
Danube meadow sector where the extent of deforestation is very great. The results
highlight the obvious influence of forest cuts on large areas on the frequency of
floods.
Keywords Deforestation · Hydrological regime · Floods · Mountain ·
Assessment · Frequency · Ecosystem
9.1 Introduction
The forest is one of the most important terrestrial ecosystems, the reasons being the
area occupied by it (estimated by the United Nations at about 1/3 of the land area), the
fact that it hosts over 80% of the terrestrial species (UNEP) and the important role in
the chemical circuit of nature [1]. The existence of this ecosystem brings enormous
benefits to human society, both from the point of view of protecting the environment
and mitigating climate change, as well as economic and social. From this perspective, forest areas might play a key role in preserving biodiversity and mitigating the
negative effects of climate change (increasing the proportion of greenhouse gases
and increasing CO 2 due to the expansion of the deforested areas) [2–9].
The forest stands for an important part of the fight against pollution, climate change
and in slowing the increase in greenhouse gas emissions by its atmospheric carbon
D. Peptenatu · A. Grecu · A. G. Simion · K. A. Gruia · I. Andronache · C. C. Draghici ·
D. C. Diaconu (B)
Faculty of Geography, Research Center for Integrated Analysis and Territorial Management,
University of Bucharest, Nicolae B˘ alcescu Blv. 1, District 1, 010041 Bucharest, Romania
e-mail: ddcwater@yahoo.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. M. Negm et al. (eds.), Water Resources Management in Romania, Springer Water,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22320-5_9
279
Deforestation and Frequency of Floods
in Romania
Daniel Peptenatu, Alexandra Grecu, Adrian Gabriel Simion,
Karina Andreea Gruia, Ion Andronache, Cristian Constantin Draghici
and Daniel Constantin Diaconu
Abstract The extent of forest cuts is one of the greatest challenges of contemporary society, principally through the effects on ecosystems, air quality, hydrological
regime and society. Changes in water leakage regime from the slopes are immediate
responses of the ecosystem to short time cutting of forests from large areas. In this
study, an assessment was made of deforested surfaces in the period 2000–2016, as
well as the frequency of floods at the level of each administrative unit from Romania
for the same time. Detailed analyzes focused on the main mountain groups and on a
Danube meadow sector where the extent of deforestation is very great. The results
highlight the obvious influence of forest cuts on large areas on the frequency of
floods.
Keywords Deforestation · Hydrological regime · Floods · Mountain ·
Assessment · Frequency · Ecosystem
9.1 Introduction
The forest is one of the most important terrestrial ecosystems, the reasons being the
area occupied by it (estimated by the United Nations at about 1/3 of the land area), the
fact that it hosts over 80% of the terrestrial species (UNEP) and the important role in
the chemical circuit of nature [1]. The existence of this ecosystem brings enormous
benefits to human society, both from the point of view of protecting the environment
and mitigating climate change, as well as economic and social. From this perspective, forest areas might play a key role in preserving biodiversity and mitigating the
negative effects of climate change (increasing the proportion of greenhouse gases
and increasing CO 2 due to the expansion of the deforested areas) [2–9].
The forest stands for an important part of the fight against pollution, climate change
and in slowing the increase in greenhouse gas emissions by its atmospheric carbon
D. Peptenatu · A. Grecu · A. G. Simion · K. A. Gruia · I. Andronache · C. C. Draghici ·
D. C. Diaconu (B)
Faculty of Geography, Research Center for Integrated Analysis and Territorial Management,
University of Bucharest, Nicolae B˘ alcescu Blv. 1, District 1, 010041 Bucharest, Romania
e-mail: ddcwater@yahoo.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. M. Negm et al. (eds.), Water Resources Management in Romania, Springer Water,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22320-5_9
279