Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Forest Landscape History Using Diachronic Cartography and GIS. Case Study: Subcarpathian Prahova Valley, Romania

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Planning and Designing Sustainable and Resilient Landscapes

Part of the book series: Springer Geography ((SPRINGERGEOGR))

Abstract

The focus of this study is to assess the evolution of forest cover, as forest is an important indicator to describe the perceived naturalness of landscapes and has undergone radical changes in the last hundred years in Europe. The Subcarpathic sector of Prahova River was chosen as study area, because it has always been densely populated and its landscape has transformed by long-term man-made impact on the environment. Forest landscape spatial changes are highlighted in a temporal context based on large-scale historical maps and aerial images in a GIS environment. Different metrics are applied to quantify spatial changes of forest distribution and the pattern of changes over a 223 years period. The most important deforestations were recorded between 1790 and 1856 being correlated with the massive deforestation of Tara Romaneasca (the Southern Princedom of Romania), reported after the Treaty of Adrianople (1829) that liberalized trade and made wood an export product. An increase in forest cover took place between 1900 and 1980. Between 1980 and 1997, after the communist regime change (1989) and in the transition period, forest cover declined with the largest annual intensity, among causes are the restitution of forests to individual owners (followed by deforestation), legislative void, etc. Between 1997 and 2005, a slight tendency for reforestation was recorded. Comparison between 1790 and 2013 forest cover shows that almost 58 % of the landscape forest was destroyed, changing its use. Based on the index of naturalness, Prahova River Subcarpathic Valley has been included in the category of land insufficiently covered by forests for the entire period of analysis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Antrop M, Van Eetvelde V (2000) Holistic aspects of suburban landscapes: visual image interpretation and landscape metrics. Landscape Urban Planning 50(1–3):43–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armaş I, Damian R, Şandric I, Osaci-Costache G (2003) Vulnerabilitatea versanţilor la alunecări de teren în sectorul subcarpatic al văii Prahova. Fundaţiei România de Mâine, Bucureşti

    Google Scholar 

  • Armaş I (2011a) An analytic multicriteria hierarchical approach to assess landslide vulnerability. Case study: Cornu Village/Romania. Z Geomorphol 55(2):209–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armaş I (2011b) Weights of evidence method for landslide susceptibility mapping. Prahova Subcarpathians, Romania. Nat Hazards 60(3):937–950

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armaş I, Gogoase Nistoran D, Osaci-Costache G, Brasoveanu L (2012) Morpho-dynamic evolution patterns of Subcarpathian Prahova Valley (Romania). Catena 100:83–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armaş I (2013) Diagnosis of landslide risk for individual buildings. Insights from Prahova Subcarpathians, Romania. Environ Geol. doi:10.1007/s12665-013-2854-5 (in press)

  • Armaş I, Vartolomei F, Stroia F, Brasoveanu L (2013) Landslide susceptibility deterministic approach using geographical information systems: application to Breaza city, Romania. Nat Hazards 1–23 (in press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Azzari M (2010) Prospettive e problematiche d’impiego della cartografia del passato in formato digitale. Bollettino dell’Associazione Italiana di Cartografia 138:217–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker WL (1989) A review of models of landscape change. Landscape Ecol 2:111–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berg AL, Ostlund MJ, Olofsson J (2008) A century logging and forestry in a reindeer herding area in northern Sweden. For Ecol Manage 256:1009–1020

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bogaert J (2006) On the definition and use of landscape metrics to disentangle landscape complexity. In: Brancucci G (ed) Pianificare l’incertezza. L’ecologia del paesaggio nella gestione dei sistemi territoriali. IALE, Genova, pp 11–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Botequilha Leitao A, Ahern J (2002) Applying landscape ecological concepts and metrics in sustainable landscape planning. Landscape Urban Planning 59:65–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bugă D, Baranovski N, Muică N (1992) Subcarpaţii Prahovei. In: Geografia României. Regiunile pericarpatice: Dealurile şi Câmpia Banatului şi Crişanei, Podişul Mehedinţi, Subcarpaţii, Piemontul Getic, Podişul Moldovei. Editura Academiei Române, Bucureşti, pp 276–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Coppedge BR, Engle DM, Fuhlendorf SD (2007) Markov models of land cover dynamics in a southern Great Plains grassland region. Landscape Ecol 22:1383–1393

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Vecchis G (2004) Denominazioni comuni e nomi propri di località abitati. Atlante dei tipi geografici. Istituto Geografico Militare, Firenze, pp 710–714

    Google Scholar 

  • Dramstad WE, Fry G, Fjellstad WJ, Skar B, Helliksen W, Sollund MLB, Tveit MS, Geelmuyden AK, Framstad E (2001) Integrating landscape-based values—norwegian monitoring of agricultural landscapes. Landscape Urban Planning 57:257–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn R, Harrison AR, White JC (1990) Positional accuracy and measurement error in digital databases of landuse: an empirical study. Int J Geogr Inf Syst 4:385–398

