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Agricultural lands losses due to constructed surfaces expansion in the
Bucharest–Ilfov Development Region
Maria Patroescu, Cristian Ioja, Mihai Nita, Gabriel Vanau
University of Bucharest, Centre for Environment Research and Impact Studies,
Bucharest, Romania
The agricultural lands changes into constructed surfaces represent an issue of
environmental and social importance in metropolitan regions, especially in the case of
Eastern Europe countries. These land use changes determine the loss of biologically
productive lands, thus affecting both the ecological equilibrium of natural ecosystems
and the population food balance.
The Bucharest – Ilfov Development Region (NUTS2) represents the most economically
developed region in Romania (as it represents 21.7% from the GDP), having a
population of 2.2 million inhabitants (10% from Romania population). Agricultural
lands represent 62.2% from the total surface of the region, decreasing with over 5%
since 1990. However, from these agricultural surfaces, a large proportion are abandoned
or exploited in a reduced degree.
The decrease of agricultural surfaces is determined especially by the significant
development of constructed surfaces. The highest transformations were recorded in the
localities from the proximity of Bucharest, due to shifts in inhabitants’ needs and
changes in the development strategy of Bucharest.
Gradually, large and medium commercial spaces, individual housings, productive and
services spaces significantly changed agricultural fields from the Ilfov County.
Constructed surfaces increased with over 60% from 1990, with maximum values also in
the first ring of localities.
Whether the explanation lies in the expansion of Bucharest’s dormitory localities or in
the definitive or temporary migration of population from Bucharest to its influence area,
the consequence is invariable the loss of agricultural lands.
The paper evidences the spatial distribution of agricultural lands’ losses in the Bucharest
– Ilfov Development Region at LAU2 level, and their effects upon different
environmental components.
The loss of important components from Bucharest’s green-yellow belt, excessive
concentration of constructed surfaces in certain areas, urban sprawl, soil losses, are
among the environmental problems emphasized in the paper.