Land use changes and dynamics over the last century around churches of Moldavia, Bukovina, Northern Romania – Challenges and future perspectives

Significant land use changes over the past century have been identified around several UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Northern Romania, including Probota, Humor, Patrauti, and Arbore churches. These changes, analyzed through historical maps (1917) and modern orthophotos (2005, 2016), reveal deforestation and anthropogenic environmental alterations that threaten the integrity of these monuments. In contrast, Sucevita, Voronet, and Moldovita churches retain their natural Bukovina landscape, while Suceava church is embedded in a highly urbanized environment. The study highlights the vulnerability of these sites to human-induced changes, emphasizing the need for conservation efforts to preserve their cultural and ecological significance.

Nicu, I. C., & Stoleriu, C. C. (2019). Land use changes and dynamics over the last century around churches of Moldavia, Bukovina, Northern Romania – Challenges and future perspectives. Habitat International, 88, 101979. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2019.04.006