    Google Scholar 

  • Farina A (1998) Principles and methods in landscape ecology. Chapman & Hall, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Farina A (2007) Principles and methods in landscape ecology, towards a science of landscape. Springer, New York, p 412

    Google Scholar 

  • Fry G (1996) A landscape perspective of biodiversity; indices, models and planning. In Simpson IA, Dennis P (eds) The spatial dynamics of biodiversity. Proceedings of the 5th annual IALE (UK) conference, Stirling, p 3–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Giurescu CC (1976) Istoria pădurii româneşti din cele mai vechi timpuri până astăzi. Editura Ceres, Bucureşti

    Google Scholar 

  • Hultberg T (2008) Forest continuity and human impact-vegetation history of Torup forest, south–western Scania. Examensarbete 107, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Institutionen fo¨ r sydsvensk skogsvetenskap, Alnarp

    Google Scholar 

  • Huzui A (2012) Analiza cantitativă şi calitativă a peisajului urban. Studiu de caz: oraşul Sinaia, teza de doctorat (rez.), Şcoala doctorală “Simion Mehedinţi”, Facultatea de Geografie, Universitatea din Bucureşti, Bucureşti

    Google Scholar 

  • Ionescu A, Săhleanu V, Bîndiu C (1989) Protecţia mediului înconjurător şi educaţia ecologică. Editura Ceres, Bucureşti

    Google Scholar 

  • Lago L (2004) Il contributo della cartografia storica. Atlante dei tipi geografici. Istituto Geografico Militare, Firenze, pp 21–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenzi R (2007) La stratigrafia paesaggistica: proposta di metodo per la mappatura dei paesaggi storici. In Persi P (ed) Recondita armonia. Il paesaggio tra progetto e governo del territorio. Istituto Interfacoltà di Geografia, Università degli Studi di Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Urbino, p 145–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Maffini G, Arno M, Bitterlich W (1989) Observations and comments on the generation and treatment of error in digital GIS data. In: Goodchild M, Gopal S (eds) The accuracy of spatial data bases. Taylor and Francis, London, pp 55–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Osaci-Costache G (2002) Cartografierea dinamicii peisajului geografic din zona subcarpatică dintre Dâmboviţa şi Olt reflectată în documentele cartografice. Teză de doctorat, Facultatea de Geografie, Universitatea din Bucureşti, Bucureşti (mss.)

    Google Scholar 

  • Osaci-Costache G (2004) Muşcelele dintre Dâmboviţa şi Olt în documente cartografice. Reconstituirea şi dinamica peisajului geografic în secolele XVIII–XX. Editura Universitară, Bucureşti

    Google Scholar 

  • Osaci-Costache G (2009a) Cartografia storica in ambiente GIS Open Source (Quantum GIS e gvSIG) per l’analisi delle dinamiche dell’utilizzazione dei terreni: il caso della città di Curtea de Argeş nel Novecento. Analele Universităţii Ştefan cel Mare Secţiunea Geografie 18:233–242

    Google Scholar 

  • Osaci-Costache G (2009b) L’applicazione della cartografia retrospettiva agli studi territoriali: vecchi paesaggi rurali nello spazio subcarpatico ubicato tra i fiumi Topolog e Doamnei (Romania) applying the retrospective cartography in the territorial studies: old rural landscapes in the subcarpathian space between the topolog and doamnei rivers (Romania). In Persi P (ed) Territori contesi. Campi del sapere, identità locali, istituzioni, progettualità paesaggistica, IV Convegno Internazionale Beni Culturali, Pollenza, Italia. Istituto Interfacoltà di Geografia, Università degli studi di Urbino “Carlo Bo”, pp 107–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Osaci-Costache G (2011) Cartografia e paesaggi del passato in ambiente GIS Libero e Open Source: il caso della zona di contatto tra i Monti Cozia e la depressione subcarpatica Jiblea-Berislăvești (Romania). In: Gregori L (ed) Il paesaggio tra reale e virtuale. Nuova Prhomos, Città di Castello, pp 337–348

    Google Scholar 

  • Osaci-Costache G (2012) Cartografia storica e GIS Open Source per la valutazione dell’evoluzione del paesaggio dovuta all’impatto antropico. Il caso del bacino subcarpatico Cicăneşti (Romania)/Historical cartography and GIS open source for the assessment of landscape evolution due to anthropogenic impact. Case study: the Cicăneşti Subcarpathian basin (Romania). Bollettino dell’Associazione Italiana di Cartografia 143:61–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Osaci-Costache G, Ene M (2010) The analysis of forest dynamics within the Carpathians—the Subcarpathians contact area by using the historical cartography approach and open source GIS software. Case study: the Limpedea catchment (Romania). Geogr Phorum. Geogr Stud Environ Prot Res 9(9):115–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Pacheco Angulo C, Aguado Suárez I, Mollicone D (2011) Dinámica de la deforestación en Venezuela: análisis de los cambios a partir de mapas históricos. Interciencia 36(8):578–586

