NATURE, FOREST AND BIODIVERSITY:
Driving forces for nature and biodiversity changes

Agriculture. Intensive land use (currently 76% of the country's surface is agricultural, compared with 90% in the 1980s), the choice of crops irrespective of the topography (in the 60s-70s, of the 55 000 ha of slopes recorded, more than 20 000 were used for annual crop production), excessive crop specialization and the use of chemicals have put considerable stress on biodiversity, expelling flora and fauna from their usual habitats, drastically reducing their natural population in most cases (insects, graminanoids, small mammals, etc.).  As soils are especially fertile, they were cultivated to the maximum possible extent.  Bushes and fences and riparian vegetation were largely eliminated.

Source: Department for Environmental Protection, Institute of Geography of the Academy of Sciences

Illegal logging and forest exploitation. The recession and the high cost of imported fuel have led to the illegal cutting of trees for fuelwood.  Illegal felling represented about 800 000 m3 from 1992 to 1995.  It reached alarming numbers in 1996 and has even increased over the past two years as the energy crisis continues.  It is estimated that 65% of fuelwood needs are met in this way.  According to Moldsilva, the economic and environmental damage amounts to 1.8 million Lei for 1997.  The large increase in the prices of energy for households (60% since the beginning of 1996, and expected to reach to levels charged to industry within 6 months) is likely to increase illegal cutting.
Another threat to forest areas is grazing, because animal feed prices have risen.  Newly planted areas are particularly vulnerable to grazing animals, which destroy young plants and tear out seedlings.
Hunting. Zones and territories reserved for hunting are controlled by law, as are the authorized bags (see Table 8.4).  Game population trends over the past years show a decline in the population of roes and boars, which is explained by illegal hunting.  In 1996, it was decided that hunting in State forests would be prohibited.  However, it seems that the economic interests prevail over inspectors who are badly equipped for enforcing the decisions.  Bird populations seem better preserved (Table 8.5).

Table 7.4:  Major hunted species, 1995

 
Source: Association of Hunters and Fishers of the Republic of Moldova, transmitted to IEDS.

Table 7.5:  Population of selected hunted birds, 1994-1996

 
Source:   Moldsilva and the Association of Hunters and Fishers of the Republic of Moldova.
1  Hunting quota for pheasants was 1 910 animals in 1995.

Fishing and other pressures on fish populations. Fishery activities are declining because of the dwindling fish stocks.  In 1995, declared fish catches in the Prut river were 10% of the 1990 catch.  However, it is estimated that poaching is three times more important than declared catches.  Before independence, State-owned fish farms ensured artificial reproduction of river fish with farm-grown indigenous species.  Now the system is disrupted as economic entities liable for damages are no longer able to pay for them.  For example, about 160 million fry were reintroduced in the central part of the Nistru river in 1980, and only 6.5 million in 1996.
The origin of other important factors affecting fish populations is transboundary.  For instance, a large hydroelectric station on the Nistru near Novodnedrovsk (Ukraine) started operating in 1987.  It altered the natural flow and temperature of the water, and had an impact on the hydrobiological
system.  Consequently, fish populations downstream are decreasing, especially as the reintroduction of artificially grown indigenous fish has been interrupted.  The polluted waters which are discharged into the Prut river from industries located on the Romanian border are also having an adverse impact on fish stocks.  Recently (July 1997), the Parliament decided to call on the Government to start negotiations with Ukraine on a bilateral agreement to protect the biodiversity and ecosystems of the Nistru river.  Cooperation with Romania regarding the river Prut is also envisaged.

Others. Due to the high population density and the growing urban settlements, i.e. cities and the capital, the pressure on nature from humans is particularly intense with an uncontrolled sprawl of construction activities.

 
Introduction  Curent state of habitats Driving forces for nature and biodiversity changes Nature protection policies and management
  Conclusions and recommendations
 
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