Pietrosul Mare Biosphere Reserve, Romania

Mount Pietrosul Mare is the biggest mountain complex in the Rodna Massif which is situated to the north of the Eastern Carpathians. This biosphere reserve is very important from a biodiversity conservation perspective.

Ecological Characteristics

Mount Pietrosul Mare is the biggest mountain complex in the Rodna Massif which is situated to the north of the Eastern Carpathians. This biosphere reserve is very important from a biodiversity conservation perspective. Habitats are extremely diverse due to high elevation changes (900 to 2,300 meters above sea level). They include beech (Fagus sp.), spruce (Picea sp.) and pine (Pinus sp.) mountain forest ecosystems as well as alpine meadows with many endemic and endangered species.

Beech (Fagus sylvatica), spruce (Picea abies) and arolla pine (Pinus cembra) forests; alpine and subalpine pasture with Carex curvula, Festuca airoides and shrublands of Rhododendron kotsckyi; arcto-alpine habitats with species such as Cerastium alpinum, Silene acaulis, Atragene alpina etc.; circumpolar habitats with Woodsia ilvensis, Diphasus alpinum, Salix herbacea etc.; central European alpine habitats characteristic of the Rodna Massif with dwarf pine (Pinus mugo), green alder (Alnus viridis), Salix retusa, Callianthemum coriandrifolium etc.; lakes of glaciar origin.

 

Socio-Economic Characteristics

The area is not inhabited. Rural villages in the surrounding area depend on agriculture, livestock raising, hunting and forestry. Due to traditional farming, the ancient landscape is still maintained today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Last updated: November 2019