DOI - Mendel University Press

DOI identifiers

DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-025-2-0265

SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAIN TOURISM ACTIVITIES AND INFLUENCE OF FOREST LOSS

Radu-Daniel Pintilii1, Marian Marin1,2, Ana-Maria Ciobotaru3, Alexandra Zaharia4
1 University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geography, 1, Nicolae Bălcescu Bd., 010041, Bucharest, Romania
2 Center for Interdisciplinary and Advanced Studies (CISA) – ICUB, University of Bucharest, 202, Splaiul Independenței, Bucharest, Romania
3 ,,Gheorghe Balș” Technical College, 107 Republicii Street, 625100, Adjud, Romania
4 University of Craiova, Faculty of Sciences, 13, Alexandru Ioan Cuza Street, 20585, Craiova, Romania


The mountain areas in Romania represent an essential ecological region with diverse ecosystems. Forests face threats, such as natural and anthropogenic factors, which drive significant forest loss areas. This paper explores a possible relationship between forest loss and tourism circulation in areas of mountain tourist resorts from the Carpathian Mountains of Romania. Forest loss in mountain areas is caused by multiple natural and/or anthropogenic sources, such as climate change and extreme weather events, deforestation, illegal logging, land use changes, and forest fragmentation. Results showed that the top deforested counties are related to mountain areas, with more than 52% of all tree cover loss between 2001-2023. Land use change and socio-economic modifications had a significant impact on forest management practices. The forest loss in Romania is mainly caused by human activities such as logging, land use changes, and forest fragmentation, amplified by climate change and extreme weather events. Several key strategies for sustainable mountain tourism are needed for successful sustainable tourism development, such as energy communities, local community involvement, and visitor satisfaction.

Keywords: forest ecosystems, mountain areas, Romania, sustainable tourism

pages: 265-271, Published: 2025, online: 2025



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