THE RISK OF WETLANDS DISAPPEARANCE IN THE MOLDAVIAN PLATEAU UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF RUDIMENTARY AGRICULTURAL TECHNIQUES USE

 

Gh. Romanescu

 

ABSTRACT. - The risk of wetlands disappearance in the Moldavian Plateau under the conditions of rudimentary agricultural techniques use.The Moldavian Plateau is positioned in the east of Romania, between the Eastern Carpathians in west, the Romanian Plain to the south, the Ukrainian border to the north and Prut Valley (border with the Republic of Moldavia) in east. Although the Moldavian Plateau is situated in the driest region of Romania (mean annual rainfall of 500-700 mm and average temperatures of 8-100C), the majority of the wetlands and of the low discharge rivers is found here. The existence of numerous wetlands, respectively small ponds, is due to the human activity and the lack of water resources. The impermeable clayey substratum favored the occurrence and survival of a large number of wetlands. Most of them are found in the Moldavian Plain (north), and the fewest to the south, in the Covurlui Plateau. The disappearance of wetlands from the region’s south was caused by the accelerated erosion (determined by the human activity, through deforestations and inadequate tillage), that induced an intense sediment transportation, with effects on the valley floor aggrading phenomena. The most important wetlands are those developed along the two main rivers – Prut and Siret. Unfortunately, Siret’s floodplain has been in most of its part dammed, and the wetlands entered the agricultural use. The map with the repartition of the wetlands is a product obtained through field investigations, through the consultation of the 1:50000 topographic maps, of aerial photos and satellite images’ interpretation (LANDSAT TM7) from the years 2000-2005. For the interpretation of the satellite images we appealed to the Corine Land Cover 2000 methodology

Key words: wetlands, Moldavian Plateau, satellite images, accelerated erosion, aggradation of valley.

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