The evaluation of the environmental quality in Romania

• Published in: Geographica Pannonnica Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 42 - 50
• Main Authors: Surd, Vasile, Alexe, Rădiţa, Kantor, Camelia-Maria, Tanislav, Dănuţ, Sencovici, Mihaela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Novi Sad, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management 01.01.2011
• Subjects: county; environmental quality; evaluation; indicators; vulnerability
• ISSN: 0354-8724; 1820-7138
• DOI: 10.5937/GeoPan1102042S

The evaluation of the environmental quality concerns the analysis of the physical, chemical, biological and statistical features that allow the scientists to classify a territory in a certain category or hierarchic scale. In the model used in this study, the environmental quality was assessed at the administrative unit level (county), as a result of the interaction of different components. Fifty indicators were selected and included into 6 major groups based on several factors (natural hazards, air quality, biodiversity, water quality, human health, soil quality, economic activities) that increase the communities' susceptibility to different negative aspects concerning the environment. Each indicator was classified on a scale from 1 to 5 (1-very good…5-very weak). The sum of the indicators was reclassified according to the same model, until the total environmental quality was finally determined. The analysis of the environmental quality on a departmental level provides the opportunity to identify the regions that need to be allotted financial resources in order to diminish the negative impact of the disturbing (anthropic and natural) factors. At the same time, by focusing the research on the most vulnerable counties, a more detailed analysis has revealed the most vulnerable administrative units (towns and communes).