    Google Scholar 

  • Pătru-Stupariu I (ed) (2011) Elaborating and implementing an algorithm for landscape evaluation and prognosis. Application for the mountainous and the subcarpathian sector of Prahova Valley. Univ. din Bucureşti, Bucureşti

    Google Scholar 

  • Pătru-Stupariu I, Stupariu MS, Cuculici R, Huzui A (2011a) Contribution of global indicators to landscape change modelling. Case study: Prahova Valley (Romanian Carpathians and Subcarpathians). Int J Phys Sci 6(3):534–539

    Google Scholar 

  • Pătru-Stupariu I, Stupariu MS, Huzui A (2011b) Application of landscape metrics to assess the interaction between nature parks and their urban surroundings. Case study: the Bucegi Nature Park-Sinaia city fringe, I.F.L.A. World Congress, Zurich, June 2011

    Google Scholar 

  • Pătru-Stupariu I, Stupariu MS, Cuculici R, Huzui A (2011c) Understanding landscape change using historical maps. Case study Sinaia, Romania. J Maps 7(1):206–220. doi:10.4113/jom.2011.1151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Popelkova P, Mulkova M (2011) Landscape changes mapping: central part of Ostrava-Karvina mining district, Czech Republic. J Maps 2011:363–375. doi:10.4113/jom.2011.1165

  • Rombai L (2010) Le problematiche relative all’uso della cartografia storica. Bollettino dell’Associazione Italiana di Cartografia 138:69–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossi A (2001) Cartografia storica e GIS: proposte per la pianificazione del territorio. Bollettino dell’Associazione Italiana di Cartografia 477–492

    Google Scholar 

  • Săvulescu I, Mihai B (2011) Mapping forest landscape change in Iezer Mountains, Romanian Carpathians. A GIS approach based on cartographic heritage, forestry data and remote sensing imagery. J Maps 2011:429–446. doi:10.4113/jom.2011.1170

  • Skalos J, Engstova B, Trpakova I, Santruckova M, Podrazsky M (2012) Long-term changes in forest cover 1780–2007 in central Bohemia, Czech Republic. Eur J Forest Res 131:871–884. doi:10.1007/s10342-011-0560-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas MF (2001) Landscape sensitivity in time and space—an introduction. Catena 42:83–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner MG, Gardner RH (eds) (1991) Quantitative methods in landscape ecology. Springer, New York, pp 77–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Tveit M, Ode A, Fry G (2006) Key concepts in a framework for analysing visual landscape character. Landscape Res 31(3):229–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Eetvelde V (2007) Van geografische strekenkaart tot landschapsdatabank. Gebruik van GIS, informatietheorie en landschapsmetrieken voor het karakteriseren van landschappen, toegepast op België. Universiteit Gent, Vakgroep Geografie, Gent. Promotor: Prof. Dr. Marc Antrop

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Eetvelde V, Käyhkö N (2009) The applicability of quantitative techniques for assessing spatio-temporal patterns of landscape changes. In Breuste J, Kozová M, Finka M (eds) Proceedings of the European IALE conference 2009, pp 379–382

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Eetvelde V, Antrop M, Van de Velde L (2012) Assessing the actuality of historical maps in rural landscapes, case studies of settlements in Belgium. In: 15th international conference of historical geographers, Prague

    Google Scholar 

  • Vartolomei F, Armaş I (2010) The intensification of the anthropic pressure through the expansion of the constructed area in the subcarpathian sector of the Prahova Valley/Romania (1800–2008). Forum Geografic 9(9):125–132

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This chapter is partially based upon work developed within the research project 2916/31GR, financed by the National Research Council (CNCS) of Romania and having Prof. Iuliana Armaş as Principal Investigator.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Geography, Department of Geomorphology-Pedology-Geomatics, University of Bucharest, Bulevardul Nicolae Balcescu no. 1, Sector 1, 010041, Bucharest, Romania

    Iuliana Armaş, Gabriela Osaci-Costache & Livioara Braşoveanu

Authors
  1. Iuliana Armaş
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gabriela Osaci-Costache
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Livioara Braşoveanu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Iuliana Armaş .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Urban and Landscape Design Department, "Ion Mincu" University for Architecture and Urbanism, Bucharest, Romania

    Cerasella Crăciun

  2. "Ion Mincu" University for Architecture and Urbanism, Bucharest, Romania

    Maria Bostenaru Dan

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Armaş, I., Osaci-Costache, G., Braşoveanu, L. (2014). Forest Landscape History Using Diachronic Cartography and GIS. Case Study: Subcarpathian Prahova Valley, Romania. In: Crăciun, C., Bostenaru Dan, M. (eds) Planning and Designing Sustainable and Resilient Landscapes. Springer Geography. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8536-5_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation